Aakanksha Asija is a hematology-oncology physician.

It is time our scientists and physicians lead from the frontlines

Physician
June 16, 2020

Last year Harris poll did a survey asking children ages 8 to 12 years in the U.S., the U.K., and China what they wanted to be when they grew up. In the U.S., “Vlogger” and “YouTube star” ranked number 1 (29%). Other choices were teacher (26%), professional athlete (23%), musician (19%), and astronaut (11%). Physician, scientist, engineer, or researcher wasn’t in the top 5 choices in any of …

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It is time our scientists and physicians lead from the frontlines

The unexpected time the COVID-19 pandemic gives physicians

Conditions
May 15, 2020

My three-year-old daughter calls it “canolavirus.” To her, it represents the answer to a number of hitherto unprecedented events happening in her life at this time. Her physician mommy working from home for a number of weeks now. The last she remembers mommy being home continuously for such a long stretch of time was never. I went back to work after my maternity leave when my daughter was …

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The unexpected time the COVID-19 pandemic gives physicians

Should physicians shy away from accepting their mortalities?

Conditions
April 2, 2020

In between snippets of conversation exchanged with my husband about how the first day of remote learning went for our 9 year old and whether the latest nanny was likely to quit given health risks associated with working in a two-physician frontline worker household in the context of COVID-19, we also discuss some potentially dangerous scenarios. The discussion is quite mundane, between what we are having for dinner and how …

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Should physicians shy away from accepting their mortalities?

Protect your health care workers. Protect your front line.

Conditions
March 26, 2020

As schools, public transport, gyms, restaurants, libraries, playgrounds shut down, and life comes to a standstill, people stay at home to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Healthcare workers, however, do the reverse. They get ready every morning to go to hospitals and clinics to take care of patients, putting themselves and their families at risk. In some regions of the world, they work extra shifts, sometimes with inadequate …

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Protect your health care workers. Protect your front line.