Grey Matter

We’re thrilled to announce that Grey Matter: an anthology of medical poetry, launched on April 30, 2025, will soon be available for purchase.


In the meantime, check out the latest issue of Grey Matter (Issue 6) here.

Grey Matter (GM), the medical poetry journal of the Narrative Medicine program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, believes that poetry is a portal for introspection and reflection, one that connects us more deeply and empathetically to the human experience. In other words, GM is an exemplary application of the Medical Humanities, a discipline that resides at the crossroads of healthcare and human care.

Every issue of GM strives to represent voices across the healthcare spectrum, from providers to patients, with a focus on equity, inclusion, and the celebration of our unique medical narratives.

Submissions

Submissions are welcome from all members of the healthcare community, including patients. Because we’re a medical poetry journal, we have a particular interest in poetry that

  • explores the human condition through a medical lens
  • reflects on the emotional effects of our medical/health experiences
  • anticipates what the future holds for humanity and medicine

How to Submit

  • Submit no more than 3 poems or one piece of flash prose (500 words maximum).
  • Please include a brief, third-person bio (150 words or fewer) with your submission.
  • If your work is published, GM receives first North American rights; all rights revert to the author upon publication.
  • Please submit at uagreymatter@gmail.com

Before submitting, we encourage you to read our previous issues, which can be accessed from the Grey Matter drop-down menu at the top of the page.

Editorial Board

Faculty Editor: Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski
Editors: RJ Raebel, Jeanne Macbeth
Past Editors: Meher Rakkar (founder), Shiv Shah, Thea Shogren

GM is proudly supported by the Narrative Medicine program, which is directed by Dr. Jennifer Hartmark-Hill.