thirdspace is an online journal dedicated to recording the unique experience of medical education. We give voice to an international community of writers and artists creatively exploring the challenges, rewards, and peculiarities of premedical and medical education, residency, and fellowship training. This journal seeks to transcend the strictures of personal and professional identities by providing a space for the unrepressed consideration of physicians in training as self-aware, complex human beings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can submit? Whose work do you publish?
Anyone can submit work focused on the experiences of premedical and medical students, residents, and fellows. Student status, previous publications, and institutional affiliations are not considered in the selection process. Our assistant editors do not have access to any author information and will review work based on its merit.

What are some examples of work you are looking for?
We want to know how you experience medical education. What does being, or knowing, or thinking about a medical student evoke in you? Perhaps you are a parent whose child is applying to medical school. Perhaps you are dating a resident. Perhaps you have been a patient examined by a group of medical students. You may be a premedical student musing on what it might be like to wear a white coat, or a medical student trying to make sense out of your anatomy class, or of your first days on the wards. Perhaps you are a professor or health care professional who has worked with medical students. Maybe you are an artist who imagines medicine through the eyes of a trainee. We want to hear from you. What is it like? How does it feel? What meaning do you assign it? Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and all forms of visual art are welcome.

How can I submit my work?
Click on the SUBMIT tab above for details.

Why do you need my address and telephone number?
If your work is selected for publication we would like to be able to contact you, as well as get your approval for any editorial changes that we may wish to make. Your address and phone number will not be published anywhere, and will not be used for any other purpose besides contacting you about your submission.

Do I need to submit my headshot?
Yes. We would like to see you and provide our readers the ability to appreciate not only your work, but also the artist behind it.

How long should my short biography be?
We are looking for basics about who you are, where you are from, and what you do. A few sentences or a paragraph will do.

When can I expect to hear back from thirdspace?
You will receive an e-mail confirming receipt of your submission within 1 week. If you have not heard from us by then, please resubmit. We strive to notify you whether your submitted pieces have been selected for publication within 90 days of receiving your work. Due to the volume of submissions, we may not be able to provide specific reasons for not selecting a piece.