Dec 20, 202214 min read

December Newsletter

2022 Edition

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”

Helen Keller

The Editor's Take: December Newsletter

Congratulations AMWA on finishing the Fall 2022 semester! We are grateful to everyone that read the newsletters and listened to our Study playlists. We can’t wait to continue this next semester. For those that are graduating, congratulations! For those who are continuing, enjoy your winter break!

In this edition, we have two paired articles - Ask AMWA: Mental Health during Finals and The Sex Talk You Never Had Before: Maternal Mortality. In addition to this, all of your writers have compiled a list of movies/TV shows/books to enjoy during winter break! We also have a submission by Alina Shah, who is graduating this semester, about how AMWA has changed her undergraduate journey. Finally, don’t forget to check out our Spotify playlist.

I hope you enjoy this edition and as always, if you have any questions or ideas feel free to email me at Tanya.Baiju@utdallas.edu.

- Tanya

Ask AMWA: Mental Health During Finals

By: Siya Kumar and Alyssa Chiev

It is December, a time of joy, Christmas, and the upcoming New Year. However, for us college students, December means something entirely different - finals season. The stress is on. At this time, we are barely enjoying ourselves or the hobbies that we usually enjoy. It is difficult to manage the last few assignments, exams, and projects from courses due to the small time frame causing students to not properly take care of themselves as they should.

For this December’s Ask AMWA, we decided to survey AMWA members and check up on how our members are doing at the end of the semester. First, we asked in what way members are stressed, the following are our responses. A reported 52% of members are stressed about final exams, 32% are stressed about grades, 16% are stressed about the upcoming semester, and 0% from “I am not stressed” and “other”. These results are not surprising since it was finals season.

Whether it is energy drinks or coffee, some of us need some sort of caffeine to be able to get some work done. 46.2% of members reported needing an energy drink or coffee to study, 23.1% sometimes need some sort of energy, and about 30.8% of members do not rely on caffeine. Although that is fine at times, it is important to not have too much caffeine. Too much caffeine can cause unwanted symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, muscle breakdown, and addiction according to Healthline.

We also asked what are some of our members’ favorite ways to destress just for fun. It is mainly to serve as a reminder that there is more out there than just academics and it is good to have fun often to prevent burnout. 53.8% of members hang out with friends to destress, 38.5% of members prefer to sleep, and 7.7% of members prefer to read.

No matter how stressful finals season is, it is always important to take care of yourself physically and mentally. 61.5% of members reported that they skipped a meal due to schedules being full or busy. 61.5% is an alarming number because over half of our members do this on a regular. 30.8% of members reported skipping meals sometimes and only 7.7% do not skip meals. No matter how busy, one should always prioritize taking care of oneself.

It is recommended to have about 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Anything less can cause sleep deprivation. 69.2% of members get about 6 hours of sleep while 30.8% of members are getting about 7-8 hours of sleep. None reported getting 5 hours of sleep or less and none reported receiving more than 8 hours of sleep. Getting less than 7 hours can cause symptoms of anxiety, tiredness, slower thinking, and worsened memory. The Crimson states: “For the inevitable late-night studying you'll be doing the night before a midterm, it is better to get to sleep at a reasonable hour and wake up early than to stay up for that extra hour.”

Then, we asked members to describe their mental health during this time. 92.3% describe their mental health as okay, 7.7% as bad, and none would describe it as good. If you need anyone to talk to concerning mental health, you can seek support from friends, family members, and of course your peers at AMWA! Some other mental health resources that UTD offers are linked here.

Our last question was whether our members find UTD’s resources helpful. There were quite a bit of mixed responses. “I don’t know” and “No” leads with 30.8% of votes and 23.1% say “Yes” and “15.4%,” say maybe. There seems to be a good number of votes saying “No” and perhaps this could be due to the lack of variety of services.

Thank you to those that participated in the survey and our members in AMWA. The newsletter team wishes everyone a good winter break! Remember to take it easy and this is the time to relax and take care of ourselves.

