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I

We chased each other down the halls,

Barely containing our laughter.

The teachers tried to slow us down,

Which only made us run faster.

II

She knows me well, inside and out.

Carries all my darkest secrets.

Only few understand our jokes,

Which I think are rather genius.

III

One look into her deep green eyes,

And I can sense what she’ll say next.

Before I know I will need her,

There on my phone, will be her text.

IV

We have our place, up windy roads,

Where tears were shed and feelings shared.

We left our mark, and broke the rules,

Up on that hill, our trust declared.

V

Five years together, more apart.

Each call, as if no time has passed.

Each visit, sweet with memories.

Each hug, more sacred than the last.

I

Excitement burgeoned as a new decade set afoot

Amid the crisp, winter air, whispers of a virus began to surface

A familiar predator, yet which appeared so foreign

That sent people into fear and made governments nervous

II

Chaos unraveled and uncertainty settled in

Windows shut, borders closed, and hospitals arose

Essential workers marched to the frontline, brave but unequipped

Watching as cases reached daily highs and the economy record lows

III

Dirt was shoveled aside to make space for coffins

Families torn apart by oceans or cities or plain glass windows

Victims filled wards as they fought under ventilators

Isolation become our friends and health workers our heroes

IV

The world trudged on, unveiling deep injustices

The pandemic of racism killed George that day

Entangled in the veins of our darkest history

Protests spread like wildfire as we shouted his name

V

Nature played its course and turned Californian skies orange

Unrest beset Ethiopia – in Yemen, hunger remains a daily fight

But small victories were won – new leaders, even days COVID-free

As face coverings became a norm, and curfews alike

VI

New waves rolled in, swallowing lives like sand

Widening the cracks in a world already divided

Leaving the poor behind and innocent lives lost in ashes

But we are fighting the same war, no matter what we decided

VII

Our unwavering faith in the light at the end of this tunnel

Takes form in lessons of the past and the rollout of vaccines

From it all we emerge more informed, grateful, resilient

Prepared to embrace the new year, full of things that can be

I

Days so busy we forget them on the top shelf

A new year’s resolution now coated in dust

Reminding ourselves to take a break, open it

Finally, on the nightstand – read it, that we must

II

Once we begin, the pages will whisk us away

Enlightening our lives with new colors and sounds

Ever evolving characters that lure us in

Plots that hold our breath, that can turn our lives around

III

Each new chapter dragging us deeper within

Unveiling more but kindling a thousand more thoughts

At the end, entranced by the weight of each last word

Reminiscing on the lessons the book has taught

I

Numbed by the dull tone that starts your day,

Each morning the same room, same routine.

Chair in place, laptop at the same spot.

Meetings and talks, eyes glued to the screen.

II

A walk outside, only if permitted.

Podcasts becoming regular friends.

Connected by sight and sound, not touch.

Uncertain as days come to an end.

III

Not easy alone, yet still lucky.

With time to think and to reconnect.

A chance to experiment with recipes,

Or read that book sitting on your desk.

IV

Isolated but safely sheltered,

Knowing we are all silent soldiers.

Shedding egos and shielding others.

World changing lives, us – the beholders.

[An Op-Ed I wrote for a Public Health Course]

Patricia was 16 when her mother died, she stopped school, was sexually abused and forced to keep quiet about all of it. She is another name to the silent suffering experienced by the one million other orphans whose parents died from the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Most of Zambia’s orphans are collateral damage of the epidemic, and we grapple with the staggering number of adolescents left behind. It is time to protect girls from the dangers that claimed the lives of their parents in the first place.

Since the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, adolescents suffered some of the hardest blows. Due to the trauma of sickness and death of the parents, the burden of caring for younger siblings, and the increased time spent on household chores, many adolescents are forced to drop out of school and prematurely take on adult roles². Adolescent girls are denied the chance to begin a normal life before they are even old enough to understand it.

