We end our 2021 publication cycle with a snapshot of the diversity, creativity, and commitment of some of the scholars, educators, artists, and learners who are continually influencing and advancing the field of the medical/health humanities.

The articles in this issue include a brief history of the Health Humanities Consortium as well as a toolkit for those academic leaders determined to launch inter- and multi-disciplinary health humanities programs in their own colleges and universities. What follows are remarkable discussions and descriptions of pedagogical practices from undergraduate programs through medical education and resident training; philosophical and political analyses of structural injustices and clinical biases; and insightful and informative analyses of imaginative work such as comics, literary texts, and paintings.

And, finally, what has become a tradition in the December issue is the opportunity to honor the winners of the annual William Carlos Williams Poetry Medical Student Competition and to share their verse. They are:

  • Steven Pan who is a second-year medical student at Weill Cornell and a first-generation immigrant. As an undergraduate, he majored in biology but took many courses in literature and writing. His first poem was published in the local newspaper when he was in elementary school, while still enrolled in an English as a Second Language program. Since then, his work has been featured in various print and online literary publications, and his poem, “Mass Effect,” placed first in this year’s competition.

  • Dana Vigue who is originally from rural Maine. As an undergraduate at MIT, she discovered her dual interests in biology and anthropology. She is now a fourth-year student at Harvard Medical School where she is working towards an MD and a PhD in medical anthropology. Dana draws upon the social sciences and humanities not only in her work as a medical researcher, but also in her efforts to learn from the relationships she builds with patients and their families. Her poem, “Water,” represents one such effort to reflect on her first experiences providing end-of-life care as a physician-in-training and placed second.

  • Soo Hyun Choi who is a second-year medical student at Tulane University School of Medicine. Born in South Korea, she has called Mongolia, California, Germany, and now, New Orleans, her home. Her academic profile is largely defined by its interdisciplinary nature, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and French at Tulane University prior to joining their MD program. Her experiments in art and writing often consider themes of heritage, upbringing, and history. Her poem, “Satsuma,” placed third in this year’s competition.

I began publishing the verse of these medical student winning poets when I became Editor of JMH in 2003, following the tenure of my brilliant colleague and dear friend, Delese Wear. This is my final “table of contents,” and I write this with such gratitude for the opportunity to serve as editor for so long. It has been a joy and an honor to witness and contribute to the development and expansion of our field, and I am deeply grateful to the members of the Editorial Board for their support and dedication in making this journal a successful publication.

I am also eternally grateful to Kathleen Pachucki who joined me in 2009 as Assistant Editor. Her conscientiousness, patience, and good humor made the process run smoothly and ensured that four issues per year actually happened!

We both wish the new editorial team the best, knowing that they are embarking on a wonderfully enjoyable and educational adventure.

Thank you,

Tess Jones and Kathy Pachucki