René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH – Medium

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René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

he/him

Published in
Microbial Instincts

Why You Should Never Drink Toilet-Made Wine: It May Contain Deadly Neurotoxins

Let’s talk about “pruno,” microbiology, and food safety.

2d ago

A clean white porcelain toilet with an open lid and seat is positioned against a beige wall in a bathroom. The tank has a silver flush handle on the left side. The floor is covered in light brown tiles, and a white baseboard runs along the bottom of the wall. A water supply line with a shutoff valve is visible on the left side, connecting the toilet to the plumbing. The bathroom appears well-maintained with a simple, neutral design.

2d ago

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

Why Did You Get Vaccinated and Still Get Sick?

The immune system is complex, as are the viruses and bacteria we vaccinate against, and so are you.

4d ago

Why Did You Get Vaccinated and Still Get Sick?

4d ago

Published in
BeingWell

Forgetting Your Phone Isn’t the End of the World, or Is It?

A train ride with no phone helped me look into the human mind.

Mar 13

A person with short, dark hair is sitting on a modern train, looking out the window at the blurred scenery of trees and landscape rushing by. They are wearing a long-sleeved navy blue shirt and have their hands resting on a wooden table in front of them. The train car has dark blue cushioned seats with armrests, and a sleek, clean design with soft lighting. A partial view of another passenger is visible in the foreground, but their face is not shown. The setting suggests a peaceful journey.

Mar 13

Published in
Microbial Instincts

The Sitcoms Got It Wrong: Why Mumps Is No Laughing Matter

The Brady Bunch may have laughed at mumps, but the complications are no joke.

Mar 13

A person with light skin and short, dark hair is lying down in a hospital setting. Their face appears slightly swollen, and they have significant swelling on one side of their neck, just below the jawline. Their eyes are open, gazing slightly upward, and their expression is neutral. The lighting casts a warm tone on their skin. A bed or medical equipment is partially visible in the background, suggesting a clinical environment.

Mar 13

Published in
STEM Parenting

Making Math Fun on Long Drives

A 3x5 card and a scratch sheet of paper (and maybe a calculator), and my daughter learns some basic math (and how speedometers work).

Mar 11

A close-up of a car’s speedometer, illuminated with a warm orange glow. The needle points to approximately 100 km/h. The speedometer’s markings range from 0 to 260 km/h, with bold numbers at intervals of 20. Below the needle, a small fuel gauge shows a partially filled tank. The background is blurred, and the edge of another gauge is visible on the right. The lighting creates a soft reflection on the glass covering the speedometer, adding depth to the image.

Mar 11

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

The History of Hantavirus and Why You’re Reading a Lot About It in 2025

It’s everywhere in the news, so let me share its history along with a story of my own.

Mar 10

Two small black mice are on a weathered wooden surface covered in scattered birdseed and sunflower seeds. One mouse is resting its head on the other, which appears to be gently climbing over it. Their fur is sleek, their ears are perked up, and their whiskers are visible. The background consists of blurred green foliage, with a thin, dry branch extending diagonally across the image. Sunlight highlights the mice’s fur and the texture of the seeds.

Mar 10

Published in
Microbial Instincts

The False Alarm on Rubella in Texas Was a Warning Shot — And We Should Pay Attention

Known as “German measles,” rubella is yet another one of those viruses that gives epidemiologists nightmares.

Mar 6

The image shows a vintage educational exhibit about rubella, featuring illustrated panels with text and graphics. The left panel asks, “Is her unborn baby safe from rubella?” and shows a healthcare worker examining a pregnant person. Below, a bar chart and an image of an infant discuss congenital rubella syndrome and birth defects. The right panels outline prevention strategies with illustrations of healthcare workers, children, and classroom settings. A sign at the top reads, “STOP THE SPREAD F

Mar 6

I Created a Headless MacBook Pro, and I’m Digging It

This is a whole new approach to “spatial computing.”

Mar 6

A well-lit desk setup features a MacBook with its lid open, positioned in front of a large curved monitor displaying a Google Docs document in editing mode. A smaller tablet screen is visible to the left. The desk is covered with a black and geometric-patterned mat, with a white keyboard, a mouse, a pen, and sticky notes. A Starbucks cup sits on the right side. Behind the monitor, there are framed photos on the wall, and a small note with handwritten text is attached to the monitor stand.

Mar 6

Published in
The Quantastic Journal

SSRI Medications: Their History, Effects, and Current Controversies

Along with attacks on science in general, medication for mental health disorders is being maligned. Here are some facts.

Mar 4

SSRI Medications: Their History, Effects, and Current Controversies Along with attacks on science in general, medication for mental health disorders is being maligned. Here are some facts.

Mar 4

Introducing My Public Health Night School Project

Let me teach you about my profession.

Feb 27

Introducing My Public Health Night School Project

Feb 27

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH

he/him

Friend of Medium

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

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