Tag: health disparities

Qing Meng Zhang (9 Posts)

Reporter and in-Training Staff Member

Rush Medical College

Meng Zhang is a medical student at Rush Medical College, Class of 2017, in Chicago. Meng obtained her bachelor degree in Biological Science in 2010 from University of California - San Diego. Her professional interests are writing, underserved communities, and holistic medicine.

When she's not being a 5/8th of a doctor and writing patient notes "for educational purpose only", she likes to sleep until sunrise, eat a healthy meal, and enjoy every bit of sunshine Chicago offers. Reading, watching TV shows/movies, froyo-ing, and shopping are always welcomed when possible.

Response to a Newly Published U.S. Health Map on Obesity

Published by Qing Meng Zhang

It has been reported by media countless times. Everyone has been talking about it, most people know of its existence, and many have come up with a plethora of remedies—sometimes misleading and unfounded—for it. And yet, not only is it still plaguing the United States, it has transformed into an epidemic. That’s right, “it” is obesity. A longitudinal study done by the University of Washington measured several parameters, including physical activity, obesity, hypertension and longevity …

The Ethnicity Factor in Choosing a Physician

Published by Qing Meng Zhang

I would like to begin this article with a question: Do the name and ethnicity of a doctor affect your decision when choosing a physician? America has always been a melting pot with diverse cultures and ethnicity. The medical field is a melting pot in its own right with its own politics, conflicts, racial disparities and the like. When I was starting medical school, my mother suggested that I should change my Chinese first name …

Who Counts, What Doesn’t: Refocusing Armstrong’s Abortion Perspective

Published by Will Jaffee, DO

I’m writing in response to Sam Armstrong’s anti-choice piece “Who Counts, Who Doesn’t: Human Value, Reproductive Freedom and the Abortion-on-Demand Debate” that was recently published online at in-Training. While a comprehensive review of student doctor Armstrong’s arguments is warranted, I will only attack those I found particularly troublesome. I’ll also add salient points he did not discuss, while maintaining an eye on the neo-proverbial “TL;DR” clock. Mr. Armstrong (who I’ll now refer to as “Sam,” as he is …

Who Counts, Who Doesn’t: Human Value, Reproductive Freedom and the Abortion-on-Demand Debate

Published by Sam Armstrong

Introduction What makes us human? This question may strike you as simplistic, after all, our membership in the species Homo sapiens is the obvious answer, or you may interpret the question more abstractly to mean: What is the essence of being human? It is the latter sense of this question that is of particular importance to us as physicians-in-training. Now, I am sure you are wondering what this seemingly esoteric question has to do with anything practical. …

LGBT Health: A Story Behind the Statistics

Published by Meena Thatikunta

Let’s keep it real: this is a long piece and you have to study, dear medical student. But just for a moment, I’ll ask you to think upon your own LGBT medical education experience. Do you feel prepared? Do you know what to ask? Do you know how to ask it? The answers to these questions may vary from an enthusiastic “yes” to “I have to study now” to “…no.” Regardless of where you fall, …

Bonjour Ma Petite Femme Noire

Published by Jocelyn Mary-Estelle Wilson

Who is the black female? Is she lovely, sassy and strong? Who is she in comparison to the 70 kilogram white male upon which certain assumptions are made? What do I need to know about her to be an agent for her health and wellness? And furthermore, what is the tie that binds Michelle Obama, Zoë Saldana and Sybrina Fulton? Power, beauty and poverty walk with the various races and colors in a seemingly desultory …

Street Medicine Detroit

Published by Paul Thomas

Editor’s note: This article was originally published here by contributing writer Paul Thomas. This morning, I had the good fortune of practicing medicine in a homeless shelter with Street Medicine Detroit (SMD). SMD is a student-run organization at Wayne State University School of Medicine that ventures out into the community and provides compassionate medical care to the underserved and homeless of Detroit. Because of the cold weather in Michigan, our “street run” took place inside a church just off …

A Night at the Homeless Shelter

Published by Jimmy Tam Huy Pham

Tonight is not any different. A list of twenty-five patients to be seen. A standing room full of eager volunteer medical students — who just can’t wait to do some doctoring — and a lone attending physician, a family physician who probably enjoys seeing the medical students acting important, walking around with their shiny stethoscopes around their necks, more than anything else. On second thought, maybe the doctor is here every week because he wants …

Secrets

Published by Bianca Maria Benitez

Author’s note: This is a fictional account based on true facts. Ten years ago D. came to New York from war-torn Congo. I know nothing about how she navigated the international bureaucracy to get asylum and how she then moved here, alone and sick and not knowing much English. I know that in her past she was “a businesswoman” and traveled all over Africa buying and selling things. She even went to South Africa, she …

Health in Limbo

Published by Paul Thomas

This morning at a free medical clinic on the East Side of Detroit, I was able to take care of a great man caught in limbo with his health and the health care system. The Robert R. Frank, M.D. Student Run Free Clinic takes care of patients who are living without health insurance. Many of the clinic’s patients have jobs that do not provide health insurance and they generally do not make enough money to purchase …

Paul Thomas (3 Posts)

Contributing Writer Emeritus

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Critical thinker, photographer, and writer, Paul Thomas has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and understanding. He studied biology and bioethics at Michigan State and is finishing his medical degree at Wayne State. His clinical skills have been enhanced by serving the uninsured in Detroit and by learning from patients with unique challenges.

Recently, Paul has been trying to cure a severe case of wanderlust — cross country road trips and backpacking adventures have thus far been unsuccessful. He once came in second place in a three-legged race, which both cemented his status as a good team player and reminded him of his own fallibility. He blogs, he tweets, and he holds merit badges in astronomy and motorboating.