Welcome to my show, “Meet Minerva, The Microbiologist”. My name is Minerva A. Garcia. I am the Associate Direct of Microbiology at Jacobi Medical Center for NYC Health and Hospitals.
I am your microbiologist…
Microbiology and all of its microbes welcome you along with my creative poetry.
So, here it goes. The analogy of a poem.
Since the covid pandemic, we have been re-arranging our lives. We have also faced many challenges. This is where poetry comes in. I would like to bring you all into my world of microbiology, where microbes are discussed and poetic lines are expressed in a way that is easy to understand. The creative mind is lost without poetry.
In microbiology we can get lost in the terminology and amount of information regarding each microbe. But, if we have a microbiologist looking after us we can be found and cured.
So, come into my world of microbiology and poetry.
So, there it goes. The analogy of a poem titled Challenge.
It goes like this…
Challenge is facing obstacles and never giving
Up-
Is combating a disease and rising each morning with the sun
With a smile
Is comforting those in distress even if you’re there
And are realizing you’re human but, that you can give a loving hand
Is loving your fellow man, even though there is none for you
Is getting wet, for no umbrella are in your hands
And is opening your heart and filling your soul with love
Is giving hope and strength to those who lack
Challenge is facing obstacles and never giving
Up-
Is combating a disease and rising each morning with the sun
With a smile
Is comforting those in distress even if you’re there
And are realizing you’re human but, that you can give a loving hand
Is loving your fellow man, even though there is none for you
Is getting wet, for no umbrella are in your hands
And is opening your heart and filling your soul with love
Is giving hope and strength to those who lack
Is being kind and sharing yourself with those
In need-
Is searching for peace, where there is none and is to seek
Liberty and live harmoniously despite what you may see
But, to stand by your beliefs-
To challenge the court for the truth is a view, for God
The innocence “Why there is crime?”-
To question the Unbelievers, evil doers, the pessimists and/or not could
Be the key-
The beauty exists, when you believe, keep it like this,
Breath free and rest in peace
So, lets get started!
In todays show I will be talking about:
1. Why is the month of April so important to our profession?
2. Challenges minorities face in healthcare
3. Whats new with COVID-19
Lets get this show started.
Lab Week
The 4th week of April is National Administrative Professionals Week, know as secretary week. The 3rd week of April is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. April is also poetry month and minority health month. All vital operations in the healthcare setting.
Lab Week is where all the fun and celebrations happen. Is the hospital a place where silent heroes work? This years lab week logo is “Laboratory Professionals Get Results”
During lab week there’s a lot of comradery. We have posters, puzzles, raffles, t-shirts, etc. Luncheons and dinners for appreciation are provided for the lab workers. Everyone including the administration, the CFO, and the CEO appreciate and acknowledge lab workers during this week. Games such as Meet the Microbes, showing no discrimination loving us all … the universal pathogenic/mutated winner for this year is SARS-CoV-2. Luckily, being deterred and destroyed very slowly through a vaccine. This would be our only hope at controlling and stopping this pathogen from moving on.
Minority Challenges in Healthcare
Minorities are distortional in the health care setting. You may ask why. The reasons are vast and many. Some of the challenge’s minorities faced are lack of support financially from their families, mentoring, and assistance to further their education through scholarships and grants. Their culture does not encourage higher education, probable marriage, or work. They may feel it’s difficult to succeed in the sciences and instead seek easier majors. The profession is too lengthy compared to other fields. The sacrifice not worth the time and energy. Minority students may not have same strategic mindset of that of an educated and supported family. They faced obstacles above and beyond hard to imagine. You have to put yourself in their shoes in order to understand. You have to want it so bad, because it will be the only way out of poverty, survival and most of all a way to make it better for your next generations. You have to think outside the box and disregard those who will not support, encouraged and give you that run like a marathon you’ll need to succeed and accomplished your goals.
You have to have a plan early on, seek a mentor, have strategies, distanced yourself from negative people who will not support you, seek assistance from your teachers, join a club and/or start one, join your community volunteer group, learn to give of yourself, be an ideal citizen and most of all stand out and be a leader in school and your community by aiming to be a better person. I suggest, the harder your road, your journey as a rainbow you’ll get at the end if you work hard at it. I am indeed, your example.
Always follow your dreams, being respectful and always love what you do in order to make this a better world in this journey in your life.
We’ve seen people living longer, where health indicators show life expectancy is improving by exercising and eating right. We may also think infant mortality has improved, but we’re facing today’s challenges of a disproportionate levels.
This includes issues such as: Global warming and Covid pandemic.
