JD Schwartzman grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and is currently an orthopedic surgery resident at Baylor College of Medicine. His grandmother, a former English literature teacher and zealous orator, instilled in him a love of poetry at an early age. His poetry has been featured in Humans of the World, StreetLit, Something Involving a Mailbox!, and his medical school's literary and visual arts magazine, The Script. His poetry was awarded an honorable mention at the renowned William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition and will be featured in the upcoming American Osler Society Medical Trainee Anthologies. JD studied Biology and Philosophy at Duke University, where he was a traveling member of the varsity fencing team, and attended medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. While not studying, JD enjoys listening to audiobooks, playing tennis, and taking his dog, Bubs, on long walks.

Rachel Williams is a fourth-year medical student at UCF COM. She is a self-published author of six poetry books and two young adult novels. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, editing videos, and roller skating.

Pascal Escobar is a fourth-year medical student at UCF COM. Though his upbringing spanned Australia, the U.S., and Colombia, he has always found comfort in the arts — particularly in poetry and photography. As he delved into medicine, he discovered that many of his peers also turned to creative writing to navigate the emotional challenges of the field. He is committed to exploring how poetry offers a unique space for those balancing art and science and continuing to embrace the powerful connection between the two.

Simcha Chaitoff is a third-year medical student at the UCF College of Medicine. He has always been passionate about writing and poetry. He has written three middle grade novels and has published poetry through national competitions. Simcha studied molecular cell biology at UCF during his undergraduate studies and completed a thesis in health psychology. When not writing and studying, he enjoys baking, knitting, painting, and reading.

Vivian Zhang is a first-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine originally from Dallas, TX. As an avid portrait artist, she is interested in the connection between identity, self-perception, and healing. Through Placebo Press, she hopes to highlight the many ways that art and medicine are intertwined. Previously, Vivian studied neuroscience at Duke University.

Elizabeth Stansberry Medin is a first-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine. She is a self-published poet, Great Books scholar, and aspiring author. For Elizabeth, the pursuits of medicine and storytelling have always been interdependent. As an undergraduate student at Pepperdine University, she studied Biology, Applied Mathematics, and Hispanic Studies, but felt her calling most in the Great Books program, exploring ancient themes of love, pain, and what it means to be human. When she isn't scribbling in her journal, you'll find Elizabeth baking, reading, or explaining to her pre-med mentees why CARS is the most important section on the MCAT.

Andrew Samson is a first-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, and although he doesn't come from a writing background, he has always turned to the arts as a creative outlet, whether it's photography or playing the piano, drums, and guitar. He is drawn to the way different art forms, whether poetry, music, or images, give people a space to express their individuality. When he's not studying, he enjoys playing tennis, making music, and going on long runs.

Serena Thompson is a second-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine from Houston, TX. As a lifelong dancer, she frequently turns to art as a creative outlet, additionally finding joy in acting and teaching herself piano. She majored in Human Biology at Stanford University and did work on health communication and media literacy. She's excited to open space for sharing a wider range of lived experiences in medicine, appreciating how shared understanding can be healing and a powerful source of empathy. Aside from medicine, she enjoys reading, watching F1, staying active, and suffering through marathon training.

Inaya Momin is a first-year medical student at Baylor College of Medicine with a background in health communication, where she focused on using social media to make health information engaging and approachable. Through volunteering with older adults and individuals with Parkinson's disease, she has seen how creative expression can foster connection and joy. Outside of medicine, she enjoys reading, drawing, crocheting, and exploring new crafts.