Digital and Print

Toilet to Tap

The New York Times, April 2024

Would you drink a glass of water that had been flushed down someone else’s toilet? If you live in some parts of California, well – get ready. In December, the state gave the OK for cities and towns to take water from their sewers, purify it and send it straight back to houses to use as drinking water. Totally disgusting, right?

Hepatitis C is a growing threat to moms and babies. But screening is inadequate

The Washington Post, January 2022

Were you tested for hep C when you were pregnant? You should have been. The World Health Organization aims to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030, but only three US states are on track to meet that target. Inadequate perinatal screening is the problem.

Divorced parents are going to court over vaccinating their kids against the coronavirus

The Washington Post, October 2021

Divorced parents who disagree about coronavirus vaccination are taking their fights to court. The tensions have been fueled by inconsistent mask rules, misinformation and reports of more children hospitalized for covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Obesity in children is rising dramatically, and it comes with major – and sometimes lifelong – health consequences

The Conversation, May 2023

Early in my practice, I only occasionally saw a child with a complication of obesity; now I see multiple referrals each month.

I’m so tired of being Scared: Two Asian American women explain why they got a gun this year

KQED, June 2021

Asian women experience harassment, assault, and discrimination almost three times more than men. The pandemic made that threat more obvious and more deadly. For some Asian women who were on the fence about buying guns for protection, the racist violence of the past year pushed them over the edge.

'It’s a big responsibility to have a firearm, because it’s a tool that can save your life or someone else’s life, but it can also take life at the same time,' said gun instructor Kelly Chi.

Her parents survived an atomic bomb and an internment camp. Now she’s their caregiver

Next Avenue, October 9, 2020; Nichi Bei Weekly, December 17, 2020

“My phone ringtone for them is ‘Crazy Train’ by Ozzy Osbourne, because it just makes me laugh.”

IMAGINARY FRIENDS HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH ISOLATION

Healthy Debate, April 2, 2021; Psychology Today April 7, 2021

Sometimes when I reach for a bag of frozen mixed vegetables, I’ll find a hamster in our freezer.

BAck to school for children with Anxiety disorders

The Conversation, March 14, 2021; Psychology Today, March 22, 2021

One in 140 children has selective mutism, a form of anxiety making them unable to speak in public. Some of these children improved during online learning, using technology to talk to their peers and teachers.

the pernicious reach of AGEISM

Next Avenue, May 18, 2021

As the U.S. grapples with all forms of prejudice, ageism remains under most people's radar. Some researchers say ageism is the last socially acceptable form of discrimination.

Esther+Aguayo+Rocha+and+Alfredo+Rocha.jpg — Photo: Courtesy Esther Aguayo Rocha

Coronavirus survivors experience stigma and survivor's guilt

MarketWatch, July 14, 2020; Next Avenue, July 2, 2020

“That wartime, we can see the enemy, we can see the bullets and weapons,” says Lê, “But now you don’t see the enemy. It comes from nowhere. So, it’s scary.”

why you need a coronavirus care plan

MarketWatch, July 21, 2020; Forbes, June 15, 2020; Next Avenue, June 12, 2020

Before the pandemic, according to The Conversation Project, 92% of people thought planning end-of-life care was important, but only 32% had told others their wishes. Only 18% of people had talked to a doctor. What stops people from preparing for the inevitable? Fear of making a mistake.

Diana%2Band%2Bmother.jpg — Photo: Courtesy Diana Isabel Tibbs