Activism has always been a driving force in my life, especially when it comes to advocating for those whose lives are often overlooked or marginalized. Growing… Read more: With Flowers in Our Hair: Serving and Healing with AmeriCorps in San Francisco

Through my AmeriCorps service term, I’ve served as a Health Educator for San Francisco’s most vulnerable populations. I’ve been part of the Department of Public Health’s… Read more: Stories of Trust, Resilience, and Care in San Francisco Shelters

When I began my role as the National Health Corps (NHC) San Francisco Shelter Health Educator, my biggest worry was not being able to do enough… Read more: Beyond the Checklist: Embracing Human Connection in Shelter Health

A facet of my service experience I find myself returning to is the temporary nature of any AmeriCorps position. Though there is absolutely an impact in… Read more: A Lasting Impact in an Impermanent Role

In my undergraduate public health courses, we often discussed how the current U.S. healthcare system is not built to serve all individuals who need care equitably.… Read more: Be the Change: Making Healthcare Work for All

Menstruation affects over 800 million individuals daily, yet it remains widely misunderstood and stigmatized. Period stigma, rooted in cultural, religious, and social norms, perpetuates harmful narratives… Read more: ‘Bleeding in Silence: Exploring Period Stigma in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal’ Paper Abstract

In light of HIV/AIDS Awareness Month. My name is Anjalie Gowda (she/her) and I was born and raised in Ellicott City, Maryland. I graduated from the… Read more: Breaking Barriers, Building Trust: STI Education in San Francisco Shelters

San Francisco is incredible in that there are so many resources and programs to remove barriers to getting care and meeting one’s basic needs. Having a… Read more: From Resources to Real Impact: Uniting San Francisco’s Unhoused Services

I spent a year working in the office of Dr. Bryce Appelbaum, a Neuro-Optometrist and the founder and CEO of MyVisionFirst. My role as a Vision… Read more: Beyond 2020: What a Year Working in Vision Therapy Taught Me About Misdiagnosis

Why has this condition that affects 1 in 10 women gone severely under-diagnosed for so long?  The average time it takes to diagnose endometriosis is 7-9… Read more: Endometriosis Isn’t a Mystery: So Why Are Providers Still Missing It?

From our first periods, menstruators have been told that debilitating cramps and intense mood swings are all just a part of living in our bodies. I… Read more: Your Period as the 5th Vital Sign: The Importance of Menstrual Education in Ending Stigma

For decades, episiotomies, surgical cuts made during childbirth to widen the vaginal opening, were performed as a matter of routine in U.S. hospitals. Many women never… Read more: Episiotomies and Gender Bias in Birth