Click on the image above to download a copy of the 2024 edition of Wild Onions
Each spring, we release this journal and share a collection of photography, art, and creative writing during a time of renewal as the trees begin to bud and the first of the spring wildflowers push through the fertile soil. Wild Onions holds the distinct honor and responsibility of documenting our struggles and triumphs throughout its pages, providing a platform for members of our healthcare community to express and interpret the impact of this time on our day-to-day existence. These pages are devoted to sharing creative writing and artistic work that seeks to describe and understand the experiences of health, illness, and treatment, especially caregiving and receiving care. The beauty of Wild Onions is its capacity to create a vibrant and expressive community of artists year after year. This edition features work by individuals affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, including patients, students, faculty, physicians, residents, nurses, staff, volunteers, and family and community members.
Selection Process:
Each year, we are fortunate to receive hundreds of high-quality submissions of original creative writing, photography, and artwork. All entries are reviewed by medical student editors, and a subset is selected for inclusion in the publication. Particularly stellar pieces are identified and sent on to the corresponding art, creative writing, and photography judges for review and selection. This year, we chose awards—one each in creative writing, photography, and art—for the following categories:
• Students and Residents
• Faculty and Healthcare Providers
• Patients
• Staff, Family, and Community Members
New in 2024 is a Biological Imaging Competition featuring digital life sciences images from our biomedical colleagues.