[…]

School was built to be a protective environment for young people. Everybody needs someone to share their feelings, thoughts, and fears. For an orphan, school may be particularly important in maintaining order, routine and access to caring adults as well as education³. Cash transfer programs have helped adolescents make smoother and safer transitions to adulthood in many LMIC, a luxury too many of us take for granted. With trusted confidants, adolescent girls can freely discuss issues concerning HIV/AIDS and its impact on education in a context where such ‘taboo’ issues would be confronted with silence or denial⁴. Like the same way it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a school to raise an adolescent orphan.

Observable. Simple. Compatible. If carefully designed and evaluated, the economic incentive of a conditional cash transfer could help reduce stigma and promote safe sexual behaviors.

Robbing a girl of her health and education is a basic violation of human rights. Living a life free of the fear of early sexual debut, unprotected sex or early marriage is a freedom everyone should have. It is time to stop overlooking the elephant in the room. It is time to break the vicious cycle that HIV/AIDS has inflicted on Zambia. It is time to lend a hand to the land of a million orphans.

(adapted from Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, Marilyn Monroe)

I

There are those who would die for love

They delight in finding soulmates

But I like a program that lives

And gives me codes to generate

II

A hug or a date

May be quite the joyous thrill

But STATA is a girl’s best friend

III

True love may be great

But it won’t pay all the bills

For STATA 15

Or help you to find the grouped mean

IV

Men get bored

Girls less adored

And we all lose our edge in the end

V

But normal or right-skewed

Histograms don’t lose shape

STATA is a girl’s best friend

VI

ANOVA!

Bootstrap!

Lincom, Splines, Regress!

Talk to us, Professor West,

Tell us all about it!

I

Four months ago,

At the edge of the stadium.

Had a long day,

And that’s when she saw him.

II

Eyes bright, smile wide,

As if he’d prepared for this moment.

She sure did not,

Though there was a bond unspoken.

III

The sun shone on,

Lighting a flame to the talk.

Endless topics,

Were shared on that magical walk.

IV

Both heads afloat,

High up in the soft, white clouds.

They shared a kiss,

With their heartbeats the only sound.

V

The weeks went on,

And the fascination became stronger.

Through day and night,

Their gazes grew infinitely longer.

VI

Hours flew by,

Leaving yet so much more to explore.

A bit confused,

Both wondered if together they could be so much more?

VII

Nervous but sure,

The bond burgeoned overseas.

Despite how far,

They talked about books and laughed about trees.

VIII

The dreams went on,

The two picturing life with the other in it.

Memories strong,

Neither paused to waiver one little bit.

IX

There were hard times,

Unstable wifi and empty beds.

Yet they pulled through,

Knowing there are roads together they could tread.

X

Key to it all,

Was the hope in his smile or the light in her eyes.

Which remind them,

To enjoy each day to the fullest and time will fly.

XI

Emails and texts,

Even handwritten letters were sent.

These kept things warm,

And their connection always unbent.

XII

Now here I am,

Stepping off a plane and running into your arms.

Fully knowing,

And ready to experience all your one thousand charms.

Those who care will know

the happiness and the pain.

And will hold their heart.

An expert from my eulogy to an important person in my life that passed away 2 weeks ago.

[…]

Marc was a visionary. He didn’t just see the world the way it was, he saw beyond that and imagined the world without poverty, violence, or resource and cost inefficiencies. I can’t say with confidence that all his visions will be achieved in the near future, but it does inspire me and everyone else he has touched to build bigger goals and confidence to strengthen future global health systems. It always brought a smile on my face when I spotted that blue Boston cap from across the street before we would sit down with our tea and coffee (I don’t like coffee), because I knew we wouldn’t simply discuss how far I’ve gotten with the reference list for the paper or how many more articles I’ve uncovered on blood-bag delivering drones. We would talk about bigger things – like artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry, or standardizing electronic medical records, or making “Uberization of healthcare” a common term. Marc helped me rediscover my love for writing and newly discover my capability to use words and research to empower others. I felt so lucky that our paths had crossed that one meeting at Bixby Center – what I thought would be a simple working professional partnership became a long-lasting friendship. He would ask about my plans for the winter holidays, and I would ask him which concert he would be attending next. He was curious what language I spoke at home, and I wondered about his 4-month world tour with you after he graduated college. I would express to him my fascination of the film “On the Basis of Sex”, and he would tell me about the thrill of going down a black-diamond ski slope. Over fried chicken, I would seek advice on maintaining strong relationships and he would show me adorable photos of his grandchildren or selfies of you two on a ski slope.

