Biomedical Odyssey

Life at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Cuban and American flags with a sunset in the distance

Patria y Vida: Reflecting from Medical School on Cuba’s Uprising

September 15, 2021

Dianela Perdomo, a medical student and Cuban immigrant, shares her perspective on Cuba’s recent wave of anti-government protests.

Dianela Perdomo ⋅ A Day in the Life Access to Medicine, covid-19, human rights, public health ⋅

A medical professional opening an empty wallet.

The COVID-19 Reprieve on Medical Student Debt

August 25, 2021

COVID-19 took an emotional toll on medical students. Government grants, reduced interest rates and paused interest collection offered some financial relief. Why couldn’t we make those changes permanent?

Monica Meeks ⋅ A Day in the Life covid-19, debt, pandemic, public health, student loans ⋅

3D rendering of flu virus

The Cost of Preventing Pediatric Influenza Deaths

August 16, 2021

How much is the life of one child really worth? That is part of the question bioethicists and policymakers must consider when discussing influenza’s recent disappearance. In the U.S., the past three flu seasons have resulted in 144 to 199 pediatric deaths from influenza infection. Strikingly, only one pediatric death from influenza was recorded during […]

Dianela Perdomo ⋅ Perspectives in Research influenza, masks, pediatrics, public health ⋅

A collection of vials, one with a needle inserted through the top.

Distributing Vaccines: Smallpox and the History of Vaccine Campaigns

February 9, 2021

The COVID-19 vaccine campaign will last for months, if not longer — it took over a hundred years for vaccination to wipe out smallpox. By examining how smallpox vaccination succeeded and failed, we can learn what may happen with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and how to address potential pitfalls.

Kristin Brig ⋅ Perspectives in Research covid-19, pandemic, public health, smallpox, Vaccine ⋅

A white face mask atop a blue background.

Anti-Vax to Anti-Mask: Processing Anti-Science Claims During a Pandemic

September 3, 2020

So-called anti-maskers have emerged during the COVID pandemic, and their arguments are strikingly similar to anti-vaxxer claims. How do we think about these two together?

Kristin Brig ⋅ Perspectives in Research antiscience, coronavirus, covid-19, masks, public health ⋅

Yellow cup of tea, book and glasses on the table, cozy home interior background

Quarantine Reading Recommendations

May 21, 2020

Tired of watching TV but don’t know what to read? Graduate students at the Johns Hopkins Department of the History of Medicine recommend some great titles on the history of public health and infectious disease to get your reading list started.

Kristin Brig ⋅ A Day in the Life History of medicine, infectious disease, public health, reading list ⋅

An illustration of a doctor holding a shield, protecting from virus, germs and bacteria.

Global Threats to Public Health: Dr. Peter Hotez on Climate Change, Conflicts, Poverty and Antiscience

March 3, 2020

In this year’s Hopkins Medicine Distinguished Speakers Series, Peter Hotez from Baylor College of Medicine in Texas spoke about the need to find new medicines for neglected tropical diseases and to confront familiar diseases that are growing worse each year thanks to climate change, global conflicts, poverty and antiscience movements.

Kristin Brig ⋅ Events and Happenings antiscience, Global Health, politics, public health ⋅

A view of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain, taken by author Kristin Brig.

Water Conservation, Research and Life in Cape Town, South Africa

July 23, 2019

I went to Cape Town, South Africa, to perform predissertation research on water management. I returned home with a transformed attitude toward personal water conservation. Soon after I landed in Cape Town in mid-June, I heard the catchy phrase: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.” In case you are […]

Kristin Brig ⋅ A Day in the Life public health, south africa, water conservation ⋅

Nurse Taking Patients Blood Pressure and Pulse In The Gym

The Relationship Between Age and Blood Pressure: Another Way Your Lifestyle Can Impact Heart Health

January 17, 2019

Many of us have likely experienced recent high blood pressure. Whether it’s from well-meaning but very inquisitive relatives, or the winding lines at the airport, most of us are acquainted with a temporary rise in blood pressure under stress. And unfortunately, high blood pressure (BP) is a common chronic issue for millions of people worldwide. […]

Rachel Evans ⋅ Perspectives in Research blood pressure, public health, Stress ⋅

critical thinking iStock 165900809

Revolutionizing with R3: A New Ph.D. Program Seeks To Train Scientists As Critical Thinkers

March 21, 2018

During graduate school, it can be easy to get lost among the tomes of information that we all must memorize in time for our exams. This background knowledge helps fuel our research and lets us know what topics have already been explored so that we have an idea of the paths to take in our […]

Rachel Evans ⋅ Perspectives in Research Ph.D. Programs, public health, R3 Graduate Science Initiative ⋅

1 2

Subscribe to the Blog

Introduction

  • About This Blog
  • Meet the Authors
  • Do You Want to Write for Us?

Blog Categories

  • A Day in the Life
  • Events and Happenings
  • Honor Roll
  • Perspectives in Research

More About the School of Medicine

  • Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
  • Life at Hopkins
  • Training at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Archives