The Sex Talk You Never Had: Maternal Mortality

By: Hafsa Mohammed and Janavi Mehta

According to the CDC, black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than white women. This is not a recent discovery, rather it is a persistent reality that has gotten worse with the COVID-19 pandemic. The occasional outcry for help for these mothers never succeeds in creating lasting change in institutions. Yet, the COVID-19 pandemic’s drastic effect has created a stronger movement for recognition and pressure for action. Not only is the difference pronounced along racial lines, but also across borders. The U.S. has a higher maternal and infant mortality rate than more high-income developed nations. This overall comparison begs the questions: Why is maternal mortality such a problem in the U.S.? Why is it so unequal among the races in the U.S.? How can this situation be improved?

Let’s address the first two questions. The U.S. is a developed nation by all measures, but there are considerable differences between the U.S. and other developed nations in terms of healthcare. One is that there is a shortage of maternity-care healthcare workers in the U.S. compared to other nations. Too few midwives and OB/GYNs result in less care given to the population and thus, producing poorer outcomes (FitzGerald et. al, 2020).

Secondly, according to a report published in The Atlantic, most other developed nations have elected for some variation of universal healthcare, while the U.S. does not (Fisher, 2012). The impact of this is that people who can afford good insurance have better healthcare and primary care which results in better outcomes than people without insurance or who are underinsured. This draws stark lines along socio-economic classes, which are tied to wealth (generational accumulation of money) due to the history of slavery and the more recent - Jim Crow laws. This disproportionally disadvantages minorities, especially African-Americans. Beyond the monetary consequences of colonialism and racism, there are unconscious biases that affect the judgment of healthcare workers. If the doctors themselves believe negative stereotypes of certain groups of people, then the care they give will not be the best for that patient. As the CDC states, the “variation in quality healthcare, underlying chronic conditions, structural racism, and implicit bias” all play a role in maternal mortality rates. It is an unfortunate fact that this discrepancy exists in a developed nation.

Key interventions must be implemented to close the gap between maternal mortality between races and social classes. According to a study on Maternal Mortality in the United States: Updates, Trends, Causes, and Solutions, five major points must be addressed in formulating a solution:

Multidisciplinary care for women with high-risk comorbidities
Structural racism and the social determinants of health;
Implementing hospital-wide safety bundles with team training and simulation
Patient education on early warning signs for medical complications of pregnancy
Regionalizing maternal levels of care so that women with risk factors are supported when delivering at facilities with specialized care teams.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG, has undertaken goals involving lobbying policymakers and suggesting legislation that would potentially halt this increasing trend in maternal mortality. Much of their focus is on providing comprehensive care at all maternal levels of care. The ACOG suggests a system in which the levels of care are classified into four different levels: basic care (level I), specialty care (level 2), subspecialty care (level three), and regional perinatal health care centers (level four). All four levels must establish a relationship of interconnectivity with one another so there is continuity of care across both regional and state health services.

Our current healthcare system is highly disorganized and lacks structure regarding this continuum of care and is partly to blame for racial discrepancies in maternal mortality. Strengthening the relationships between these 4 aforementioned levels will likely result in increased maternal support and greater percentages of safe births for both the baby and the mother.

The increasingly high rates of maternal mortality rates in the US are embarrassing considering the resources and data available at hand. The fact of the matter remains that most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable and the discrepancy that exists between the racial lines is due to the unstructured implementation of care and lack of healthcare access through all levels of maternal care. It results from a general disinterest in maternal health, not limited to just pregnancy, in our society which must be addressed. Hopefully, through more awareness from the general public, funding and support can be raised to push policymakers to take action and formulate a solution for this issue.

Our Recommendations

Tanya Baiju

Monk (5/5 stars)

If you are looking for a light-hearted mystery series, Monk has to be on your To-Watch list. Adrian Monk (a detective), after the death of his wife, develops OCD and fears anything contaminated. Each episode on this show doesn’t necessarily depend on the one before. It’s a classic ‘whodunit,’ while the underlying mission for Monk is solving the death of his wife. This show is five out of five stars for me as it is perfect to relax to, especially after a stressful semester. The characters are fun to relate to in their own way. The annoyed police captain, the naive lieutenant, and Adrian Monk’s assistant all help Monk uncover mysteries in a span of eight seasons.

Rebecca ( 4.5/5 stars)

The book Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is a 1938 Gothic novel about an unnamed woman who marries a widower and moves into his mansion. Throughout the book, both her husband and the house seem to be haunted by his late wife, Rebecca. This book will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat with a number of twists and mysteries. I give this book a 4.5 out of 5 mainly because of its slow start. Otherwise, this book is intriguing and places the reader effortlessly within the story.

