Narrative Pre-Health Journal

Submissions for Volume 9 are now closed. Please check back in Fall 2026 for more information on Volume 10!

If you are interested in submitting, the guidelines below are used for all current and future volumes. For examples of the type of work we are looking for, you may find our previously published editions in our Archives! 

The Narrative Pre-Health Journal is inspired by the field of narrative medicine to create spaces of reflection and give voice to undergraduate students.  

NPHJ is interested in pieces that focus on reflection and introspection within illness narratives, cultural/social analyses, autoethnographies, ethical considerations, fiction, nonfiction, and art (photography, multimedia, studio art, etc.).

Though the themes and ideas that you may share are not confined to any particular form, looking at examples of works in narrative medicine and the medical humanities may help structure your work. Listed below are a few places to start exploring. 

https://nphj.wordpress.com/featured-work/

https://www.theintima.org/

https://sites.jamanetwork.com/art-and-images-in-psychiatry/

http://bioethicsjournal.com/

NPHJ will review submissions throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, with a deadline of:

Saturday, January 10th, 2026, at 11:59pm*

You may submit submit after the deadline until Sunday, January 11th at 11:59pm. If your piece feels incomplete at this time, submit it as a draft and include a note that it is still in progress. We will work with you!

(*Subject to revision.)

1. Submission Guidelines

1.1 General

1. Manuscripts are to be submitted via email to narrativeprehealth@gmail.com with a cover page containing the following biographical information:
   • Title of Submission
   • Full Name
   • Email
   • Institution
   • Year in School
   • Major(s)/Minor(s)
   • Abstract: A short description of your work. (for board review only)
2. Submissions are to be prepared for blind review. Excluding your cover page, please avoid including any identifying information (name, institutional affiliation, etc.) in your manuscript.
3. No portion of the submission may be plagiarized. We request that any references used follow MLA citation format with a Works Cited page. 
4. Submissions must comply with HIPAA patient privacy regulations.
   • We strongly encourage contributors to seek permission before submitting patient narratives and to anonymize identifiable information to maintain patient confidentiality and privacy.
   • For more information, see http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/laws-regulations/.

1.2 Writing (prose, poetry, etc)

1. File type: Pdf or Google Document.
2. Formatting: 1” margins, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font.
3. Suggested Length: 1 page min – 5 pages max (excluding poetry).* 

*In the past, successful submissions have been a variety of lengths.

1.3 Visual Arts & Photography

1. File type: High-resolution JPEG, PNG, or GIF.
2. Description (200 words or less) is optional but highly encouraged. 
3. Possible mediums: painting, print, drawing, photography, craft, design, sculpture, mixed media, digital art. 

1.4 Videos & Media

1. File type: Link to desired platform of media and a high resolution (JPEG or PNG.) thumbnail to be published. We strongly encourage YouTube as it is most accessible. 

1.5 AI Use Disclosure

1. All submissions should be original work. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may not be used to create or alter significant elements of a piece.
2. If the use of AI is central to the work, please clearly state how it was used and why it was necessary in your submission email. Please contact us at narrativeprehealth@gmail.com for questions and further clarification about the appropriate use of AI.
   1. AI tools for spelling and grammar checks are acceptable on the condition that no words or full sentences are added or altered in any way. 
3. Submissions suspected of participating in the dishonest use of AI tools may not be considered for publication. 

2. Editorial Process

Each submission undergoes blind review and is edited by the members of the journal committee. Comments and suggestions may be made and returned to the contributor for personal editing. Decisions will be sent to the author within a month of the submission deadline. Authors must respond within one week of contact.

3. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, extenuating circumstances regarding your submission, or are having trouble uploading using this link, please contact us at narrativeprehealth@gmail.com.