Who is Able to Participate:
We invite all faculty and staff from across Health Sciences and associated communities to contribute a 55-word story to Voices from the Faculty and Staff, first published in 2020 (https://rubor.med.utah.edu/voices/2020/04/01/volume-1-2020-voices-from-the-faculty/) to highlight the experiences of teaching in the School of Medicine. This very short format of exactly 55 words offers a creative challenge and a helpful limit.
We welcome submissions that address aspects of health sciences practice, education, training, and research and how these impact our lives and relationships. This can include but is not limited to situations that are memorable, inspirational, troubling, and/or humorous. All issues can be found at this site: rubor.med.utah.edu/voices/issues/.
This is a partner publication to Voices from the Wards, found here rubor.med.utah.edu/voices-from-the%20wards/, which features 55-word stories from each year’s graduating class of medical students about their training.
*We also have an open call for cover art submissions. If interested in submitting artwork, please email candace.chow@hsc.utah.edu (the submission form is only for 55-word stories).
Submission Guidelines:
Submissions must be:
- Exactly 55 words (excluding the title) in the form of personal narratives or stories, poetry, or a hybrid genre of creative nonfiction
- Related to actual experiences of the author; fictional accounts will not be accepted
- Written creatively in a voice that is personal, not didactic or pedantic
- Professional in tone and theme; specifically, the stories should be respectful of student and patient privacy and of the patient-provider relationship.
Editors may reach out to authors with questions about theme, word choice, or readability. The submission page can be found at https://rubor.med.utah.edu/voices/voices-from-the-faculty/. Questions can be directed to Gretchen Case (Gretchen.case@hsc.utah.edu) or Sara Hart (sara.hart@nurs.utah.edu).
Deadlines:
Submissions are due Monday, January 26, 2026.
Writing Workshop
Authors who would like guidance with their submissions can attend a writing workshop (via Zoom on January 12 at 3 pm). Meeting link: https://utah.zoom.us/j/81742638632. Susan Sample, PhD, MFA, Writer-in-Residence at Huntsman Cancer Institute and former Voices editorial board member, will lead the workshop. A writing prompt will be given for those who are still brainstorming what to write, and those with drafts will receive ideas for revision.