Dear reader,
These upcoming pages reflect a medley of narratives from the third and fourth years of medical school. You may find some of the pieces jolting and inexplicable, a few sorrowful, others heartfelt and uplifting. We invite you to revel in the blunders, the existential musings, the camaraderie and wonder.
Voices from the Wards started in 2019 as a means to transmit emotional knowledge between classes of medical students. The booklet is designed to fit in your white coat or scrub pocket as a reminder of our collective experiences during the clinical years. We are excited to continue this tradition with our 2023 issue. Submitted by graduating medical students, these works portray the epic story arc of being a medical student: We start with the grief we feel when our patients aren’t treated well, when we can’t help them, and when the medical system lets them down. At times, we ourselves feel discouraged by the hospital and mentoring systems within which we train. However, through all of our grief and questioning, we are impressed by the stories of immense growth that occurs in a few short years and are inspired by the resilient hope as we watch patients, families, and ourselves heal despite disappointments, frustrations, and hardships.
Ultimately this collection transcends genres, narrative styles, and topics. This is intentional. As you may discover while navigating the wards, much of medicine expects us to mold ourselves into certain images: to compose notes with a particular language, to present with unflinching confidence even when we are afraid, to hide parts of our identities that seemingly do not fit in that ubiquitous definition of “Doctor.” By sharing a diverse set of stories, we hope to emphasize that your voice—colored by your unique perspectives and background—is powerful.
To our authors and artists, thank you for your contributions. Your honesty and authenticity are the heart and soul of this collection. To our readers, we hope these stories can ground you during an otherwise chaotic time period. We encourage you to doodle and scribble as you progress through your clinical experiences.
Every story or emotion, no matter how seemingly miniscule, can be meaningful.
Write on.
Cheers,
Ha Le & Mariah Richins
Ha and Mariah are members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, Class of 2023 for the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. Passionate about uplifting and celebrating their community, they are excited to compile this collection of 55-word stories. After graduation, Mariah will continue shredding the Utah slopes during her residency in Family Medicine, while Ha will find wellness from boba and outdoor runs during her Pediatrics residency in California.
Content
I. Letting Us Grieve
First Doubt
Grandma
Disposition: Home
Previa Choice
Swatches
More than a textbook case
HFNC
Speechless
Take Your Medicine
Within a Day
Perspective
II. Letting Us Question
Aspirations
Clinic Day
Untitled
Can’t Touch My Face
4th Year Dissonance
L/D
Sig-e-caps
Critical Access, A Critical Role
III. Letting Us Grow
Painting Catatonia Pink
A Comedy of Clumsy
Morbidity & Mortality Conference
Graduated Autonomy
I: The Former Poet
II: The Former Journalist
“Nonverbal”
Trees
IV. Letting Us Hope
Perspective
You Deserve Care
A diagnosis, all too familiar.
Always Worth the Communication
Nama-stay
Viable
I Can Do This For A Living