Anthologies
The Center for Bioethics and Humanities presents two anthologies annually as tangible expressions of the multi-talented and supportive community that thrives on the Anschutz campus of the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
The Human Touch
The Human Touch is an annual juried collection of original prose, poetry, graphic arts, photography, music and video created and contributed by members and friends of the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. All features relate to health care – from a medical students chronicling the struggles of their first year, a patient reliving a diagnosis, or a researcher sharing a photograph of a fleeting moment away from the lab.
We are especially thankful for the financial support of Dr. Jeff Hill, an alumnus of the School of Medicine, and his wife, Molly Hill. Their gift enables us to create our gift to the Anschutz Medical Campus community: A beautifully rendered and emotionally powerful representation of the artistry and the diversity of our colleagues and friends.
'The Human Touch' was established in 2008 by founder of the Center's Arts and Humanities in Healthcare Program Henry N. Claman, MD. A renowned immunologist, Henry served as head of the Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology at CU School of Medicine; was on a variety of prestigious editorial boards and received a number of awards, including the Sulzberger Prize from the American Dermatologic Society, the Besredka Prize of the Foundation Franco-Allemande, and the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award for Achievement in Science.
Feature: ‘The Human Touch’ Puts the CU Anschutz Medical Campus’s Artistic Talent on Display, October 5, 2021
We are currently reviewing contributions to the 2025 edition of 'The Human Touch' to be released in late spring. The submission period typically runs from November to January; during that time, anyone is welcome to submit pieces via the submittable platform regardless of their connection to the CU Anschutz Campus. All works are reviewed by our editorial board for final selection.
Our supervising faculty welcome your comments and questions; email us at: THT@cuanschutz.edu.
Letters to a Clerkship Student
Letters to a Clerkship Student is a compendium of advice from graduating medical students to the classmates headed into their clinical year of medical school. In this clerkship year – after spending a year primarily in a classroom setting – students plunge into the clinical realm, working with patients under the supervision of residents and attending physicians; they'll cover all the medical blocks and often decide on specialty areas.
Feature: 5-minute video from medical student Melody Jan introducing the 2024 edition.
Put simply: Graduates pay it forward in "Letters to a Clerkship Student."
Recent advice includes, "Don't worry about your evaluations because you have no control over them and it will drive you crazy"; "Don't be afraid to take charge"; and "Do this (the whole medicine thing) because you love to help people."
Feature: 2023 edition's 3-minute video introduction by fourth-year medical student Linh K. Nguyen.
Every year, we collect letters from students in the Gold Humanism Honor Society, the Compass Program, and the Arts and Humanities in Healthcare Program.
We welcome submissions to future editions at anytime. Though there is no word limit, we prefer submissions less than 750 words, about one page. Please do not include identifiable patient information. We accept both poetry and prose and encourage writers to be as creative as they dare. Anonymous contributions undergo more strict criteria for publication.
For consideration for our next edition, please email your letter to our supervising faculty, Dr. Anjali Dhurandhar. If accepted, your letter may be included on your curriculum vitae as a publication.