Topic of Choice 2026

     One reason type 2 diabetes is such a major health issue is that it has become so common that many people no longer see it as especially alarming. However, it was much less common in the past than it is in today's society. In the United States specifically, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was less than 1% in 1958 and increased to 9.4% in 2015. Today, 40.1 million Americans have diabetes, and about 90% to 95% of diagnosed cases are type 2 diabetes. This shows how drastically the disease is shifting over time      The number of adults living with diabetes globally rose from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022, with adult prevalence doubling from 7% to 14% (WHO). This trend is expected to keep increasing in the future. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 million adults ages 20 to 79 were living with diabetes in 2024, with that number projected to rise to 853 million by 2050. This would mean about 1 in 8 adults would have di...

How much media do you consume on a regular basis? Now, how often does what you see in the media change your view on a subject? Between social media, music, movies, and television, the media is everywhere, and it's difficult to avoid. Because of how often we engage with it, the media plays a major role in shaping our perceptions of many topics, including healthcare. When we think about healthcare in the media, a few things probably come to mind: intense emergency room scenes, doctors making life-or-death decisions in seconds, or viral videos offering quick health advice. Popular shows like Grey's Anatomy, House MD, and The Good Doctor are often dramatic and are designed to grab attention, with most of the situations being rare in real life. While they can be entertaining or even informative, they don’t always reflect what healthcare actually looks like in real life.  Because of this, the media can quietly influence how people view healthcare professionals. Doctors are often port...

Rare diseases were never something that I was interested in…in fact I never saw myself working with “sick” individuals at all. It was the furthest thing from my mind in grade school and through high school and even undergrad – I was never going to be a doctor…at least not that kind, working in a hospital. While the rest changed a few years ago, I recently attended a lecture hosted by PCF here at the college to thank for making me see rare diseases differently too. Dr. Frame was the guest speaker and spoke about his personal experiences with his daughter, who has a debilitating rare disease, and as a pharmacist who has experience treating rare diseases that no one can figure out.       This lecture was not only inspiring, but extremely insightful into the plight of families dealing with these conditions, as well as how treatment comes around and what all goes into getting the ball rolling once these rare diseases are discovered. One thing I was shocked to learn was ...

  We have recently talked about ethical issues in the healthcare setting, and I would like to share some additional examples that have occurred in Georgia. I think the most common story people know when they hear about unethical experiments in the South is the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. I won’t go into detail, as this was not based in Georgia; however, growing up, we did learn about it, specifically about Nurse Eunice Verdell Laurie. Her role is loaded with controversy, as she recruited Black men into the study. When it first began, it was not viewed as severely unethical. However, once a cure for syphilis was discovered, she continued to recruit patients into an experiment that withheld treatment from them. She defended her actions, believing she was in the right. Some defend her actions, while others condemn them. I have strong feelings one way, but some of the following issues are more debatable. Transitioning into Georgia history, one rumor that circulated in rural and Black co...

 Though out the semester I have been reminded of some of my favorite books that I have felt are pertinent to the course. Therefore, I am going to blog on my reflections to class conversations through book reviews! Demon Copperhead  by Barbra Kingsolver was a phenomenal read that follows Demon, a young man, and his upbringing in rural Appalachia, highlighting the foster care system, poverty, and the opioid epidemic. I was reminded of this book throughout the Drug Discovery Lecture, when we touched on how Heinrich Dreser assumed Heroin was non-addictive. While in history the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1912 warning of its abuse, it was not until the press took up the story that the US Government was compelled to act. Additionally, I was reminded of Demon Copperhead , through the Drug Discovery Discussion, we talked about how Purdue Pharma promoted misleading science that downplayed the addictive qualities of oxycontin. I really appreciate Demon Copperhead ...

 Being from rural Pennsylvania, Amish communities have always been around - from passing horse and buggies to TV shows that dramatize their lives. One thing I have never heard about is Amish medicine.  Amish healthcare decisions are shaped by the community and church, and they prefer natural remedies and prayer before turning to modern medicine. In one study, 85.7% of Amish respondents in Geauga County, OH reported using supplements. Echinacea and garlic are the most commonly used herbal supplements, while specifically women take vitamin C and calcium supplements daily. They even continue to take supplements and natural remedies knowing they are ineffective or cause discomfort because they are culturally accepted.  The Amish do not completely reject modern medicine. They use antibiotics, OTC pain relievers, and prescriptions when necessary, but have a distrust towards the American healthcare system because of its lies to for profit and large corporations. Limited health l...