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Bijou Basu

MD-PhD Candidate trying to make a difference

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Gender Affirming Care And Why it Matters

bijoubasu

LET’S TALK ABOUT VACCINES! I got my second dose

LET’S TALK ABOUT VACCINES! I got my second dose last week, let’s debunk some vaccine myths:

Is it unsafe because it was rushed?
This is the most common concern I have heard, but no safety short cuts were taken. Yes, the vaccine development was “rushed” but large studies were done showing both vaccines to be safe and effective. The FDA closely monitored the research by Moderna and Pfizer and you can find details of the clinical trials and vaccines published by both the FDA and CDC online.

It might give me COVID-19?
The vaccine uses messenger RNA (mRNA) which DOES NOT contain the live virus. It helps your body build up immunity against the virus by recognizing parts of it. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine. Even though this is a new type of vaccine to be distributed, mRNA vaccines have actually been researched for sometime. We’re basically training our body to protect itself if it does see the virus.

I only want to take one dose of the vaccine, is that okay?
The FDA and CDC say that everyone who takes one dose of the vaccine should take the second. There are a lot of vaccines where we need to take two doses to make sure that our body develops long term memory against the virus. Think of the first dose as priming your immune system and the second one to help develop that full immunity you need.

Anything else you heard about the vaccine that you’re not sure about? Let’s talk about it below ⬇️

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#coronavirusvaccine #vaccinescauseadults #covidvaccinefears #covidvaccine2021✔️ #vaccinessavelives #covidvaccinesideeffects #covi̇dvaccine #covidvaccinequeen #vaccineswork #provaccines #covidvaccine✔️ #covıd19vaccine #covidvaccinesideeffects

⁣This was the first photo in my camera roll from

⁣This was the first photo in my camera roll from last year. On January 1st, 2020 a picture of me and my Dadu (grandfather) on his last birthday. He passed a few months later and today I’m missing him a little extra.
To avoid the clichés of a new years post I’m going to leave it at this.
You made it through a hell of year. Hold your loved ones close. Count your blessings. Ask for help when you need it. Know that you’re loved. Whatever this year holds in store, I hope it’s everything you want it to be because you deserve that.
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#familyfirst #selflove #happymoments #choosehappy #behappywithyourself #happywithpurpose #followlove #loveyourlife #family #familytime #postiveaffirmations #happynewyear #dailyaffirmations #newyearsresolution #newbeginings #newyear #affirmation #newyearsday #affirmationsoftheday

When do you feel the most at peace? When do you fe

When do you feel the most at peace? When do you feel happiest? I got to spend two days with my best friend after not seeing her in person for 2 years and let me tell you what I think. I think I’m happiest when I’m around people I love, who let me be my unapologetically goofy self, who challenge me to grow and love me unconditionally. I think when I’m able to appreciate life’s gifts, big and small I feel at peace. This year has been a shitty year, but there have been good moments that I’m so thankful for. Thanks to this girl here and the amazing team we’ve built we literally created a non profit from the ground up. I bought my first home, a beautiful little condo in the heart of little Italy. I picked my PhD lab. I got to spend 5 unexpected months with my family, and spent a lot of time on personal development. So here’s to focusing on the little magical moments in life, like watching the sunset at Niagara with your best friend. #thankful #medicalstudent #gradstudent #graduateschool #medstudent #niagara #waterfall #niagarafalls #niagarafallsny #niagarafallsusa #waterfallwednesday #ScenicView #Cloudscape #SkyScape #Mountains #LandscapeShot #Landscape_Specialist #Splendid_Earth #Earthpix #DiscoverLandscape #AwesomeGlobe #Earthescope

How is fall almost over? #sponsor I have been doi

How is fall almost over?
#sponsor
I have been doing my best to soak up the last few days of fall before winter hits. So, as you can imagine all my study breaks have involved hikes, sweaters, apple picking, golf and hot chocolate. I even got to rock these cute boots all fall from @blowfishmalibu which are super comfortable and vegan (made by manmade material and registered with The Vegan Society). What are you going to miss most about fall?
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Also – with fall ending soon and less than two weeks until election day, don’t forget to vote! Your voice matters.
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#blowfishmalibu #fallboots #autumnfashion #autumnstyle #fallfashion #fallstyle #sustainablefashion #veganclothes #veganshoes #autumnlook #sweaterweather #autumnweather #fallweather #ethicalfashion #medstudent #mdphd #gradstudent #medicalschool #registertovote #vote2020

Climbed some rocks and looked at some trees last w

Climbed some rocks and looked at some trees last weekend.
PC: @zhan_solo
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#hiking #naturewalk #cuyahogavalleynationalpark #ledges #naturephotography #Sky_Captures #ScenicView #Cloudscape #SkyScape #Mountains #LandscapeShot #Landscape_Specialist #Splendid_Earth #Outdoors #Earthpix #DiscoverLandscape #AwesomeGlobe #IGRefined #Earthescope

Taking a selfie when you look good is my favorite

Nothing like a Washington state waterfall to make

Nothing like a Washington state waterfall to make you feel small.

