Medical Humanities and Arts

Plexus is a student-organized publication that showcases artwork by UCI School of Medicine students, physicians, faculty, staff and patients. True to its name, PLEXUS aspires to connect those who seek to heal and to be healed through the unifying language of art.

This year, the Plexus team is excited to introduce some ‘firsts’ - a theme, the traveling Plexus exhibit, a separate Art for the Soul section and inclusion of performance arts. You were invited to embody the theme of ‘Equilibrium & Transformation’ in your art and what a response! Thank you for sharing your wealth of emotion and perspective. Due to an overwhelming number of requests to display Plexus at events last year, we have produced our own moveable feast of 5-10 of our most prominent pieces from Plexus 2013 and displayed it during Solidarity Day 2014 and at Irvine Hall, and plan to display an updated version at UCI Medical Center during various departmental events this year. We have also highlighted work created by cancer survivors through the Art for the Soul program in a separate section and have added a ‘Performance’ section on the Plexus website to respond to the community’s passion for dance and drama.

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the medical student writing competition! 1st: Anjali Hari, MS2 ‘Maya’ 2nd: Jiwon Shin, MS1 ‘The Remnants’ and 3rd: Lorianne Burns, MS3 ‘Conversation Unspoken’.

Thank you to our wonderful Editors who helped bring all the changes to fruition, and for bringing thoughtful criticism and inspiration to our creative vision. We would like to thank Dean Clayman for sponsoring the traveling Plexus exhibit. We would like to give special thanks to our faculty advisor, Dr. Johanna Shapiro and Dr. Ellen Peterson, Associate Dean of Admissions and Outreach. This book would not have been possible without your support.

We hope you enjoy PLEXUS 2014. Bon voyage!

Editors-In-Chief: Nabila Haque, Esther Jun

Digital Editor-In-Chief: Adam Truong

Creative Writing: Jacqueline Kurth, Christy Tabit

Layout, Design & Visuals: Ben Nguyen, Kevin Gustafson

Audio & Performance: Jessica Galant, Evelyn Hoover, Katherine Stern

Marketing And Outreach: Avinash Chaurasia, Jiwon Helen Shin

Website Design: Neil Saez

1st Place Winner of PLEXUS Student Writing Competition made possible by UCISOM Humanities Dept.: Anjali Hari

2nd Place Winner; Jiwon Helen Shin

3rd Place Winner: Lorianne Burns

To contribute to Plexus or to request the Plexus exhibit at your event, please send email plexusjournal@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!