https://www.placebopress.org/masthead daily 0.75 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/775fd610-ab63-48fe-81c2-46d415f4e399/headshot.jpeg Masthead - Founder and Editor-in-Chief JD Schwartzman grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and is currently an orthopedic surgery resident at Baylor College of Medicine. His grandmother, a former English literature teacher and zealous orator, instilled in him a love of poetry at an early age. His poetry has been featured in Humans of the World, StreetLit, Something Involving a Mailbox!, and his medical school’s literary and visual arts magazine, The Script. His poetry was awarded an honorable mention at the renowned William Carlos Williams Poetry Competition and will be featured in the upcoming American Osler Society Medical Trainee Anthologies. JD studied Biology and Philosophy at Duke University, where he was a traveling member of the varsity fencing team, and attended medical school at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. While not studying, JD enjoys listening to audiobooks, playing tennis, and taking his dog, Bubs, on long walks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/9f58a378-05d8-428a-9f76-9b58882ffeb9/IMG_7855_Rache.jpg Masthead - Co-Editor Rachel Williams is a second-year medical student at UCF COM. She is a self-published author of six poetry books and two young adult novels. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, editing videos, and roller skating. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/375c962e-2915-4d1d-9e93-34eeac8a8e5e/UCFCOM_2023_1071_Original.jpeg Masthead - Co-Editor Pascal Escobar is a second-year medical student at UCF COM. Though his upbringing spanned Australia, the U.S., and Colombia, he has always found comfort in the arts — particularly in poetry and photography. As he delved into medicine, he discovered that many of his peers also turned to creative writing to navigate the emotional challenges of the field. He is committed to exploring how poetry offers a unique space for those balancing art and science and continuing to embrace the powerful connection between the two. https://www.placebopress.org/welcome daily 1.0 2026-02-18 https://www.placebopress.org/submissions daily 0.75 2022-06-22 https://www.placebopress.org/faq daily 0.75 2023-05-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg FAQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg FAQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg FAQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607638148090-Y6OFDI575CM3NQV732RJ/Large+JPG-Aro+Ha_0387.jpg FAQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607628784608-5D22G9GPLHDSAB2IXC2G/Large+JPG-Aro+Ha_0638.jpg FAQ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1589847743861-GWVMBPD7Z7WQRQL9IZZ8/Large+JPG-Aro+Ha_0380.jpg FAQ https://www.placebopress.org/vision daily 0.75 2022-12-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/6aa3b8ea-0009-4f94-a94f-20e9f708acc5/shutterstock_67315393.jpg Vision - The Story Upon entering medical school, JD Schwartzman, founder of Placebo Press, was unsure whether he would have time to continue reading and writing poetry. When he first opened his school’s arts magazine, he realized that he was not the only one using poetry as a creative outlet to manage the weight of medicine. Poetry publication in the modern era consists of self publishing or submitting to established literary presses. While the former does not carry the same legitimacy as peer-reviewed work, the latter is dominated by distinguished poets, many of whom hold masters of fine arts degrees and several publications. Importantly, these folks have the time and community to hone their craft to the highest level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/4780a23e-fc00-47c6-821d-aa929ea8fb6f/shutterstock_1200203968.jpg Vision - The Purpose Poetry need not reflect dramatic emotional moments, yet the endeavor of working in healthcare entails constant engagement with emotionally potent experiences on both sides of the spectrum. On the same day, healthcare professionals bring babies into the world and lose patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. Students learn how to intertwine the concreteness of science with the humanity of each patient. Individuals who work within or study medicine are ripe with material to express through poetry yet are commonly left without an outlet suited for them to proudly share their work. Further, there is little opportunity for poets in medicine to engage with each other. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/625bf96d-6160-4485-ba2a-5e8c3c9620b2/shutterstock_1671740746.jpg Vision - The Name A placebo is a treatment without physiological value intended to provide psychological benefit. Countless studies in medical literature echo the sentiment that placebos can radically change a patient’s illness experience without altering the disease process. Similarly, poetry as an outlet for healthcare personnel will not change the frequency or severity of emotional medical experiences, but it provides an alternative framework to address these daily occurances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6299063b948c18258df7dcc7/60179369-9424-4881-a6d7-69b86a3cff2d/shutterstock_1336040846.jpg Vision - The Mission Placebo Press was founded with the mission to provide healthcare professionals, employees, affiliates, and students with community and publication opportunities in a legitimate literary press. Placebo Press was created for physicians, nurses, medical asssistants, medial scribes, psychologists, physical therapists, medical technologists, nutritionists, paramedics, social workers, genetic counselors, and individuals of any other medical occupation. Students of any medical field are encouraged to submit. https://www.placebopress.org/issues daily 0.75 2025-05-25