René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH – Medium

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

he/him

Introducing My Public Health Night School Project

Let me teach you about my profession.

3d ago

Introducing My Public Health Night School Project

3d ago

Published in
Microbial Instincts

Measles Is a Big Deal, Even if You Have Never Seen a Person With It

Why 124 cases among Texas’ 31.3 million residents is troubling.

5d ago

Digitally-colorized, thin-section transmission electron microscopic image of a single measles virus particle, with the viral nucleocapsid situated underneath the viral envelope, surrounded by surface projections.

5d ago

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Published in
BeingWell

The Students Are Not Okay

I’ve been noticing a trend in my graduate students, and it’s worrying me.

5d ago

A group of people is seated in a modern conference room with rows of gray chairs that have wooden armrests. A speaker, dressed in a gray blazer and dark pants, sits on a stool at the front, facing the audience. The speaker raises one hand, engaging with the attendees. Several audience members, dressed in a mix of business casual and casual attire, have their hands raised in response. The group is diverse in appearance, with varying hairstyles, facial features, and clothing styles.

5d ago

Analyzing Publicly Available Data on Measles in Texas and New Mexico

Insights from public data gives a picture of where measles could appear next.

5d ago

A person with light skin is lying on a hospital bed with their eyes closed. Their face is covered in a reddish, blotchy rash. Their dark hair is slightly disheveled, and their expression appears tense. A small card with a hand-drawn “I” symbol is held up near their shoulder. The lighting in the room is dim and casts a yellowish hue over the image. The background consists of white pillows and bedding.

5d ago

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

Public Health Is Not About Radical Change

Rarely is a public health program revolutionary, at least not instantly.

6d ago

A person wearing a dark suit and light-colored shirt is holding a large burger with both hands. The burger has a toasted brioche bun, a thick patty, fresh green lettuce, tomato slices, and other leafy greens. The person’s mouth is open in a wide smile, showing excitement. In the foreground, a black bowl filled with crispy golden French fries is partially visible. The background is blurred, suggesting a restaurant or casual dining setting.

6d ago

Published in
Highest Happiness

The One Date That Changed It All

Cold pizza. Bagged salad. Good company and conversation, and getting the dishes done.

Feb 18

A cozy living room with a light blue couch, where two people are lounging together. One person, with curly black hair and wearing a white shirt and denim shorts, is lying across the couch, leaning into the other person, who has short, light brown hair and is wearing a black t-shirt and gray shorts. They are smiling and looking at each other. A wooden coffee table in front of them holds two glasses of orange juice, a bowl of snacks, a remote control, and some books. A floor lamp casts a warm glow

Feb 18

Published in
Microbial Instincts

The First Anti-Vaccine Activism and Its Modern-Day Echoes

Everything old is new again. And I’m not surprised, just disappointed.

Feb 18

A large crowd of people is gathered at a protest, holding signs and flags. Many signs express opposition to mandatory vaccinations, with messages like “No Mandatory Vaccines,” “Not Anti-Vax, Pro Choice,” and “No Forced Vaccinations.” Some signs use strong language against vaccination policies. Various flags, including those of Australia, Venezuela, and Albania, are visible. The crowd is diverse, with individuals wearing hats, sunglasses, and casual clothing, engaging in chants or conversations.

Feb 18

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

The Kansas Tuberculosis Crisis Is a Wake-Up Call We Can’t Ignore

One of our oldest bacterial foes continues to wreak havoc in an era of antibiotics and vaccines.

Feb 12

A person holds a petri dish with both hands, examining bacterial colonies growing on an agar plate. The dish is divided into four sections, each containing different colony patterns. The hands are in focus, while the background, which includes laboratory equipment like a metal burner and plastic-wrapped materials, is blurred. The lighting has a soft, bluish hue, giving the scene a sterile, scientific atmosphere.

Feb 12

Published in
STEM Parenting

Using Old Tech to Teach My Daughter Even Older Math

Preparing my daughter to not be paralyzed in the absence of a microprocessor.

Feb 7

A close-up of a wooden slide rule, showing various logarithmic scales and numerical markings. The slide rule has patent numbers printed along the top edge and includes scales labeled with numbers such as 1.3, 1.35, and 1.4. The background features a colorful surface with handwritten text and designs.

