Written by Jonathan Gao Edited by Elizabeth Badalov It feels just like yesterday when the sharp scent of Five Thieves essential oil and the pungent smell of garlic boiling in a mysterious broth hung in the air of my home. The garlic broth, whose fumes were supposedly used to ‘disinfect’ the air of homes in Hong Kong during the SARS epidemic, made a popular resurgence during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. As for essential oils, despite the debate on the merits of

Written by: Marium Ghobriel Edited by: Ishraq Nihal Texas has recently come under America’s attention and scrutiny after its legislators passed a law that banned the majority of abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Women have had their right to abortion protected since 1973 by Roe v Wade, but the new Texas abortion law, made by largely male lawmakers, have put pregnant women in a difficult situation that endangers their both health and well-being. Out of the 40 weeks that

Written by Faith SIngh Edited by Anling Chen In the age of technology, where we can get countless information at the tip of our fingers, the hard part comes from distinguishing truth from error. We are often cautioned to avoid using google for medical advice to avoid unwarranted panic. However, throughout the coronavirus pandemic many people have suffered an information overload, between major news outlets, press conferences from government officials, medical journals, Facebo

Written by Elizabeth Badalov Edited by Anling Chen The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically shifted the norms which dictate how people interact with each other. These effects are felt not only on the individual level, but throughout entire communities and populations. Social distancing restrictions advise physical separation from loved ones to minimize the spread of the virus and protect at-risk individuals. Unfortunately, distance is a luxury few can afford - especially for mem

Written by Sanjana Ahmed Edited by Lok - Yee Lam When discussing trials and tribulations faced by students pursuing careers as doctors, many think about the hours spent studying, participating in extracurriculars, and trying to maintain some semblance of a social life. What so many people gloss over is the issue of money. In the United States, it is largely known that seeking higher education is a costly endeavor. On average, a four-year undergraduate degree costs $37,650 at

Written by Lok-Yee Lam Edited by Sanjana Ahmed One of the growing concerns that we’re seeing in the U.S. healthcare system is the pricing for brand-name drugs. Over the years, pharmaceutical companies have become notorious for marking up their brand-name drugs’ price tags. These copays and coinsurances can get fairly expensive even if a patient has health insurance. Even worse, for people who don’t have health insurance or a prescription drug coverage plan, they may be left t

Written by Aisha Abid Edited by Razna Ahmed Health disparities exist in the LGBTQ community, which are associated with social stigma, stereotypes, and prejudice. There are transgender issues that we are struggling with, and will continue to face them, just like we do with sexism and racism after many centuries. Identity shouldn’t be assumed based on appearance and behavior. Individuals in this community experience prejudice daily due to a lack of adequate health care. These d

Written by Laila Gad Edited by Lok-Yee Lam Over this past summer, pandemic restrictions weren’t the only things being slowly lifted, signaling a chance for new beginnings. After thirteen years of being solely controlled by her father, Britney Spears' life seems to be finally opening up again, following her public decision to file for her father’s removal from her conservatorship. With her silence finally broken, the mental health community is slowly being exposed to the horro