FIELD NOTES

INTIMA FALL-WINTER 2026

Click on the title of the essay to read.

Confluence | Megan Mensinger

How a moment in the OR opens up a childhood memory and generates wonder.

Dignity by Design | Nina Ragunanthan

Physician and medical anthropologist Paul Farmer believed clinics should hold dignity, beauty and hope in physical form. An OB/GYN and her husband, a pediatrician, bring that philosophy to a Mississippi Delta clinic.

Dualities of Our Morning | Shaleen Thakur

Having the opportunity to experience ‘both sides now’ inspired this honest, sometimes funny and true-to-life patient/physician perspective.

The Invitation | Grace Ro

When a person makes a decision to end his life, a psychiatrist struggles to understand what happened, a reflection that only deepens when she attends his memorial.

Mood Ring | Joyce Cui

Emotions can’t easily be categorized, on the hospital floor, or elsewhere. Still, there’s a certain power received from expressing those feelings as colors.

Patients Who Never Leave Us | Kelsey Van Housen

Critical moments in medical training create indelible memories that strengthen a sense of purpose and empathy in a clinician’s life. This is a narrative every healer will connect with, remembering scenarios that shaped them.

Reflections | Ema Arai

Silence isn’t always considered an asset in clinical training or practice; in fact, it’s often frowned upon. This reflection by a third-year medical student talks about finding her strength in being reserved.

See You Monday | Nancy Rappaport

Dates on a calendar, the anticipation of another day, a future appointment: How coming to terms with a dire diagnosis takes a measure of time and someone who listens without judgement.