Overview

Medical mistakes happen more frequently than you might think. A study from Johns Hopkins University estimates that medical errors account for more than 250,000 deaths per year, making it the third leading cause of death in the United States. Other studies suggest that the number of premature deaths from medical errors is even higher, topping 400,000 annually.

Do you know someone who has been a victim of medical malpractice? Or do you have an idea about how to prevent these incidents from occurring? If so, Bertram & Murphy wants to hear from you.

Our law firm will award three scholarships to students in the D.C. metro region who write compelling essays answering the following question: What can the healthcare industry do to stop medical mistakes from happening?

doctor and patient

Essay Requirements

Your essay must answer one of the prompts below;
  • What can the healthcare industry do to stop medical mistakes from happening?
  • How is technology in the medical world changing patient-provider relationships?
  • How can our healthcare system better protect the security of patient data from hackers? Furthermore, do HIPAA regulations need updating to reflect these changes?
  • Do telemedicine visits have risks associated to patient safety?
  • How can technology be used to make healthcare safer?

The 2021 Scholarship Essay Contest is now closed. Please check back for the winners in August!

The submissions window
opens on April 1, 2021
and closes on June 30th.

Winners will be announced around August 1.

To be eligible for consideration, applicants must:

  • Be high school juniors or seniors.
  • Live in Washington, D.C., Virginia, or Maryland.
  • Write a well-crafted 1,000 to 2,000-word essay. Essay should be submitted as a Word document or PDF.
  • Submit a high school transcript and headshot. The transcript should be a .PDF, and the photo should be a .JPG or .PNG file.

Prizes

Bertram & Murphy will award prizes to three compelling writers:
prize icon
$1,000
First Place
prize icon
$500
Second Place
prize icon
$250
Third Place

general rules:

  • By submitting an application and essay, you acknowledge that if you are selected as winner, Bertram & Murphy will own all rights to publish, distribute, and promote the essay scholarship.
  • By accepting a prize, all winners grant Bertram & Murphy the right to use their name, biographical information, and photograph for marketing purposes.
  • The winners will be chosen by a selection committee. Submission of a plagiarized essay will result in disqualification. The decisions of the committee are final.
  • Employees of Bertram & Murphy its boards of directors and immediate family members are not eligible to enter the scholarship contest.
Catherine Bertram

About Bertram & Murphy

Bertram & Murphy is a boutique law firm in Washington, D.C. that focuses almost exclusively on cases involving medical errors, medical negligence, and unsafe devices. With 25 years of experience, our legal team is a premier medical malpractice law firm with a track record of success obtaining multi-million verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients.

For decades, we have seen the heartbreaking outcomes that arise when medical professionals breach the standard of care expected of them. Our duty is to hold negligent providers accountable for the harm they have caused by recovering compensation for injured patients. While money cannot always replace what is lost, it can help secure a better financial future as patients move forward in life.

If you or someone you love has been hurt, call or contact us today.