Narrative Matters

Narrative Matters is the peer-reviewed, personal-essay section of the health-policy journal Health Affairs. It publishes literary nonfiction – based on firsthand encounters – that carry a policy message. These “policy narratives” link a story or anecdote to the big picture. They relate a strong incident or anecdote that draws the reader in and puts the policy issue on the table.

Health Affairs was established in 1981 by John K. Iglehart; since 2007, it has been edited by Susan Dentzer.

Narrative Matters was established in 1999 with Fitzhugh Mullan as its original editor. Dr. Mullan is currently the Murdock Head Professor of Medicine and Health Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine. Since 2006, Narrative Matters has been edited by Ms. Ellen Ficklen, Senior Editor, Health Affairs.

During its 12 years of history, Narrative Matters published over 200 policy narratives on a wide-range of topics by well-known writers including Julia Alvarez, Alexander McCall Smith, and Abraham Verghese, by distinguished medical professionals and academics, as well as by patients. In 2006, the Johns Hopkins University Press published a selection a essays from Narrative Matters: Narrative Matters: The Power of the Personal Essay in Health Policy (eds. Fitzhugh Mullan, Ellen Ficklen, Kyna Rubin) – a volume that has been used to teach medical writing in many universities.

Since its inception, Narrative Matters has been generously funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. The Kellogg Foundation also funded several conferences that brought together present and future contributors to Narrative Matters.