Authored by: Ryan Nisay Art by: Mia Hsu Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already being hailed as humanity's next greatest technological leap, but behind its promise lies a growing public health crisis. In less than a decade, what began as an abstract concept confined to research laboratories has essentially embedded itself in every sphere of human activity. However, the massive computational power fueling AI systems demands staggering amounts of electricity, most of which stil

Authored by: Zora Agathocleous Art by: Mia Hsu On July 17th, the Senate passed President Trump’s request to rescind $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding.  This request, a bill officially known as the Recissions Act of 2025 signed into law on July 24th, is a political device the Trump Administration used to cancel funding previously approved by Congress. This rescissions package was the first to succeed in over 30 years, the last being President George H.W

Authored by: Valentine Kim By the early 2010s, the debt amount of an average dental student had surpassed $200,000 by the time of graduation [1]. Today, this amount has increased to nearly $300,000 [2]. The road to a career in the healthcare industry is long and competitive with over 46% of students reporting concerns of making errors in their job and burnout [3]. However, aside from the mental and academic challenges of the path, the financial burden of the road to dentistry

Authored by: Suri Wang Art by: Claire Ma The genetic code acts as the instruction manual for every living organism, determining traits such as eye color, skin tone, and sex. Over the past 50 years, scientists or researchers discovered a way to manipulate the code: genetic engineering, the deliberate alteration of DNA. In 2013, scientists approved CRISPR-Cas9, a precise gene-editing tool that modifies DNA at targeted sites. While genetic editing offers advances in treating neu

Authored by: Surabhi Shastry Art by: Stefanie Chen Racial inequities in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and pregnancy-related mortality in the United States are a critical, persistent public health crisis. National data consistently show that Black birthing people face pregnancy-related deaths and SMM at rates three times higher than White birthing people, and these disparities have not shown substantial improvement over time [1]. State-level analyses reveal that the magnitud

Authored by: Sriram Chakravadhanula Art by: Carol Zhang In March 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved GLP-1 medication for heart disease, in addition to its application for diabetes, leading to a massive increase in GLP-1 users. The United States became the largest market for Ozempic and Wegovy supplier, Novo Nordisk, with over 71% of the Company’s drug sales come from the United States[1]. As Senator Warren revealed, Ozempic is priced at $936 in the US

Authored by: Srijita Kommaraju On a summer vacation to my home country, India, I was astonished by how casually my relatives manage their health. Heaping plates full of white rice, rotis, and curries were eaten thoroughly, followed by metformin tablets and insulin injections. This was so normalized that no one thought to question it. And for a while, I didn’t either.  But then it hit me.  Everywhere I looked, my uncles, grandparents, and even strangers passing down the street

Authored by: Sophie Rinzler Art by: Stefanie Chen From the moment a clinician turns toward a keyboard, something essential is lost: the full gaze, the clarifying nod, the pause that signals undivided attention. As electronic health record (EHR) demands expand, human medical scribes are increasingly replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). Companies like Abridge and Nuance promise to restore clinicians’ focus on patients, reducing burnout and reclaiming time for care. Yet beh

Authored by: Sophie Erb-Watson Art by: Aleena Naeem Mental Illness may not discriminate, but the U.S. mental healthcare system does. Despite unparalleled recent public attention, data demonstrate that the likelihood of receiving mental healthcare still depends heavily on race, gender, wealth, and geography. Telehealth was heralded as an equalizer, a technological fix poised to transcend structural barriers. Unfortunately, early evidence indicates that virtual care has largely

Authored by: Sophie Elijovich Art by: Grace Liu Some packaged foods in supermarkets proudly flaunt labels which declare their contents to be “Non-GMO Project Verified”. But what does it mean for a food to be GMO? Are non-GMO foods really so superior? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are plants, animals or other living things whose DNA has been edited through genetic engineering [1]. In this process, scientists take the gene for a desired trait from one organism and inse

Authored by: Sophia Li Art by: Mia Hsu Every American, no matter their race, gender, age, class, or all else, will be touched by the actions of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS oversees agencies that pay for medical care for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and disabled, protects our population against domestic and international health threats, and oversees the regulation of our food and pharmaceutical products [1]. Stemming from its humble be

Authored by: Skye Romo Art by: Vanessa Chen Hsieh In early 2024, the Alabama Supreme Court declared that frozen embryos are legally children, a ruling that caused several fertility clinics to halt in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures almost overnight (NPR, 2024). Appointments were canceled, doctors feared lawsuits or even criminal charges, and national headlines erupted. While the legal debate over when life begins has captured the public's attention, a quieter scientific

Authored by: Sicheng Chen Art by: Vanessa Chen Hsieh Although the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, many people still have lingering questions about the mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines: How do they confer immunity? Where do they go once inside our bodies?  While the first question has been widely discussed, the second is often overlooked. For many, it remains unclear how the mRNA is packaged and delivered—a process that lies at the heart of how these vaccines work. Understanding t

Authored by: Shriya Mehta Art by: Leena Jalees Getting hospital-level care no longer has to mean staying in a hospital. With remote monitoring, daily nurse visits, and virtual doctor check-ins, patients can now receive full treatment from the comfort of their home. The Hospital at Home (HaH) model, once a small experimental program, is now reshaping how Americans perceive inpatient care. The HaH program provides acute care for conditions like pneumonia or congestive heart fai

Authored by: Rma Polce Art by: Priscilla Liu When we think of a healthy person, we often envision someone who exercises regularly, eats nutritious meals, and has access to preventive care. But imagine you’re in a place where an outside run means exposure to harmful pollutants, the healthiest food nearby is a fast-food sandwich, and the closest clinic is an hour away. This is the reality for millions of Americans who live in medically underserved communities. In these areas, y

Authored by: Shree Manivel Art by: Priscilla Liu In emergency departments nationwide, artificial intelligence (AI) is quietly reshaping patient care. The emergency department (ED) is a uniquely high-pressure environment where clinicians must decide, often within minutes, who is seen first. AI-based triage systems are emerging as tools to assist in those decisions. These systems can analyze vital signs, laboratory results, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) to identify patients who

Authored by: Sawandi DeSilva Art by: Rachel Jacob When we picture people in prison, it’s rare that we think of their needs or struggles. Most of us fail to see the disparities that exist within these communities, as we feel they may not be worthy of receiving basic welfare. This negative lens on prisoners reflects on our desire to make a difference in the environments they occupy. Prisons are a hotspot for infectious diseases, and specifically, many women, who have no access

Authored by: Samuel Notch Art by: Stefanie Chen For newborns, an extra few weeks in the womb can mean the difference between a healthy start in the world and months of intensive care. Each year, thousands of babies begin their lives in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) due to complications resulting from gestational nutrition and metabolism issues, many of which are preventable conditions. Advances in genetic testing and nutrigenomics offer exciting potential to anticipate

Authored by: Samantha Truong Art by: Priscilla Liu Many people utilize the popular social media app, TikTok, going to the app for everything from cooking advice, to get-ready-with-me’s, and even therapy. There is a side of TikTok referred to as TherapyTok, where many individuals go to seek relationship help or just as a relief and comfort that they are not alone in their struggles. These free videos can be beneficial for users of all ages experiencing symptoms of unknown cond

Authored by: Reese Visaya Art by: Rachel Jacob On July 4th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law , marking a pivotal shift in U.S. healthcare policy. This widely debated budgeting mega-bill includes reforms to SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits; eliminating some taxes on tips, overtime, and social security; a significant increase in funding for immigration enforcement; and many other budgeting adjustments [1]