An Epidemic and a Pandemic Collide: How COVID-19 has impacted the ongoing opioid epidemic

Written by Sarah Roberts, Emily Leventhal, Dipika Pujara, & Sai Reddy The Coronavirus pandemic exacerbated a number of pre-existing healthcare crises within the United States, namely the opioid epidemic which has ravaged the country for over two decades. Few places in America have been hit by the opioid epidemic as hard as the state of Ohio—so-called “ground-zero” for this crisis. On top of troubling trends … Continue reading An Epidemic and a Pandemic Collide: How COVID-19 has impacted the ongoing opioid epidemic

Not All Men, But All Women: The Effect of Violence On Women’s Health Over the Course of Her Life

Written by Maddie Dietl and Catherine Xu In the past month of March, Sarah Everard has become one of the most prominent names from the UK. After being last seen on March 3rd, 2021 walking back to her home in Brixton Hills, London, Everard was reported missing by her boyfriend, who contacted the police after she did not meet him. Then, on March 10th, 2021, … Continue reading Not All Men, But All Women: The Effect of Violence On Women’s Health Over the Course of Her Life

Role of Structural Vulnerability and the Existing Hierarchies During the Pandemic

Written by Cecilia Rogers One year ago, the United States began to implement lockdown measurements to prevent the spread of COVID-19. During this past year, everyone across the United States has experienced the hardships of living through this global pandemic; however, certain populations have been disproportionately affected by this disease. But, what has led to the rise of these vulnerable populations? High risk populations are … Continue reading Role of Structural Vulnerability and the Existing Hierarchies During the Pandemic

The Philippines’ Vaccine Crisis

Written by Catherine Xu, Dipika Pujara, and Jhanvi Desai On February 8th 2021, the Malacanang spokesman announced that the Covid-19 vaccination plan would kickstart on February 15th, 2021. This announcement should be good news, considering that the Philippines has recently surpassed 500,000 cases, ranking second in southeast Asia for the worst response to the pandemic. Preceding this announcement, the government had only given the range … Continue reading The Philippines’ Vaccine Crisis

Mask On: Life-saving Local Decision Making in Austin

Written by Ananya Kodali, Dipika Pujara, Priya Mahableshwarkar On March 3, 2021, Texas’ mask mandate, which had been in place for eight months, was repealed by Governor Greg Abbott. This means that there is no longer a government incentive in place for businesses in Texas to require face coverings on their premises. In the 20 days that followed, Abbott’s decision elicited a mixed reaction from … Continue reading Mask On: Life-saving Local Decision Making in Austin

How Racism is Killing America’s Unborn

Written by Segen Ghebrendrias and Zainab Faisal Racism is often perceived as a force that can reach individuals as soon as their lives begin. The pervasive nature of racism disproportionately favors some communities, preventing them from experiencing life to its fullest. Racial inequalities have been at the forefront in analyzing healthcare disparities plaguing America’s healthcare system. But why do we often ignore the effects of … Continue reading How Racism is Killing America’s Unborn

Answering Questions: A Guide to Biden’s Plan for Healthcare

Written by Hansa Doppalapudi With United States citizens on the cusp of experiencing a drastic change as the power of president transfers to President Joseph R. Biden, the most pressing issue of the 2020 election still remains: What is the new president’s plan for healthcare? As promised, President Biden has spent his first few weeks in office signing executive orders to implement his ideas–on his … Continue reading Answering Questions: A Guide to Biden’s Plan for Healthcare

The Dark Past of Clinical Trials and what that Means for Science Today

Written by Blair Hoeting Research is an integral part of science. It is how we learn more about the world around us and what will get us through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, over the course of history, and as recent as less than 50 years ago, some research studies have committed horrible atrocities against its victims. This includes atrocities committed against minorities and low-income populations. … Continue reading The Dark Past of Clinical Trials and what that Means for Science Today

COVID-19 and Mental Health: From Students to Society

Written by Brooke Allnutt We all know COVID-19 has had a profound impact on important aspects of our lives, especially our health. Not only have many lives been lost, but deferred treatment due to concerns about the virus has worsened pre-existing health conditions. In addition, COVID-19 has brought to light many problems in our country, one of which is a mental health crisis, exacerbated by … Continue reading COVID-19 and Mental Health: From Students to Society