Joan Baranow, PhD, is an associate professor of English at Dominican University of California. She has published three books of poetry, and she produced the PBS documentary Healing Words: Poetry and Medicine.

Veneta Masson is a registered nurse and writer living in Washington, DC. She teaches health care ethics for Georgetown University. Her poems and essays reflect on health, illness, science, and caregiving from her perspective as clinician, family caregiver, and engaged citizen.

Dawn McGuire is a neurologist and poet. Her neurology practice includes many patients with incurable conditions such as HIV, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. Using story and poetry, the medical encounter can be refashioned and truly personalized. Healing is possible, despite incurable disease.

Vivian Teter is the author of the poetry collections Translating a Bridge and Breath Enough. She is professor of English at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Virginia.