Narrative Pre-Health Journal

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Narrative Pre-Health Journal

The Narrative Pre-Health Journal (NPHJ) at the University of California, Davis is a student-run journal inspired by narrative medicine.

Our mission is to create spaces for meaningful reflection and discourse about healthcare. What is Narrative Medicine? Many medical schools encourage their students to participate in narrative medicine as a way to reflect on their clinical experiences and share their personal stories during their journey toward a health career. Our mission is to mirror narrative medicine on the undergraduate level

across all health professions. NPHJ provides an opportunity for pre-health students at UC Davis to collectively share their multitude of experiences as aspiring health professionals through discussion, writing, art, photography, and virtually any other creative form. NPHJ will publish a journal of student narratives, host workshops, invite guest speakers, and examine medical literature. Join NPHJ today to learn more about future events, how to contribute to our journal, and how to become a stronger applicant for health professional schools! We welcome students pursuing all health professions. Email us at [email protected] to learn more about our journal and future involvements.

05/19/2026

May 18 | Pre Health Student Stories

I’m a third year undergraduate at UC Davis and first generation Mexican American from the borderlands of San Diego and Tijuana. My interest in healthcare grew gradually through experiences revealing the lack of representation, funding, and resources for the Latino community. Living between Mexico and the United States showed me these disparities exist in both healthcare systems. I realized I could use the resources available here to give back to my community. Through my undergrad, I learned the Latino community isn’t the only underserved one. My work at Imani Clinic, serving the African American diaspora, showed me the Black community also faces significant barriers. Both experience real disparities and oppression, and that has motivated me to be part of creating change.

One main reason I want to enter healthcare is to address traditional beliefs in the Latino community, especially machismo. My grandfather died of a stroke from chronic illnesses he didn’t know he had. My godfather had a similar experience, pre diabetic and pre hypertensive before his stroke. My father also perceived himself as too strong to need healthcare, despite developing chronic illnesses. Family persuasion helped him seek care. That’s why I took a psychology minor, to better understand how to address these barriers.

These preventable family deaths grounded my decision to pursue this path. I want to help other families avoid the same hardships. People deserve to access proper healthcare easily, regardless of economic hardship or cultural barriers. Working at Imani Clinic taught me how crucial empathy is in creating real solutions for patients. That empathy drives my career path.

I aspire to be a physician assistant. Latinos are underrepresented in this field, and I want to be one providing resources back to my community. In my pre-health classes, there’s good support, but representation is lacking. That motivates me to keep working toward reducing underrepresentation and giving back healthcare to those who need it. Growing up in the borderlands continues to motivate me to help these communities access better healthcare.

03/09/2026

Pre-Health Student Stories | March 9th
My interest in public health started when I happened to be writing for a grant to fund environmental concerns around a sport I did back in high school (dragon boat). I didn’t know it then, but this would lead me to research how occupational hazards of our dock could be related to public health. The more I went down this rabbit hole, the more I began to explore a field I’ve never really heard of. It was eye-opening as I had thought I was constrained to only working in traditional, medical roles. I eventually entered UC Davis as a Global Disease Biology major in hopes of learning more about public health. My experience as an eager first year had its challenges. With struggling through my first year of courses, I found myself lost with the possibility of changing majors. But with the help of GDB advisors, I realized that my coursework would give me the freedom to dabble among the intersection of disease dynamics, community health, and research, which would truly make me happy. So during my first year, I was excited to join Global Perspectives Initiative, a public health club aiming to present topics often not covered in introductory STEM classes here (e.g, marginalized communities in medical spaces, stigma, mental health, etc). This experience gave me the space to work on myself, fueling my passion for public health while working alongside other students who understood the successes and challenges that come with this field. Outside the classroom, I work as a student assistant to a team of cancer health educators, learning how to facilitate community-based prevention to various counties surrounding Sacramento. Because of this, I’ve enjoyed researching cancer, particularly lung cancer, which came full circle when I learned a family member was affected by it through a health disparity. There is still a world of unanswered questions surrounding cancer and disease and I hope to one day inspire others to keep asking, especially when the resources are not always there. I plan to pursue a Master’s of Public Health with an interest in chronic diseases, turning that full circle moment into a new lifelong commitment to public health.

03/03/2026

Pre-Health Student Stories | March 2nd

My interest in health came from a very young age. I always felt the urge to heal. It started with animals, and in middle school, I started watching Grey’s Anatomy and fell in love with the human connection in medicine. I didn’t see it represented in my community or anywhere in my inner circle, so it was just my own desire to heal. What motivates me now is the opportunity to gain exposure to a clinical setting and witness disparities.