Janavi Mehta

Lycoris Recoil (4.5/5 stars)

For all the anime lovers out there or those wanting to try an anime. This might just be your show. This light-hearted anime focuses on an unlikely friendship between two girls in a secret organization of orphan girls who are trained as assassins and agents for the government. You get to laugh, tear up, and follow them on their journey of acceptance as they uncover plots threatening them. I really enjoyed the character dynamics and the little laughs along with the pacing of the story. Need another reason to watch? It’s a short anime, only 13 episodes! Great for a winter break type of show.

House of the Dragon (4/5 stars)

Anyone who is a Game of Thrones (GoT) fan would perhaps hesitate to watch the prequel to the story after the poor story writing of the last season(s) of GoT. However, let me put those doubts to rest. House of the Dragon is a terrific start to the prequel series, with brilliant casting and a plot that evokes those earlier seat-gripping seasons of GoT. The political intrigue mixed with the certain gruesome realities of living in Westeros makes for an entertaining setup for the main character, Rhaenyra, to find her way through life and set into motion the struggle for the Iron Throne. My only complaint would be the pacing of the show as there are at least two separate time skips and the perpetual lack of lighting in the show’s scenes. Still, for those would enjoy GoT and those who want to get into the world of Westoris, this show is an obvious must-watch.

Alyssa Chiev

The Song of Achilles (5/5 stars)

The Song of Achilles is one of the best books I have ever read. It is perhaps what I would call a modern classic. It is a retelling of the Iliad but from the perspective of Patroclus, a young Greek prince. The story is more focused on the relationship that historians have speculated between Patroclus and Achilles and the romantic aspects. This book is 5/5 stars for me because the ending lingered in my mind and left my heart broken for days. The book is quite poetic and I enjoyed the usage of the flowery language. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading this winter break, and especially if you enjoy Greek mythology. This book is guaranteed to be unlike anything you have read before.

Chernobyl (4/5 stars)

Chernobyl is a tv show that came out back in 2019 about the retelling of the tragedy of Chernobyl. Chernobyl is a nuclear power plant that almost destroyed part of Europe and could have potentially caused a global catastrophe. In Chernobyl, we visit multiple perspectives of all the people who are affected by the tragedy. This show is 4/5 stars because although it was good, there is a character that is not entirely historically accurate. I recommend this tv show (it can be watched on HBO max) for this winter break. I find it enjoyable even though I am pre-med, it was interesting to learn a bit about how nuclear physics works.

Zoe Du

Mountains Beyond Mountains (5/5)

Mountains Beyond Mountains is the book that made me consider medicine more critically and holistically. Following the life of Dr. Paul Farmer and how he grew a movement to deliver quality healthcare to the most vulnerable and sickest populations, starting in Haiti as a medical student, Mountains Beyond Mountains is incredibly inspiring. It introduced me to the world of global health and to the intersection between medicine and the humanities, which has led me to where I am now. I highly recommend this to anyone hoping to read more nonfiction!

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (5/5)

Slightly depressing but humorous, John Oliver delivers important information about problems in the world that you might not have even known existed with the perfect balance of gravity and comedy. Last Week Tonight is a perfect 20-30 minute break from reality to have a laugh, while also emerging more knowledgeable.

Hafsa Mohammed

Hospital Playlist (4.5/5)

Hospital Playlist is a heartwarming 2020 Korean drama surrounding the lives of five doctors and long-time friends in their prime as they navigate hospital life. This drama was especially striking to me because of how ordinary it depicted the lives of healthcare professionals. We’re used to the dramatic, life-threatening moments portrayed by other medical dramas such as Gray’s Anatomy, but this Korean drama shows that life in medicine is not only about the exciting cases medical professionals deal with on a daily, but the joy and mundane issues they also face. It’s the perfect drama to unwind with during chilly days.

