This issue we are asking for submissions related to our theme of Reflection. 

In the flurry of medical training, moments of connection and humanism can quickly pass us by. Often, the dominant mantras of science and physiology and AnKing shift the focus away from the individual sitting at the center of it all. Yet, if you have found your way to this page, you understand the strength derived from taking a step away from the textbook and truly examining the person sitting in front of you. What gives rise to these moments of reflection? Was it something a patient said, a fleeting interaction, or a quiet realization within yourself? Which encounters have lingered long after the moment ended, and why?

And when you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror, do you recognize who looks back? How have the experiences of training stretched, shaped, and rewritten parts of you? What pieces of yourself have remained constant, and what has changed along the way? How has learning the art of medicine altered the way you understand yourself and others?

Reflection calls for us to pause, to think, to look back on what remains after the moment has passed. This issue calls for pieces that meditate on reflection itself, honor the people, places, and words that inspired it, and explore the evolving relationship between medicine and the self.

We invite you to share your thoughts and reflections.

Submissions are open through Sunday, June 14th at 11:59PM EST. 

Tell us your story! We welcome broad interpretations of our theme.  We welcome reflective pieces, humor, fiction, creative nonfiction, video, art, photography, and expressions from all students and trainees in the healthcare fields on the humanity and inhumanity of medicine. We strongly welcome the voices of those who’ve taken unusual routes to medicine, those who are underrepresented in medical fields, our colleagues who identify as POC or members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and of course, we want to hear your story; whomever you may be. 

$100 awards will be awarded to the top submission in each of the following categories: Creative Writing, Poetry, and Visual Art.

 Submission Criteria: 

• All submissions must be submitted by individuals who are students/trainees in a medical field (including but not limiting the fields of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, midwifery, etc).
• Intellectual property rights are retained by the author.
• All work submitted becomes the property of Auxocardia and may be reproduced in part or whole at the discretion of the editors. All work submitted is subject to requests for edits at the discretion of the editors.
• We reserve the right to decline any admissions that do not meet our submission criteria or do not meet our editorial standards for publication.
• Of course, we require any piece that references or refers to patient narratives to be completely de-identified and without any protected health information.
• As always, feel free to reach out to us for collaborations and features.
• We follow FNASR for published work. We are a proud member of the CLMP.

    Questions? Contact us at auxocardiajournal@gmail.com.