Here’s the truth. We are small. Actually, we are kind of tiny in the scheme of things. But tiny does not mean insignificant, and when we think our words and our actions don’t matter that’s when problems happen.

It’s when we think, our vote doesn’t really make a difference. Whether or not I wear a mask doesn’t really change how many people are going to die from COVID. No one will remember that I signed a petition or went to a protest. What difference is the $5 I donated to that cause going to make.

Well let me remind you, that your impact every day is greater than you think even if you don’t realize it in the moment. Every positive decision you make has a ripple effect. Even something has simple as choosing to smile at a stranger can change the mindset someone has that day. Your voice and actions matter as does how you choose to use it. Similarly, every negative action you choose to make can also have an impact whether or not you realize it. So, choose positivity. Choose joy. Choose change. You are making a difference and always remember even one single drop of water causes a ripple in the ocean. .
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#womeninstem #ladyscientist #womeninscience #premed #futuredoc #futuredoctor #medicalstudent #medicalstudentlife #medstudent #premedstudent #premedmotivation #research #gradschool #gradschoollife #pnwonderland #pnwbeauty #waterfallsofinstagram

I have chosen to delete my black square from yeste

I have chosen to delete my black square from yesterday’s #blackouttuesday and instead share some art work I did followed by resources, places to donate, and inclusive ways to make a difference. .
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Accounts to Support and Follow:
· @blklivesmatter
· @naacp
· @colorofchange
· @showingupforracialjustice
· @unitedwedream
· @reclaimtheblock
· @ethelsclub
· @r29unbotehred
· @blackvisionscollective
· @ckyourprivilege

Places to Donate
· George Floyd Memorial
· Reclaim the Block
· National Bail Out
· Black Lives Matter
· Bail Project and YOUR LOCAL Bail Organizations
· Black Visions Collective
· National Bail Fund Network
· The Innocent Project
· Run with Maud
· Justice for Breonna

Some other ways You Can Make a Difference
· Register to Vote
· Continue to educate yourself on what it means to be anti-racist
· Stop supporting organizations that promote hate
· Be an ally and check in on your Black friends, family members, partners and colleagues
· Take part in local protests
· Donate medical supplies or provide medical services/work as a medic at protests
· Donate to bail funds in your county
· Provide support to people in hot-zones if they need it such as providing transportation, watching kids of those in the front lines
· Share resources
· Confront racism whenever you see it .
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Please note: I will not be posting my usual content until at least June 9th if not longer, to draw attention to this issue. #makeadifference #bethechange #practiceantiracism #antiracism #icantbreathe #justiceforgeorgefloyd #justiceforahmaud #justiceforbreonnataylor #runwithmaud #blackoutday2020 #vote #vote2020 #justiceforfloyd #antiracismeducation #antiracismbooks #endracism

Let me tell you why we are not doing enough. The w

Let me tell you why we are not doing enough. The world is unjust. It is cruel. It is horrific. Long before COVID, we have been plagued with viruses of ignorance, hate, intolerance, racism and bigotry. Every human being should be treated equally, with respect and dignity, but the color of our skin robs many of this basic humanity.
We are outraged and horrified by the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. I have read over and over again “I can’t believe this is still happening” and “enough is enough” and though I agree with those sentiments, they are not new. We felt the same when 6 years ago Michael Brown was murdered in Ferguson. He was only a few months older than me, and he would’ve turned 24 two weeks ago. We have felt the same every time there has been a horrific murder in the Black community and we react the same way. We react by reposting Instagram posts on our stories, linking articles and places to donate. We have conversations about how sad this is and we protest in the streets and we show our solidarity during the darkest of times. But this anger and outrage you feel at the pit of your stomach is a burden our Black brothers and sisters have carried for centuries. It is NOT enough to only show support now and to forget in a few weeks. We must all share the burden to end the problem.
Remember the outrage you feel now. This will not be the last time you feel this way. So remember how you feel so that you keep fighting. So that you let the world know that this is not okay. You keep protesting, volunteering, educating yourselves and others and donating when you can. Remember how you feel so you can continue to SUPPORT Black artists, Black women, and Black children. LISTEN when people of color share their experiences. SPEAK UP against injustice. Fight for Black mental health, Black dreams and Black futures because it all matters. Black lives matter and we shouldn’t need a murder in the news to be reminded of that. .
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#justiceforgeorgefloyd #georgefloyd #blacklivesmatter #blm #icantbreathe #fightinjustice #bethechange #premed #futuredoc #futuredoctor #womeninmedicine #medicalstudent #medicalstudentlife #medstudent