Battle of Changsha (5/5)

A story about war, family, loss, and love, Battle of Changsha is a 2014 Chinese drama set during the Sino-Japanese War. The story revolves around a teenage girl who is forced to quickly grow up in the midst of war. What I liked about this show was that there was no clear-cut villain or hero. Rather than the focus being war, the plot emphasized the human relationship built and destroyed along several ears. A tear-jerker of a show, this is definitely something to save for moments of poignant reflection

Siya Kumar

Wednesday

A show I have watched lately and enjoyed is Wednesday. It is based on the Adams Family comic series. I liked the show because it had a different take on the main character Wednesday. They show Wednesday as a teenager instead of as a child, and the show is easygoing and something that you can just put on and not think much about.

Don't Worry Darling

A movie I recommend watching is Don't Worry Darling. Don't Worry Darling stared

Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. I don't want to give away spoilers, however, the movie does have an exciting ending regarding the way we as humans view life. Florence gave a fantastic performance and made the film.

AMWA Member Submission: How AMWA Changed my Undergraduate Journey

By: Alina Shah

When I first entered university, I thought I had it all figured out. I had a single goal: to earn straight As in order to get into medical school. It had been drilled into my mind that without a perfect GPA, the future would become hopeless. The pre-health environment seemed to be extremely competitive, with my classmates bragging about their grades in group chats, or being frustrated that their A- wasn’t an A+. I was constantly stressed with coursework due to my excessive credit hours.

My first few years of university were wonderful academically, but not when it came to my personal life. I sacrificed my mental and physical health at times to maintain being the “perfect” candidate for medical schools. I upheld a 4.0 GPA for almost three years before I made my first C. And it made me feel worthless. I felt that my self-worth was dependent on letter grades rather than who I am. Yet again, as a die-hard student, grades were everything to me. Then I found AMWA.

The American Medical Women Association - or AMWA - is a student-run organization at UTD. A good friend of mine attended the first meeting and convinced me to go to the second. I thought I would go for a few minutes and then head out. I assumed it would be another organization full of pre-health students solely there for themselves. However, by the end of the meeting, I realized I had it wrong. AMWA is for women who want to succeed in their profession of choice, and bond with each other in order to help one another. This was the first time I experienced a pre-health community where there was no ranking or putting others down. I decided to join the club because for the first time in a long time I liked where I was- a pre-health environment that didn’t have a competitive nature but is rather about community building.

AMWA has been life-changing for me. I entered UTD with my eyes set on becoming a doctor. I imagined my white coat ceremony so many times and didn’t think I could ever want to be anything else. With the various guest speakers at club meetings, I was able to realize that I didn’t want to be a doctor, but rather felt I needed to become one out of desperation. As shameful as it feels for me to say, I felt like I needed to be a doctor in order to have a purpose in my life, because of my family’s expectations. As much as I loved medicine, I felt a weight on my shoulders from the pressure. Luckily, AMWA showed me that my love for medicine could be channeled into another profession.

AMWA was a breath of fresh air from the focus on GPA and academics. It was more about growing together through the club-hosted study sessions and socials. The volunteering opportunities presented were phenomenal, and I was even able to conduct COVID-19 testing for clinical patients. This club is about learning who you are in order to learn what to become professionally. AMWA helped me find a career choice that suits my life- rather than me having to adjust to the career. For the first time ever, I realized that I was more than my schoolwork. While the future was dependent on academics to a degree, it was more than that.

AMWA helped me realize that being a doctor wasn’t for me. It was an amazing career choice but not one that resonated with what personal goals I have in life. The club offered me ample information about several career paths and encouraged me to find myself before setting my eyes on a career. I still recall approaching the officers and explaining my doubt about the physician profession, and them responding with understanding and advice. I felt grateful I was a part of a community where being human was the norm, rather than the robot I felt I was when focusing on academics.

Thanks to AMWA, I realized that becoming a physician assistant is my dream. I am currently planning to apply for my Masters in Physician Assistant Studies across Texas. My experiences have taught me AMWA is beneficial for pre-health students that are still figuring out what they want to become, as well as those who have their eyes set on a career already. They do not discriminate based on where you are on your journey.

I am graduating this December from UTD. I am confident I will become a wonderful physician assistant thanks to what AMWA taught me; especially that it is important for me to make my health a priority. If I have any regrets in my academic career, it is not joining AMWA sooner.

I highly recommend AMWA’s tight-knit and supportive community. I can honestly say I have never felt left out, even with the club’s over 300 active members. It is a club I was truly excited to be a part of, and one that I will dearly miss as a graduate. Thank you, AMWA, for showing me I am more than just a 4.0.