Being a patient myself and struggling with a few things medically also really opened my eyes to how easy it is to dismiss people. I had a recurring cyst for eight months that kept getting dismissed, so I had to advocate for myself to get a dermatology referral. Within 15 minutes, I was diagnosed with HS, a condition that is more prevalent in Black women but was not previously taken into consideration. I also had a friend who was denied a specialist referral because her doctors assumed her pain was self-inflicted. The lack of trust that medical professionals have in their patients really needs to change.

Working at Imani Clinic as a medical assistant, interpreter, and board member has really kept me grounded. I love connecting with patients and supporting them with their needs. I envision myself as a primary care physician, someone who actually explains things and brings natural remedies to light in day-to-day appointments. I want to bring more holistic medicine to the forefront, considering how our mental, physical, and emotional states are intertwined. I also aspire to provide more free services because in this country, it is way too expensive to get the services we need.

I can’t really say that I feel represented in my pre-health classes just because there is a very small Black population and an even smaller population of Black undergrads who also want to be in healthcare. Still, I feel supported by the women I’ve gotten to know naturally on this journey. That girlhood honestly keeps me going

12/14/2025

Pre-health Student Stories | December 13

My interest in medicine began with my appreciation for personalized healthcare. In many hospital settings you’re briefly seen, given limited time to find a diagnosis and are not able to build a relationship with physicians, making it difficult for patients to open up to their healthcare professional.

My experience of coming to the U.S from Mexico prompted barriers in communication and access to care for me and my family. We found ourselves traveling between Mexico and the U.S in order to obtain the medical attention my family deserved. With having family members who had health conditions such as cancer, they’ve constantly motivated me to become someone who is able to support patients the way my family deserves to be cared for. Creating a private practice is how I wish to give back. Creating a space where there is a healthcare team that gives patients their full attention, having them be seen as more of a person than a patient is how I want to give back as a future physician.

I’ve been able to explore different health opportunities, including podiatry, where I was able to see what it was like to run a private practice. Through that experience is where I strengthened my passion for having one of my own. Seeing what happens behind the scenes in a healthcare setting, working with medical staff who wanted the best for their patients reinforced why I chose to go into medicine. Having the experience of being a patient, and being the one who provides that care, gives me the compassion and understanding I hope to have with future patients.

My involvement with Kappa Gamma Delta surrounds me with pre-health students who are just as passionate about medicine and gives me a safe space to turn to when being pre-med gets tough. It reminds me that everyone’s pre-health journey is different. Whether it be guiding me in a field where I’ll be the first in my family to enter health professions, or when it comes to needing additional motivation, having that community keeps pushing me to achieve the practice and profession I hope to have one day.

12/01/2025

Pre-health Student Stories | December 1st

I’ve always known I wanted to give back to others. When exploring the different pathways on where I wanted to give back, the health professions stood out to me. I knew I didn’t want to become a doctor at a young age due to my experiences being in and out the hospital with family members, which is a setting I couldn’t see myself perusing as a career. Dental stood out to me because of its personal relationship with patients. Being able to see the same patients twice a year and helping them in the moment gives me the satisfaction of providing oral care to patients. I aspire to be a dentist who makes patients feel comfortable sitting in my chair and made it my goal to give back that way. With being a pre-dental student at Davis, I found myself enjoying the environment, making lasting friendships and progressing towards a future I wish to obtain. Although, being a first generation low-income student added on additional burdens that became prominent once starting my undergrad journey. With having to work many hours to support myself financially through school, I caught myself devoting much of my time at work and less time towards experiences as a pre-dental student. It was hard at the beginning with managing school, work, and trying to navigate through what’s it’s like to be pre-dental, but I found that with the close friends I’ve made and current involvements as a Co-leader for Juvenile Caduceus Clinic (JCC) dental committee, a SmileSavers volunteer, and my upcoming experience volunteering at CommuniCare Dental, that it reminds me why I’m able to push myself to be the first in my family to graduate college and pursue a career that allows me to help others in a way that I’m passionate about.

11/26/2025

NPHJ Volume 9 submissions are now open! Want to express your creativity through your experiences with medicine? Submit your written or visual pieces for a chance to be published in Volume 9. Submissions are due Jan.10th. We can’t wait to see your work!

11/15/2024

Pre Health Student Stories | November 15

My interest in healthcare grew over time, and looking back, a major factor was my family’s lack of health. This showed me how little support is available, especially for the undocumented community, and how people delay healthcare because they can’t afford it. I saw this with my grandpa when he had a work accident and wasn’t given much support. This made me want to help people, emphasizing the importance of taking care of their health and supporting them in investing time in things like dental hygiene to prevent future issues.

As a Latino, I’ve seen minimal representation of my community in medicine. In undergrad, it’s challenging because some of us have to work, which can set you back. But I also see a lot of motivation, especially from Latinos. It’s encouraging to see student-run clinics that are inclusive, wanting to involve everyone, which is motivational.

