Carrying the Torch: A New Editor-in-Chief’s Call to Action

In 1956, Don Swatman, a first year UCSF dental student at the time, started this beloved student newspaper with single 8.5 x 11 in. pieces of paper and a typewriter. Over the years, Synapse grew into a multi-media outlet with a wide-reaching audience across its online platform, weekly newsletter, podcasts, storytelling contests, guest speakers and social media. 

As we head into Synapse’s 70th year, journalism, research, and medicine are all under attack, and Synapse, sitting at the nexus of these various disciplines, will become a more important platform than ever for documenting the stories of our student body. I look forward to honoring Synapse’s rich history and highlighting your nuanced perspectives in my role as Synapse’s new editor-in-chief. 

Growing up in Sacramento, local journalism that covered the political goings-on at our state capitol shaped my own curiosities and the critical eye with which I strive to approach questions in my role as a medical student and that I will bring to my time as editor-in-chief. Since taking my first “How to Write a Pitch” class in 7th grade, I turned to writing as a method for advocacy. 

This pursuit of effective advocacy led me to roles at NPR and Futuro Media Group’s podcast, Latino USA and El Tecolote, a bilingual newspaper based out of San Francisco’s Mission District. Now, I am especially excited to be stepping into this new role at Synapse in a climate that I suspect will present some challenges and so many opportunities for growth as a university. 

If you are debating whether to join one of our upcoming editorial meetings, consider the words of Dr. Swatman: “Participate in life around you. Try to make a difference. Find a need and dream up ways to improve or correct the problems that confront you. Don't accept the status quo and grumble.” 

Please reach out and let me know how Synapse can be of support to all of you as you participate in the world around you. Then bring your ideas, fully-developed or in the brainstorming stages, to our biweekly meeting by responding to the invitation link on the Synapse website, or feel free to send me an email at mallory.shingle@ucsf.edu.