Background

Who We Are

Capillaries is inspired by the fields of narrative medicine and medical humanities, which encourage healthcare professionals and patients to reflect on their experiences in medicine through art, and to develop greater appreciation for the inherent humanity in all people. We want to bring this genre of writing and art to the greater UW community because we believe that all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff (from all departments, not just in medicine) have stories and ideas worth sharing and discussing as well.

Capillaries is an undergraduate-run journal at the University of Washington. Our goal is to provide students with the opportunity to reflect on their experiences with medicine, healing, illness, and/or grief through prose, poetry, and artwork. Furthermore, Capillaries aims to support students and the community in their healthcare journeys and to promote greater understanding between the sciences and the humanities.

Since February 2018, we have worked towards reducing the stigma against discussing mental health, shame, disordered eating, suicide, sexual assault, and our most vulnerable and often silenced experiences. We have also sought to uplift the voices of populations marginalized by our fractured healthcare system through collaborations with the Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice (CHSIE), the UW School of Medicine’s Narrative Medicine Interest Group, and the Seattle-King County Clinic. Each year, we gather stories, essays, and artwork for our Autumn, Winter, and Spring publications and also share these narratives at our quarterly open-mic/Writers' Jam events.

​Why the name Capillaries? Capillaries are sites in the body for the exchange of nutrients and gases. Similarly, our journal is a site for the exchange of stories and ideas. We welcome all narratives, ranging from personal anecdotes to reflections on public and global health issues.