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 Christine Kuang Edited by Jacquelyn Tang Give me a moment as I grapple with the fact that I am one serious illness away from bankruptcy. The cost of healthcare is unregulated and steadily increasing, leading me to wonder about the repercussions. The United States healthcare system became a corporate business with an irrational marketplace and outrageous pricing. According to National Health Expenditure Data, the United States spends 17.7% of its GDP on healthcare p