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Item Open Access Beyond the BMI: Reframing Weight, Diet, and Exercise Conversations in Primary Care(2026-05-30)To foster trust between physician and patient, we must create that supportive environment from the first patient interaction. For my FM Community Health Project, I’ve created two SmartPhrases to be utilized at annual wellness visits. These are meant to be direct, nonjudgmental questions that open the door for more extensive conversations or follow-up appointments if needed. By utilizing patient-first language and confronting our own unconscious bias surrounding weight, diet, and exercise, we can offer every patient the quality healthcare they deserve.Item Open Access Six Reasons Libraries Should Look Beyond the MLS(2026-06-16)Item Open Access Immigrants, Institutions & Inequality: Why US Congress Must Enact Progressive Immigration Reform(2024)This paper focuses on two aspects pertaining to immigrants, institutions, and inequality in the US. The first aspect is how the institution of the US presidency constructs social inequalities among immigrants. Through a comparison of the Biden and Trump administrations, I show that Democratic and Republican Presidents alike perpetuate inequalities among immigrants. The institutional construction of inequality within the immigrant population renders a significant proportion of immigrants deportable. Thus, Congress must pass laws to create pathways for the long-term, legal inclusion of immigrants vulnerable to deportation. The second aspect addressed in this paper is whether immigration reform in the US is best pursued by Congress or the President. I review scholarly opinion on this topic. Conservatives argue for greater control for Republican presidents and a lesser role for Democratic presidents. Progressives argue for a greater role for Democratic Presidents. I contribute to this literature by taking an altogether different stance. In contrast to the positions outlined, I argue that progressive immigration reform should come from Congress because it is the legislative body with the capacity to offer long-term solutions to the systemic deportability faced by immigrants.Item Open Access A Soft-Touch Approch to Cannabis Harm Reduction(2026-05-10)Cannabis use is legal in Connecticut and commonly used among patients seen in the primary care setting. Physicians frequently encounter patients who use cannabis, but the evidence base regarding known harms and benefits is constantly evolving. Physicians who wish to provide evidence-based guidance for counseling patients on safer use of cannabis may struggle to have these conversations in a way that supports patient autonomy and shared decision-making while centering a balanced assessment of risk. Much of the existing healthcare messaging surrounding cannabis use is paternalistic in its disposition orienting itself around abstinence. This approach may be counter-productive in terms of the practicalities of persuading patients to make healthy choices. There are many reasons why a patient may choose to use cannabis, and if physicians are to be effective advocates for public health, they must meet patients where they are. A soft-touch approach may facilitate greater rapport between physician and patient, and enable the patient to receive health guidance with less defensiveness. This project addresses these concerns by adopting a no contest, harm reductionist perspective to counseling patients on cannabis use.Item Open Access Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Education in Latino Population(2026-05-08)Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is increasingly more common among the Hispanic/Latino population. Data shows these patient are more likely to die from chronic kidney disease and they are less likely to get an annual eye exam. I interviewed patients from the community to get an understanding of their knowledge based of diabetes and educate them on ways to improve their diet and exercise to help manage their blood sugars.
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