Welcome to the Summer 2026 issue of Medicine and Meaning.
In this issue, we are proud to present the winners of the Drs. Paulette and Jay Mehta Creative Writing and Arts from the Heart competitions. From the many outstanding submissions, our selection committee, appointed by Dr. Micah Hester, carefully selected first-place winners and honorable mentions in the categories of Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the writers and artists whose work reflects the creativity, insight, and compassion at the heart of these competitions.
In our Creative Nonfiction section, we feature “The Rally,” our first-place winner, a moving account of a young woman’s experience caring for her father during his final illness and the profound lessons she learned through his death and dying. In this story. The author recognizes her father’s rally, a time of sudden alertness before death, and struggles to say her final goodbye and to explain the phenomenon to family members. We also present “From My Mother’s Garden to My Own,” an honorable mention story, which tells the inspiring story of a young woman who struggles through higher education, mental health problems, and an abusive childhood trapped in her mother’s garden full of weeds. She rises above these problems by becoming the gardener of her own life.
Our Fiction section features “The Time of the Stopped Clock,” a poignant story that the author describes as “a journey through grief—from frozen clocks and hospital corridors to the slow rediscovery of breath, memory, and meaning. It is not about dying but about carrying love forward when the world stops.”
Our Poetry section showcases “Here in the Clinics of America,” the first-place winner, a powerful poem exploring problems of different magnitudes, ranging from patients’ personal medical struggles to global issues that affect everyone. Through recurring paradoxes, the author illustrates the ups and downs and healing and hardships of a hospital stay. We also feature “Circling,” an honorable mention story that captures the recurring waves of grief following profound loss. While recognizing that grief may fade but never fully disappear, the poet also shows how happy memories can provide comfort and help people heal.
In our Arts from the Heart section, we proudly present four outstanding winning works created by talented artists from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Their artwork reminds us that visual art, like literature, offers unique insights into the human experience. The People’s Choice Award was given for the image entitled Colors of Life, in which the artist explored different media to create ideas and designs. The Leonardo da Vinci award was given for the painting entitled After the Storm. The Vincent Van Gogh Award was given for The Feathered Trio showing three birds as a still life painting. Finally, The Critics Choice Award for overall Strongest Image was awarded for the quilt entitled The Heart in Pieces.
We hope you enjoy this collection of stories, poems, and artwork and find it both inspiring and restorative. As you read, we invite you to reflect on the many ways creative expression deepens our understanding of medicine, humanity, suffering, healing, and one another.
We are now accepting submissions for the Fall 2026 issue of Medicine and Meaning. We encourage you to submit your best work early, as early submissions allow our editorial team time to work closely with authors to prepare their pieces for publication.
Thank you for reading Medicine and Meaning. We hope this Summer 2026 edition leaves you feeling refreshed, inspired, and eager to continue the conversation through stories, poetry, art, and the shared human experiences that unite us.
Paulette Mehta, M.D., MPH.
for the Editorial Board
Note—This introduction was written in part by Griffen Garg, a student intern from Boston with a strong interest in world literature. We acknowledge his enthusiasm, thoughtful feedback, and dedication.
Creative Non-Fiction
Rally
By: Dana Garrison
I’m a superhero with superhuman hearing.
I’m a ghost, omnipresent and unsettled.
I’m a shell of myself, already mentally and physically drained before I even sit up.
I’m the primary caregiver of my father, who is dying a slow, painful death from AML, an aggressive leukemia.
From My Mother’s Garden to My Own
By: J.M. Morgan
A lot of my personal story is brought to you by the letter R: Resilience.
I’ve always felt like a silent observer of sorts, watching from the sidelines as my Brain sprinted from thought to thought. Did I say the right thing? Are people judging how I look? Can anyone tell that I’m fat on Zoom?
Fiction
The Time Of The Stopped Clock
By: Samrat Choudhury, PhD.
A mother stands at the crossroads of time and loss after her daughters death. This story is her quiet journey through grief – from frozen clocks and hospital corridors to the slow rediscovery of breath, memory, and meaning. Its is not about dying, but about carrying love forward when the world stops.
Poetry
Here in the Clinic in America
By: Dr. Safi Alsebai
What is a paradox in English as in
any other language I speak
or have ever spoken?
What is a paradox
since fingerpulp could see
and speak together?
Circling
By: Courtney Reagan
Some days, there’s nowhere for the grief to go. Ebbing in weight, with a pull that does not spare,
It lingers, circling below. Five stages with sharp peaks and still plateaus.
A mirage of acceptance humming in the air. Some days, there’s nowhere for the grief to go.
Images
Colors of Life
People’s Choice Award: Awarded to Priyangi Malaviarachchi for her painting titled Colors of Life. Priyangi is a Clinical Research Coordinator at UAMS.
After the Storm
Leonardo da Vinci Award (most inventive): Awarded to Ryan Pennington for his mixed media work titled After the Storm. Ryan is the spouse of Mandy Pennington – an Instructor for the College of Health Professions, Dept. of Dental Hygiene.
Feathered Trio – Still Life Study
Vincent van Gogh Award (best use of color): Awarded to Mariel Garcia for her painting titled Feathered Trio – Still Life Study. Mariel is an Executive Assistant in the College of Public Health at UAMS.
The Heart in Pieces
Critic’s Choice Award (overall strongest): Awarded to Bailey Barnes for her quilt titled The Heart in Pieces. Dr. Barnes is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics.
