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2023-2024
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Open in new tab Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Associated Placental Histopathology: A Narrative Literature Review
By Mal Go Illustration by Taimi Xu Abstract This narrative literature review explores the relationship between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) and placental histopathology. The placenta, a crucial fetal organ, plays a vital role in maternal-fetal exchanges during pregnancy. GDM, a common complication affecting 2 to 10 percent of pregnancies in the US, is characterized […]
Racial Disparities in Urban City Planning: “Environmental Racism”
By Zill Patel Illustration by Rhea Rasquinha Introduction What do Flint, Michigan and Centreville, Illinois have in common? Both are examples of cities with significant proportions of people of color (POC) with major environmental crises that have affected the health of their residents. From the lead poisoning in Flint’s water to raw sewage backing […]
Unlocking Access: The Impact and Implications of Methadone Take-Home Policy Changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Alison Lu More than 400,000 people with opioid use disorders (OUD) receive effective methadone treatment (MT). However, federal regulations of methadone take-home flexibilities have always been incredibly strict, requiring patients to engage in daily in-person MT for at least one or two years to receive up to 14 methadone take-home doses (MTHD) or […]
Addressing Healthcare Inequities: Improving Specialty Care for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients
By William Borges In recent years, transgender and gender-diverse healthcare has been brought to the forefront of public discourse. Discussions have shed light on the unique challenges faced by the transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) community. Some progress has been made in addressing these challenges but there are still critical gaps in our healthcare system. […]
Mindfulness Training as a Tool to Combat Acute-to-Chronic Pain Transition in Predisposed Populations
By Alexis Peetz Alio Illustration by Mena Kassa Abstract The transition from acute to chronic pain involves changes in neural circuits associated with learning and emotion. This study explores the potential of mindfulness training as a preventive measure to combat the acute-to-chronic pain transition in predisposed populations. Longitudinal studies have uniquely revealed the predictive […]
The Relationship Between the Opioid Epidemic and the Transmission of Hepatitis C in Rural Areas and Prisons
By Manav Musunuru Introduction The United States has been battling multiple waves of the opioid epidemic since the mid-1990s.1 In 2021, almost 26 deaths out of every 100,000 Americans were attributed to some type of opioid — whether it be prescription, heroin, or synthetic — a sharp rise from 3 deaths per 100,000 in […]
Hunger After Crisis: Exploring Post-Pandemic Trends in Food Insecurity
By Leeah Chang Illustration by Junyue Ma It is without a doubt that COVID-19 had major socioeconomic and health implications for the nation and the world. One of the pandemic’s most prominent effects was on food insecurity, particularly for certain ages and minority populations. Though it is a global problem, the matter of hunger […]
FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine: A Threat to Mifepristone Access and Women’s Reproductive Rights
By Catherine Kawaja INTRODUCTION The mifepristone-misoprostol regimen is the most common form of medication abortion in the United States. It is highly effective, often considered easier than surgical abortion, and can be less expensive. Mifepristone, when added to the misoprostol regimen, causes few side effects and increases the efficacy of medication abortion. Mifepristone makes […]
Beyond Borders: A Glimpse into Uganda’s Healthcare Challenges and Solutions
By Kyoko Saito I walk into an ICU located in the heart of Uganda’s capital city of Kampala. I am shocked to see hundreds of hospital beds, all full, shoved together in a single room the size of a small lecture hall. Family members stand squeezed between the beds, and physicians and nurses run […]
Social Determinants of Type 2 Diabetes in Rural vs. Urban Communities
By Austin V. Joseph Illustration by Junyue Ma Introduction and Background Type 2 diabetes is a chronic immunological disease resulting from the body’s inability to process insulin. It affects populations worldwide, with a global prevalence of 537 million adults (age 20-79), which is expected to rise to 783 million by 2045, making up over […]
The suicide crisis among medical providers—and how healthcare leaders are combatting it
By Deeya Prakash Illustration by Mena Kassa Silence envelops Dr. Michael Ivy’s cozy office.¹ He has neatly folded the sleeves of his striped button-down and adjusts them as he moves to fiddle with his bright orange tie. Behind him, a bookcase overflows with books and memorabilia; framed photographs squeeze into the gaps. Ivy pauses […]
HIV in the Philippines: A Persisting Public Health Crisis Closely Tied To Social Stigma
By Emily Mrakovcic Illustration by Ella Olea Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus, also known as HIV, is present in several regions around the world. Although the virus has the same transmission mechanisms and symptoms regardless of its locality, HIV is experienced very differently across the globe.¹ This is due to several cultural and social factors […]
Gene Editing for Rare Genetic Diseases: Is An Equitable Future Possible?
By Sai Chamarthi “The pain I would feel in my body was like being struck by lightning and hit by a freight train all at once,” Victoria Gray remarks.¹ She recounts her experience living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in front of more than 500 leading scientists, policymakers, and enthusiasts at the Third International Summit […]
Examining Non-Communicable Diseases in Morocco: A Close Look at Cardiovascular Health
By Samiyra F. Afife Introduction Non-communicable Diseases – Looking at Cardiovascular Disease in Morocco In global public health, the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has become a difficult challenge—fundamentally altering the narrative of healthcare worldwide. These conditions, encompassing a diverse spectrum, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, chronic respiratory ailments, and diabetes, now constitute a […]
Descriptive Analysis of Alcohol and Opioid Use in Rhode Island During the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Infectious Disease Society (Anusha Srinivasan, Meghan Gormley, Ivy Koh, Pierre Jolin) Illustration by Zhao Yan Abstract COVID-19 was first reported in the United States in January 2020. By March 2020, most state governments instituted stay-at-home orders. These laws required non-essential businesses to close and prohibited large gatherings as well as the continuation of in-person […]
We Call Mass Incarceration an Epidemic. Let’s Treat it like a Disease.
by Joseph Kahn Illustration by William Sellmayer Epidemic: “An increase, often sudden, in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population of that area.”1 Introduction: The term “epidemic” evokes imagery of field hospitals, masks, and ventilators. It inspires urgency. Epidemics force the government to action, making […]
Analyzing Technology-Supported Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obesity
By Zoey Dangleman Technology-Supported Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Obesity The obesity epidemic in the United States has become increasingly concerning in recent years. Approximately 34 percent of American adults are obese and with that comes an increased risk for numerous chronic conditions.1 Current efforts to address this issue include healthy lifestyle changes, behavioral […]
Adolescent Pregnancy In India: A Critical Review Of The Contributing Structural Determinants And The Impact Of Government Health Programs
By Megna Srinivasan Introduction The World Health Organization defines adolescent pregnancy (AP) as “pregnancy in young women aged 10–19 years”.¹ Although the global adolescent birth rate has decreased by 23.2 births per 1000 women over the past two decades, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) still have around 21 million adolescent pregnancies annually.¹ According to Sustainable […]
Midwifery and Maternal Health in Indonesia
By Camille Leung Illustration by Junyue Ma Introduction Half a million women around the world die every year in pregnancy, childbirth, or the six weeks following delivery; 99 percent of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).1 The World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets a reduction in the maternal mortality […]