Feb 7

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

There Are Cost-Effective and Science-Based Ways to Stop Drug Overdose Deaths

You don’t have to crash the economy or go to war to do something about fentanyl overdoses and deaths in the United States.

Feb 5

A close-up photograph of a dark surface featuring a skull and crossbones symbol made from a white powdery substance. To the left, a purple American Express credit card is partially visible. On the right, a rolled-up banknote with a faint portrait is placed near a small line of the same white powder, suggesting drug use. The image conveys themes of drug addiction and danger.

Feb 5

Study Finds Vaccine Against Yawning to Be Safe and Effective in Clinical Trials

This totally fake medicine against one of humanity’s most contagious behaviors highlights the scientific process of creating a new…

Feb 4

A man wearing a white robe yawns with his hand covering his mouth, appearing tired or sleepy, against a plain light-colored background.

Feb 4

Published in
BeingWell

Impostor Syndrome: Success with a Side of Doubt

We all wear masks in public. Occasionally, the masks wear us.

Feb 3

A mysterious person wearing a dark hooded sweater holds a white mask in front of their face, partially revealing piercing eyes. The dim lighting and shadows create a dramatic and enigmatic atmosphere.

Feb 3

Published in
Microbial Instincts

No, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Aren’t Like What the Movies Show

Sure, they’re scary, but your risk of catching them is low… And next to non-existent if you’re in the “Global North.”

Feb 2

Electron microscopic image of the 1976 isolate of Ebola virus. The internal structures of the filamentous particle are visible, including the nucleocapsid and other structural viral proteins, and the outer viral envelope is covered with surface projections. The characteristic “6-shape” of the virus is evident.

Feb 2

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

What Is Our Responsibility to Victims of Unethical Medical Experimentation?

Can we learn from other people’s suffering? Yes, but not in a way that legitimizes those who made them suffer.

Jan 29

Jewish twins were kept alive to be used in Josef Mengele’s medical experiments. These children from Auschwitz were liberated by the Red Army in January 1945. (Image in the public domain.)

Jan 29

Pubertad y cáncer de próstata: ¿Por qué importa esta etapa?

Crecer no es fácil, y tampoco lo es la epidemiología.

Jan 25

Pubertad y cáncer de próstata: ¿Por qué importa esta etapa?

Jan 25

Published in
Microbial Instincts

Wait — Viruses Can Cause Cancer? Here’s the Deal

It’s not just radiation and chemicals you should worry about.

Jan 23

Wait — Viruses Can Cause Cancer? Here’s the Deal

Jan 23

Public Health Has Done More With Less, but This Is Ridiculous

It’s going to be an interesting four years, to say the least.

Jan 22

Pink poster with bold black text reading ‘CENSORSHIP IS ANTI-SCIENCE’ placed against a textured gray background.

Jan 22

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

So, You’re a Public Health Worker and Want to Engage with Your Community?

There’s an art to telling the public what’s good and what isn’t.

Jan 21

Outdoor gathering with a large group of people socializing under string lights. The crowd includes individuals of diverse backgrounds, enjoying a lively and cheerful atmosphere.

Jan 21

Published in
Sharing Science

Logical Fallacies and Statistical Anomalies Trick You Into Believing Untrue Things

No, Nicolas Cage isn’t trying to drown you.

Jan 17

Outdoor pool surrounded by lush tropical greenery, with wooden lounge chairs, striped towels, and umbrellas on a wooden deck. A relaxing, sunny retreat with a vibrant, natural backdrop.

Jan 17

Published in
Microbial Instincts

Vaccinating Smart, Not Blind: What Dengue Vaccination in Brazil Can Teach Us

The dengue vaccine trials are a perfect example of letting epidemiology guide the response. Otherwise, you’re blindly vaccinating everyone…

Jan 16

Close-up of a mosquito illuminated in a spotlight-like effect, standing on human skin with a visible drop of blood at the tip of its proboscis. The mosquito has green eyes and fine details of its legs, wings, and body are visible against the textured skin surface.

Jan 16

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

he/him

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DrPH in Epidemiology. Public Health Instructor. Father. Husband. "All around great guy." https://linktr.ee/rene.najera

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