Tag: social determinants of health

Sabrina Lazar Sabrina Lazar (1 Posts)

Editor, Medical Student Contributing Writer

Albany Medical College

Sabrina is an MS2 at Albany Medical College interested in plastic surgery. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Cell Biology with a minor in Professional Writing from the University of California, Davis. A proud Assyrian-American, she is passionate about mentoring fellow first-generation and underrepresented students in medicine. She can be found studying at local coffee shops, playing volleyball and water polo, or working on home improvement and gardening projects with her family.




Hidden Impact: Parental Health Status and the Cost for Children

Medical student Katelyn Girtain writes about her experiences as a child of a disabled mother that contributed to the lack of proper insurance and ultimately the occurrence of preventable health issues. She also explores relevant policies and the lack of literature on the impacts of parental disability/lack of insurance on children.

The Difficult Patient

Medical student Allen Betts explores the often underrated effect of psychosocial determinants and the integral part they play in the influencing health and well-being. Read more to find out how he has come to appreciate the soft skills a physician gleans through patient encounters rather than through books.

Reproductive Planning During a State of Emergency

Medical student Ritha Mera reviews responses to reproductive health care accesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mera writes as an advocate for women of color and highlights health disparities in vulnerable populations. Through drawing comparisons to past natural disasters and tracking the current pandemic’s harmful impacts on reproductive health care, Mera makes an argument for contraception and family planning to be included in emergency protocols for future disruptions.

Ritha Mera Ritha Mera (1 Posts)

Medical Student Contributor

Windsor University School of Medicine

I am a first-generation immigrant from Portoviejo, Manabi, Ecuador. Navigating and experiencing life in my community has shaped and fueled my passion for women's reproductive health and education. I firmly believe education and accessible health care are the most powerful tools against disease. I am fascinated by Family medicine and Obstetrics/Gynecology because they allow for primary prevention and education in reproductive health.