The day came when Marc texted me to meet him at the Public Health building to submit our proposal. Once we clicked the key to send off the article, I had butterflies in my stomach. What Marc had probably done hundreds of time was an extremely big deal to me. He had given me the chance to be published, to be a co-author of an innovative article on a topic I care so much about on a global health journal. When Marc invited me to join him and you for dinner at your home, I was more than grateful and excited to come. It felt special to celebrate the acceptance of our article in that exact place that embodied Marc’s past, personality and passions. Seeing all the tapestries, collections of art, and lovely family photos in your home brought every word that Marc had told me about his life into reality. Just by examining the walls, rooms and objects in your house, I saw how deeply Marc and you have assimilated all the culture and traditions you both have encountered in your lives, I saw the love he had for you, his children and grandchildren, and I saw the evolution of both his and your extraordinary academic careers. The stimulating and engaging discussions we shared about cultural views and perceptions, about history and wars, about books and education enriched my cultural, historical and intellectual knowledge in one night. I felt accepted, understood and honored to have shared such an enjoyable time with two ambitious people who have seen so much of the world through such unique lenses. Though the savory taste of the roasted pork stayed in my memory for a while, it was the comfort and ease I felt talking to Marc and you that will remain with me forever.

Marc had warned me that every Public Health graduation he had attended in the past was boring. That Saturday of my graduation was possibly one of the happiest days of my life – and Marc and you are a big reason for making that true. It was a busy day for everyone – but both of you were so easygoing, approachable and cheerful that it made it so much easier for my family and friends to all converse with each other and have wonderful time. All my friends were amazed by how friendly Marc and you were, and I am elated that my parents got along with you two so well. It just shows how open-minded, worldly and loving people you are and that you will leave a deep impression on anybody you meet. Timely like he always was, Marc showed up exactly on the dot for my thesis presentation. He attentively listened to all 20 minutes of me going through months of work on literature reviews, data collection and data analysis and asked profound questions that I struggled to answer at the end. I always looked up to the way Marc constantly challenged what was presented in front of him and took everything in with a grain of salt. I never imagined that our way back home would be our last moments together. Like any other time, we talked about how I could improve my presentation, what other topics in global health I could tackle and challenge, which professors I should contact at graduate school, what is going in my personal life, and what the most valuable priorities in life are. A few hours after we parted, I received a purple necklace from Marc and you, which I will treasure forever. Purple is my favorite color and is a mix of the stability of blue and the fierce energy within the red. Marc was always a stable, motivating force in the past year, but he also sparked a stronger energy in me – to strive to become people like him and you.

At the end of the day, I am not only fond of Marc because of all he has accomplished in life or the titles that he has earned or that he helped me get published for the first time. I admire him because he lived a fulfilled, happy and vibrant life – he’s visited over 40 countries, saved and touched thousands of lives, played the banjo, went to concerts, created a beautiful family, remained a great skier, became a master at cooking roast beef and Brussel sprouts, created his own innovative non-profit, defied boundaries within global health, constantly challenged himself and the world around him, fully supported and respected his wife and children, was open to learning about new cultures, invested time and effort into his students, was open-minded about the idea of technology becoming part of our lives, questioned authors that I thought were faultless – the list is endless. I am grateful that he was not only my mentor and professor but also my colleague and friend. Most importantly, I am going to miss Marc because he holds a special place in my heart I hope I earned a place in his. Marc changed the world and undoubtedly left an unforgettable mark in all those who met him. He has inspired me to do the same.

I will miss you,

Lena Kan