We received 17 submissions from students, residents, and fellows across UCSF. The range and quality of the work reflects how much this kind of reflection matters to the people doing it. Thank you to everyone who wrote.

 

First place ($750) — Nikki Apana, MS4, “At the Edge of Healing”

Second place ($500) — Eesha Natarajan, PGY6 in Pediatric Critical Care, “To Be on the Other Side”

Third place ($250) — Eshani Arumalla, MS1, “Who Deserves an Explanation?”

 

We are grateful to our two faculty judges: Aniqa Azim (Department of Medicine) and Michelle Riederer (Department of Psychiatry), both of whom brought genuine care and close attention to this process.

 

Select essays will be featured in our gallery at narrativemed.ucsf.edu by July 1, 2026.

 

Questions? Contact [email protected]