Editor's Note

On many nights, I remember feeling both compelled, by our class texts and discussions, and incomplete, not knowing what to do after the encounter. Nearing the end of my time in Columbia University's Narrative Medicine Master's Program, I sought to materialize the compelling and reconcile the incompleteness; to see what took root and what emerged within others and me in this learning experience.

Capturing the essence of our complex training in Narrative Medicine and reaching out to others in the medical humanities extends beyond this small curation, but it will hopefully prove to be a catalyst for further exploration. Being in this field, as I’ve learned over the past two years, means both grappling and making peace with the transience of things. Cheers to the attempt.

France R. Archange

Spring 2025 Graduate

“...allow me to say, that what we call the subject is never given at the start.”

― Life in Quest of Narrative, Paul Ricoeur

The Fruits

One Minus One

Malaika Jawed shares a poem inspired by Colm Tóibín's short story "One Minus One."

A Galaxy

Gianna Paniagua illustrates a reflection about the late Anis Alibhai, a fellow Narrative Medicine graduate and friend.

Movie Poster for the 2019 film, "The Farewell"

The Farewell: An Argument for Collectivism

Katya Tjahaja explores collectivism vs individualism within patient autonomy as depicted in the 2019 film, "The Farewell". This paper was submitted to the Weill Cornell-Qatar Medical Humanities Conference in Doha, Qatar in February of 2025. Katya also presented a 20-minute talk based on it.

Dear Shadow

Thanjira Vimonanupong, in this metaphorical letter, journeys through the effects of caregiving and its reshaping of her understanding of life, death, and illness.