Authored by: Sasha Zivin Art by: Allison He The Covid-19 pandemic threw the world into chaos as countries endeavored to minimize the effects of the rapidly spreading disease. The chaotic toilet paper raids, lack of quarantine enforcement, and homemade masks as attempts to handle the disease raised debates that the United States did not adequately warn American residents in advance, and thus was not prepared to handle the virus. On the first day of his second presidential term

Authored by: Saoni Pan Art by: Mia Hsu While many of the new weight loss drugs are intended to treat issues like diabetes and obesity, it can often feel like every celebrity, influencer, and advertisement is either using or promoting these new weight loss drugs. Brand-name prescriptions like Ozempic, Zepbound, and Mounjaro are becoming a part of the everyday American vocabulary. However, few know that their effectiveness relies on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agon

Authored by: Natalie Bushell Art by: Carla Hu Who is allowed to give health advice? And when did “sharing wellness tips” morph into practicing medicine? The rise of fitness influencers on social media has become an entire industry, turning what was once a hobby into the sole source of income for many individuals. With no certifications or credentials needed to promote products on TikTok and other social media platforms, "influencers" are profiting off of the advice they give

Authored by: Mel Drossos Art by: Edsel Ou Most of us have probably heard it hundreds of times — that’s not healthy — either from a parent hovering over our shoulder as we eat, a doctor showing concern over our dietary choices, or a well-meaning friend who recently discovered kale. We likely nodded, felt a little bit of guilt, and moved on with our day without fully understanding the rationale behind their concerns. And the thing is, most of us have experienced this more than

Authored by: Maya Gowda Art by: Kaitlyn Truong As climate change worsens each year, more and more people struggle to find nutritious foods. Many farmers struggle to grow nutritious crops and livestock due to catastrophic extreme weather events perpetuated by climate change [1]. The lack of nutritious foods can lead to food insecurity, disproportionately affecting countries already affected by higher hunger levels [2]. Individuals may rely on ultra-processed and other unhealth

Authored by: Kanae Funabiki Art by: Ariana Desai Public consciousness surrounding anesthesia is formed by rare yet devastating events. A botched epidural taking a pregnant woman’s life, a patient feeling pain while being given a paralytic [1][2]… Michael Jackson overdosed on propofol, which is actually a common anesthetic used in surgery. In a sense, anesthesia related deaths are similar to plane crashes; accidents rarely happen, but when they do, they are drastic. Whether fo

Authored by: Isabella Flutak Art by: Rachel Jacob My grandparents from Milan still climb mountains. At almost ninety years old, they have an active social life and bike to the farmer’s market for fresh food. My grandmother still cooks for the whole family whenever we stay with her. Still, when I think of aging, I think of a stagnant, almost vegetative state—the opposite of my grandparents’ lifestyle. Perhaps this discrepancy is because the United States has the largest health

Authored by: Hanni Yang Art by: Rachel Jacob As a college student, opening Canvas and bank accounts is the most nerve wracking thing ever. College students are often stacked with dozens of assignments, projects, quizzes, and preparation for prelims along with constant socializing with peers. To keep up with all of these demands, students’ best choice is to consume energy drinks to stay up late to catch up on work. While the energy drinks do keep the students awake and perhaps

Authored by: Grace Bian Art by: Kain Wang The subreddit “r/Noctor” is full of individuals lamenting on their experiences with physician assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and other mid-level practitioners. Users of this sentiment generally share the sentiment that mid-level practice expansion (MLPE) has gone too far. MLPE refers to a changing shift in health care labor dynamics. Within the United States, NPs and PAs have been given the right to diagnose, treat, and

Authored by: Daniel Jung Art by: Sophia Liu A home away from home. Defined as locations outside of work and home, third places serve a critical role in building a community’s economy, connectedness, and civic pride [1]. Whether they’re public locations like parks or commercial locations like gyms, cafes, and barber shops, third places offer relatively affordable, easily accessible avenues to engage in social interaction. With over half of American adults citing societal divis

Authored by: Clarice Xu Art by: Allison He The government’s long campaign of selective incarceration told generations of people that addiction was their fault because they supposedly lacked the gumption to “just say no.” Yet, none of this punitive messaging was true, because many people affected by the crisis were voiceless victims from the beginning of their lives. Pharmaceutical companies saw the Appalachia region as a gold mine. Many people work in dangerous labor, includi

Authored by: Rhea Josyula Art by: Sandy Kong A staggering 20.9% of US adults suffer from chronic pain, a condition that can significantly impact everyday activities and quality of life [1]. Chronic pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory experience leading to potential tissue damage that is present for three or more months. This can span a variety of types including neuropathic, nociceptive, inflammatory, and mechanical. In addition to its detrimental physical effects like t

Authored by: Lauren Wilkes Art by: Edsel Ou How could we know that two individuals, even seemingly physically similar individuals may have a completely different reaction to the same prescribed drug or drug therapy? What this truly comes down to is how one’s body metabolizes the drug in question. The next question becomes how do we detect or predict, if an individual will metabolize a drug a certain way, or in a way that is different from other individuals receiving the same

Authored by: Carla Hu Art by: Ariana Desai Falls at a young age are often dismissed as minor accidents, yet for older adults, they can be a turning point that reshapes their independence, confidence, and quality of life. More than one in four adults over age 65 fall each year, making falls one of the most common and serious threats to healthy aging [1]. Even more concerning, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for older adults, and mortality rates due to fall

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 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: 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: 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]

Authored by: Qi An Art by: Vanessa Chen Hsieh Prior research indicates that an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060, approximately 14.7% of the total elderly population in the United States. [1] Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in individuals over the age of 65. Unfortunately, There’s currently no cure for Alzheimer’s disease except medications that h