Where we all as a society must come together with a unique understanding and awareness with an effort to work together as one family unit if we’re to sustain this planet and survive
Leaving our future offspring’s, a better future and hand them a planet with tomorrow’s promises.
We have to relearn what is important, by respecting our planet, our oceans, the forest and the very air we breathe from pollutants, such as acid rain, plastics in our oceans and cutting trees leaving us all vulnerable to microbial pathogens. The future belongs to all of us, therefore is up to all of us to protect it.
We have to as Americans, find a way to improve minority medical care, join health professionals, and join the fight of preventable diseases.
As we learned with Covid pandemic:
Working together following proper protocols recommended by CDC & WHO, such as wearing mask, 6-foot distance, covering your facing with a mask, not touching your face, nose, mouth, proper hand washing 20-30 seconds lathering with soap to shed those pathogens off your hands, and taking on responsibility as a citizen to ensure our safety by getting vaccinated to develop immunity. All very important regimens to follow.
We know that minorities faces challenges that are too difficult to solve alone, therefore a support system would benefit them enormously. For example, we have many physicians with MD degrees from foreign countries, due to language barriers, difficult passing the medical boards, and taking classes has limited them to get as actively involved as they would like. Practicing medicine will not be a way of life for them. How can we change that? We are missing out on these intellectual mind as we faced shortages. A support system would encourage them to succeed.
Students can get assistance by Financial Aid packages to their chosen school when accepted. There’s scholarships and student loans. Therefore, students should make every effort to seek a way to fulfill their dreams in the medical profession. It is important for students not to let their fears, insecurities deter them from a life in the laboratory profession. It is a very rewarding field, because 70% of diagnostic testing performed yearly physicians rely on in order to treat their patients. If this is not rewarding, then what is?
We, in the laboratory are facing tremendous shortages. As we know Baby Boomers Generation are retiring. This population is highly motivated and will be seeking the best health care system for treatments. We need students to join the laboratory profession to fulfill the retirees. It will be your turn to carry this baton, as we will pass on to you, the future of our profession.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBTQ) experience poor health services and outcomes compared to the heterosexual community. Why you may ask? That is because of the following:
- poor outcomes being the result of differences in access to health coverage
- limitations available to them, absence of medical settings that are affirming and free of discrimination;
- medical staff not trained in LGBTQ health issues;
- health behaviors that do not foster good health
- social & economic systems that have not supported or protected this minority group
- Fear of repercussion from family members
- They also don’t feel comfortable relating their issues in an uncomfortable setting
- Statistics indicate that 29% of LGBTQ patients said a healthcare provider refused to see them due to their actual perceived gender identity
- Learning of this information CAP Survey from 2015, it saddens me to learn that.
Since, we are created with equality the medical community must be open to everyone without prejudice. Improvements in this area must happen in the future.
Immigrants fail to seek medical care because of their immigration status, lack of language understanding, and their lacking of health insurance. In their culture, many do not wish to exercise their will by being forced to be examined by the opposite sex clinician. It is important in the control of diseases and to maintain a healthy life style by visiting your physician and seeking healthcare when a person’s is ill.
Preventive care is also critical and good hygiene practice is essential in improving and maintaining good health.
Latinos & African Americans lack of health insurances rise problems beyond recognition, because by the time they reach a physician, it may be fatal. The reasons being, they do not follow-up with their physicians due to lack of insurance. Many visit ER for critical care that require further evaluations and treatments. This problem creates another crisis not easy to manage.
It is important as a society to understand minority groups and give support where its needed. Many times, they have nowhere to turn, but to hospitals emergency rooms. This can be costly and detrimental causing a huge burden to the healthcare system. What can be done to improve this area? As society we have to understand these groups and be compassionate if we’re to move forward and show team efforts as a team player.
What’s up with Covid
The variant strain is still out there. I recommend all to get the word out, get vaccinated. It’s the only way to control the spreading of SARS-COV-2. Continue following instructions from Center of Diseases (CDC) and World Health Organizations (WHO). Stay focused and be vigilant by continuing to utilize protocols that I’ve encouraged throughout my show: use of mask, follow social distance by keeping 6 feet distance, do not touch your nose, eyes face and ears. Wash your hands with soap and warm water, lathering for 20-30 seconds. This helps shed and flush microbes off of your skin. This is extremely important.
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I want to give shout out to Mary Lou Davidson my Executive Producer/President at Scout Media Strategies and WebTalkradio for making all of this possible and allowing me this opportunity to reach out to all of you and most of all, my loving audience.
This is your microbiologist Minerva A. Garcia coming to you from microbiology at Jacobi Medical Center in NYC.
OPINION DISCLAIMER:
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and my guests, and not of any institutions or corporation.