Western University of Health Sciences

Humanism

Become an Editor

Information for students interested in becoming editors

The editorial staff for Humanism in the Health Sciences magazine is open to all current WesternU students of any program or year who wish to join. Each year a Call for Editors will be published via WesternU email, social media, and website. An information session will be held for all interested students to learn more and sign up for the staff. There is no interview or formal application process to be on the editorial staff, it is entirely voluntary. Editors must be a in good academic standing and willing/able to fulfill the duties of editor for the duration of the publication.

Editors are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the magazine, although their submissions should be edited by others on the staff. Being on the editorial staff does not guarantee publication and should follow the same process as all other submissions.

Editors may serve more than one issue/year, however at the final publication of the issue, the editorial staff is released, and a new staff will be created for the next publication.

Important Note: Humanism in the Health Sciences magazine is not an official student club. It is administered through the Public Affairs and Marketing Department. There is no academic or service credit for participation. Regardless of not being an official student club, we adhere to the Student Club Bylaws on equal opportunity organizations and as such do not discriminate on the basis of (including but not limited to): program, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, politics, disability, gender or sexual orientation. Students are expected to adhere to all Academic or Professional Conduct policies of WesternU.

A quick overview of duties:

  1. Editors should be able to communicate and collaborate clearly and effectively throughout the process; most editorial activities can be coordinated via online resources such as email, Google Docs, One Drive, Teams/Zoom to allow editors to participate on their own schedule without disrupting their academic studies, however there will be general meetings that editors should make an effort to attend.
  2. Editors should demonstrate compassion, respect, value of diversity, interprofessionalism, and an ability to work collaboratively with the rest of the editorial staff, the Editor-in-Chief (EIC) and the advisor.
  3. There are no fees or fundraising goals for editors; all budget expenses are paid for by the Public Affairs and Marketing Department or from donations through University Advancement.
  4. Editors will set deadlines, decide on the theme, help promote the magazine and solicit submissions.
  5. Editors may edit content for grammar, spelling, clarity and length if necessary and approve all submissions for publication.
  6. Editors may have technical skills or prior experience in writing, editing, photography or graphic design but this is not mandatory.
  7. Editors will elect the Editor-in-Chief

Editor-in-Chief (EIC)

The EIC serves for the entire issue/year. If the EIC is unable to fulfill their duties, a new EIC may be elected by the editorial staff, or the advisor may step in to fulfill the duties of the EIC as necessary.

  • The EIC needs to have effective leadership and communication skills; be respectful to the editors and contributors; be culturally sensitive and able to lead the magazine in a fair and unbiased manner; and have a collaborative mindset for the administration of the editorial staff.
  • The EIC will need experience at setting and keeping to appropriate deadlines and an ability to keep others organized and on schedule.
  • The EIC should be able and willing to lead meetings, assign tasks, and organize content using software such as Zoom, Teams, Google Docs, OneDrive, and email as appropriate.
  • The EIC may have some knowledge or experience with copy editing, publishing, design, and copyright but it’s not mandatory.
  • The EIC is the primary liaison between the editorial staff and the advisor or other Public Affairs representative.

There is a scholarship available for the Editor-in-Chief of Humanism in the Health Sciences magazine. The Joseph and Dorothy Gendron Journalism Award is presented annually. The student recipient shall be recognized by their dean at the college’s/program’s appropriate award ceremony.

The 2022-2023 advisor for the magazine is Debra Nelson, Graphic Designer, Public Affairs and Marketing. If you have any questions or concerns, please email dnelson@westernu.edu or HumanismMagazine@westernu.edu.

Humanism in the Health Sciences Magazine

More Information

We encourage submissions from our whole WesternU community: current and prospective students, faculty, staff, administration, preceptors, advisory council members, donors, alumni, Health Career Ladder students and their parents, and all other interested friends and associates of WesternU.

Gifts to the Yolanda B. Suarez, DO, Humanism Journal Endowment will ensure the continued publication of this award-winning magazine and support scholarships for the student editors.