I picture myself inspired by helping people and showing them how to take care of themselves. I think I want to work with kids because if you teach them young, they can teach their families. People are more likely to listen to their child or grandchild than a stranger. When I tell my siblings how to care for themselves, I see them spreading it to their friends. At the doctor, some might not listen, but if family tells you, it feels serious because you trust them more. If the newest generation is more aware, they’ll spread awareness and gradually become healthier.

I see how cities with more income have hospitals with better resources, but low-income areas are forgotten. I want to bring healthcare to those who need it most.

10/31/2024

We are excited to announce that we are now accepting submissions for Volume 8 of the Narrative Pre Health Journal!

Our journal is centered around narrative medicine, a field of research and philosophy of care which highlights the experiential, personal, and human aspects of healthcare that are often forgotten in a science focused discipline. With a selection of expressive pieces from talented undergraduates, our journal explores experiences, reflections, and research relating to the medical humanities and narrative medicine. We welcome submissions from all students, regardless of background, to bring thoughtful and varied perspectives to this volume.

Submissions are diverse and include both visual arts and written work. Visual pieces may include photography, paintings, digital art, drawings, or crafts. Written pieces may include creative and autobiographical narratives, expository essays, letters, reflections, and poetry. Previous pieces have explored themes of empathy, bioethics, personal illness, death and life, healing, and human (or non-human) aspects of the medical environment. This list is certainly not exhaustive; more information on submission guidelines, as well as pdf’s of our previous journals, can be found on our website: nphj.wordpress.com

The deadline for submissions is January 10th; if you need assistance with the writing or editing process, please reach out to us at [email protected]. We have an enthusiastic team of editors who would love to help!

The submission form can be found in our Linktree in our bio.

10/30/2024

Pre-Health Student Stories | October 30th

There are a lot of things I want to pursue growing up. It was through my grandfather’s death and my family’s support that I wanted to become a doctor even more. My journey has gone from just focusing on school to also begin my passion in public health and different avenues of medicine. Educating patients, spreading awareness, being thorough and comforting, can save lives in a multitude of ways. I want to be able to give the effective care patients need to receive.
All of these options available to impact lives pushed me further to pursue this career.

Being pre-med in college has taught me some valuable lessons, and I faced challenges that I still try to overcome. I initially thought it wouldn’t be so hard, but once you start it, you get how difficult this journey can be. It wasn’t until my first shadowing experience that I learned who exactly I could be. There’s humanity, ethics, and interactions that are just as valuable as your basic STEM courses that you take. Some of the doctors I have met, have known their patients for 30+ years. I realized being able to grow with your patients was a privilege. Looking back, it’s a nostalgic feeling, and I remember not wanting to leave. Especially when I saw the same patients from my first and last week. You feel that hospitality and care back from them, and it feels so rewarding.

One of the things that keeps me going is a sense of community with the support around me. You learn from the people you’re surrounded with. Being surrounded with other premed students allowed all of us to grow as a group. It’s hard to remind myself that this isn’t a rat race, and it shouldn’t be. Spreading positivity and advice is where my effort goes towards, and what I believe other pre-med students’ time should go towards. It only leads to self discovery and that’s exactly what this journey is all about.

10/23/2024

Pre-Health Student Stories | October 23

At a young age, I started learning about careers in healthcare, however, the biggest impact that shifted my perspective on healthcare was when a family member had a stroke. Having been with my family members every step of the way and accompanying their physical therapy sessions, a spark of curiosity lit when I started to seek interest in the role of a physical therapist and started understanding the medical services and careers that could support a patient’s recovery. A particular memory that stands out is when my family member was doing hydrotherapy and they were performing breaststroke with one functional arm and leg. This experience greatly impacted me as I was able to recognize and experience how crucial physical therapists are in supporting recovery to both chronic and acute injuries.
This event in my life made me reflect on my own community and the disparities I see within access to healthcare. Many people in my low-income community don’t have access to the same clinics and medical infrastructures as the nearby towns. In my personal experience, having to leave town for access to resources like stroke rehabilitation centers with hydrotherapy. Knowing these disparities, I knew that I wanted to go to college and start my journey to become a physical therapist so I can come back to my community and help close the disparities.

Entering college, navigating STEM classes can be challenging, especially for individuals who didn’t have equal access to the same education as other students. This impacted me as I experienced imposter syndrome because I began comparing myself to others, however over time, with the support of my family and friends, I learned not to compare my journey with others and began to believe in myself and my personal journey.

As of now, I hope to continue the route of becoming a physical therapist and with currently being involved in the UC Davis Sports Medicine Internship, I’ve enjoyed working with athletes in the rehabilitation stages of their injuries. This experience has led me to a new pathway and I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for me.

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https://nphj.wordpress.com/

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