Dear Friends,
Welcome back to Medicine and Meaning, the UAMS literary journal where healthcare meets life and death, and where fiction and nonfiction intertwine. We are delighted to present our 11th issue, featuring an exceptional collection of writing from faculty, staff, students, and friends of UAMS.
This issue marks a transition as we bid farewell to our Conversations Editor, Catherine Corless, Esq. She leaves us with one final interview, which she edited alongside Adam Williams, based an interview by UAMS medical students Brittany Tian and Claire Gist with Erin Gray, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Clinical Liaison for Environmental Services, Nutritional Services, and Institutional Support Services. Catherine has played a vital role in shaping our Conversations section, skillfully bringing to life insightful discussions with UAMS superstars. We thank her for her dedication and exceptional work.
Our Nonfiction section offers a powerful selection of essays that delve into themes of resilience, fear, and reflection. “Poor Outcomes” takes readers inside clinics that specialize in treating patients with difficult prognoses, revealing the challenges and hope that come with caring for “cats and diabetics” facing uncertain futures. “My Blue Schwinn” is a poignant reflection on the widening circles of life and understanding, framed through the simple yet profound act of riding a bicycle. “Four Friday Nights” follows a young chaplain as she helps desperately ill patients cope with suffering and impending loss of life, using dignity and compassion which highlight the emotional depth of this sacred work. “Haunted Happiness: The Unexpected Benefits of Being a Scare Actor” explores how confronting fear can help children develop effective strategies for managing stress and anxiety.
Our Fiction section presents three thought-provoking stories that examine the complexities of life, death, and what may come after. “Better Places” offers a contemplative exploration of life and the afterlife, for patients, pets, and nature. “Mr. Potts” transports us to a lively Irish wake in a small-town bar, where a community gathers to celebrate a beloved figure’s passing with laughter, stories, and a final toast. In “Satisfied,” we follow “hoppers” as they experience one final, perfect moment of “being enough,” before their journey ends.
Our Poetry section features a collection of more than two dozen evocative works that span the full spectrum of human experience from beginning to end. These poems focus on love and loss, patients and care-givers, appreciating the world around us, among many other evocative topics. These poems invite us to pause, reflect, and find meaning in the everyday and the extraordinary.
The 55-Word Stories section showcases five striking micro-stories, each capturing profound moments in a condensed yet powerful format. “Fragments of a Journey” portrays a young mother navigating the daily demands of building a professional career. “An Office in the Developing World” recalls a dental visit in the Caribbean, reminding us not to judge healthcare by the appearance of the office. “Call and Response”explores the resonance of sound as it is sent out and received back, illustrating the rhythms of communication. “Sacred Silence” reveals the spirituality inherent in research, highlighting the quiet reverence that accompanies discovery. “Glimpse of a Matrix” describes a matrix of sound traveling straight to the brain without touching an air molecule, offering a unique perspective on perception and experience. “Take a Bow” highlights the importance of recognizing culture in a medical setting.
In our History of Medicine section, we take a journey through time, exploring the early locations of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. From its first home at the Sperindio Hotel to its expansion at 2nd and Sherman, the school grew in both research and clinical work between 1890 and 1912, laying the foundation for the institution we know today.
Finally, our Images section brings a visual dimension to this issue, with several thoughtfully curated collections. One features a breathtaking series of sunrise photographs, capturing the quiet beauty of daybreak. Another presents a watercolor set of three abstract paintings, each inviting personal interpretation and emotional resonance. The third features pen and ink drawings combining human organs with beneficial plants and herbs. Finally, we see the gritty beauty of nature on a family farm.
We hope you enjoy this issue of Medicine and Meaning and find inspiration, insight, and connection within its pages.
Paulette Mehta, M.D., MPH
Professor Emerita, UAMS