In one week I will have finished year one of my MD

In one week I will have finished year one of my MD PhD journey. Tell me that’s not crazy. I feel like I look back at every school year and am always surprised by how much things have changed and how much I’ve grown. But this year is a little different. This has been the most academically challenging year for me. Sometimes it felt like medical school was sort of like learning how to swim in a kiddie pool and then being thrown in the middle of a lake (not an ocean - that will be residency), but you have all your friends and classmates trying to stay afloat together. I’ve learned a lot about myself academically and personally and have been so proud of the amount of growth I’ve done in the last 10 months. I also feel so lucky to be able to follow my dreams and continue my education during these times. And even though the end of the school year wasn’t as any of us expected it, I’m still really happy. HOWEVER, I still have to pass block 4 so I shouldn’t be celebrating ~too~ soon! In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of lovely friends and some of my favorite memories this year (you know, before social distancing was even in our vocabularies). .
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#womeninstem #ladyscientist #womeninscience #premed #futuredoc #futuredoctor #medicalstudent #medicalstudentlife #medstudent #premedstudent #premedmotivation #research #gradschool #gradschoollife

As exams and the end of my first year in med schoo

As exams and the end of my first year in med school approach, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the privilege of being able to study relatively undisturbed while the world is in chaos. I was lucky enough to be able to fly home before quarantine began and have spent the last two months at home with my parents. I haven’t had to worry much about their health, I haven’t had the stress of living alone or have to worry about taking care of someone else. If anything, I’ve actually been able to refocus and recharge and have found myself generally in a better headspace. But I am well aware that this isn’t the case for many. It’s times like these when disparities are brought to light the most. I think about my classmates and others in our situation who have families and children to take care of, have significant others or parents who are on the front lines, or have to deal with the burden of these times on top of being a student. There are students having to returning home to unsafe homes and people trapped at home with their abusers. And so many people trying to figure out how to keep the lights on and put food on the table after losing their Jobs. It’s a broken and unfair situation to say the least, and not something most of us are thinking about. We’re also seeing disparities like those between different socioeconomic groups. Your paycheck shouldn’t determine your right to health and your right to live. But we live in a world where that seems to be the case. I am beyond frustrated thinking about these injustices and in fear of turning this caption into a rant I’ll leave it at this. Be kind to each other. Remember your situation might not necessarily reflect someone else’s. Now is not the time to be selfish. Look out for one another, and try to help those who need it. As always, just a DM away for anyone that wants to talk or just needs a listening ear. ♥️ .
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#womeninstem #ladyscientist #womeninscience #premed #futuredoc #futuredoctor #medicalstudent #medicalstudentlife #medstudent #premedstudent #premedmotivation #research #gradschool #gradschoollife

I think one of the hardest things about med school

I think one of the hardest things about med school is learning how to study. There’s so much material to get through but there’s also so many resources. Do you prefer reading from textbooks or watching videos from Osmosis, Boards and Beyond or various YouTube Channels? Do you use First Aid to guide there topics you cover in depth or as a supplement? Do you take notes by typing up paragraphs of words or drawing pictures? How many hours a day do you do Anki or do you swear you don’t really need it? I found this really overwhelming and I’m honestly still trying to figure out what works best for me. I feel like with every block I changed my studying style in some way after learning what helped me and what wasn’t an efficient use of time. Learning in med school is all about being able to recall what you learned, so reviewing material more than once is obviously essential but the way you digest that material varies person to person. What’s your learning style? And how do you study best? .
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#studygram #studygrammers
#womeninstem #ladyscientist #womeninscience #premed #futuredoc #futuredoctor #medicalstudent #medicalstudentlife #medstudent #premedstudent #premedmotivation #research #gradschool #gradschoollife

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