The Interstitium welcomes original contributions that explore the intersection of medicine, humanities, and art. Our mission is to amplify the voices of healthcare providers, patients, and creatives, fostering a deeper understanding of the human experience within and beyond clinical settings. Below, you’ll find our general submission guidelines and details for each submission category. 

General Information

• Originality: We accept unpublished works only. Submissions previously posted on blogs, social media, or other platforms will not be considered.

• Simultaneous Submissions: While simultaneous submissions are permitted, please notify us immediately if your piece is accepted elsewhere.

• Author Rights: Authors retain intellectual property rights. Accepted work may be featured in online or print versions of The Interstitium such as our newsletter. Authors are welcome to have their work published anonymously. 

• Privacy: Submissions must adhere to HIPAA guidelines to protect patient privacy and confidentiality. See “Patient Privacy, Policies and Disclaimers” below for more. 

How to Submit

• Formatting: Submissions should follow standard guidelines:

• Written Work: Submission should generally be under 2,500 words and in a Microsoft Word format (.docx or .doc).

• Visual Art and Multimedia: JPEG, PNG, GIF, MP3 or MP4 format. 

• Poetry: Each poem should be submitted as a separate file.

• Submitting your piece: Upload your piece through our website or email it as an attachment to theinterstitiumumassmed@gmail.com. Please include a short, 1-2 sentence biography with your piece. 

• Review Process: We aim to review and return submissions to the author with any necessary edits or formatting changes within 1-2 weeks. Once finalized, pieces will be published on the site.

Submission Categories

On the Wards: First-hand narratives that capture the human experience in healthcare settings. Stories may reflect on patient care, provider challenges, or moments of profound learning.

Fiction:  Short stories that reflect on themes of health, illness, and medicine. 

Nonfiction: Including but not limited to academic essays (analytical or research-based essays exploring the study and practice of medicine) and creative nonfiction (essays grounded in real-life experiences, offering insight into personal or professional medical journeys).

Poetry: Poems that engage with themes of trauma, healing, caregiving, resilience and/or the human condition 

Visual Art and Multimedia: Original artwork such as illustrations and photography. We also accept audio and video recordings.

Patient Perspectives: A space for patients to share their personal stories, offering unique insights into their healthcare experiences and fostering understanding between patients and providers.

Patient Privacy, Policies and Disclaimers: 

Entries on The Interstitium are not official statements. They represent the personal views of their respective authors and are not official statements from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. They do not represent the views of the University or its officers. The Interstitium as an official student group does not constitute any approval to issue statements on behalf of UMass Chan and does not provide UMass Chan with any ownership of or interest in any materials submitted or published. 

All student submissions and publications must be fully de-identified within the meaning of the Health Information and Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and must exclude all protected health information (PHI) identifiers listed in 45 CFR § 164.514(b)(2) (including, but not limited to, patient name, dates of service, and full-face images).  Submitting PHI to The Interstitium is a violation of University policies and may result in discipline by University and/or individual liability under HIPAA.

To maintain these standards, contributors should review the confidentiality guidelines in the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). We also encourage contributors to seek permission before submitting patient stories, and to fictionalize or change identifiable information whenever possible and appropriate to maintain patient confidentiality and privacy.  Please contact theinterstitiumumassmed@gmail.com with any further questions or concerns.

Content on this website does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a health professional. Readers should speak with a healthcare provider about personal healthcare questions and needs.