Career Question: Men in OB/GYN

Obstetrics and Gynecology is a tough profession.  Not only do doctors in this subspeciality recieve some of the highest malpractice charges, but there is an increasing number of men in this profession who recieve scrutiny.

From a male perspective (with efforts to be careful in how I write this post/not gender-biased) I don't see why men CAN'T connect to emotional, social, and physical needs of female patients. Perhaps its a sense of personal experience with certain health conditions, or a sense of connection that female OB/GYNs have with their patients. But, having men in this profession as well as in others (such as Nursing), seems to be a way of diversifying the perspectives and lenses involved.

I think a few stereotypes need to broken.  These include, the thirst for money among men in this profession, and the indifference to female needs.  There are good motivations for going to medicine, and frankly, I don't see why one's gender has to effect their ability to practice.

And just to put the other side of the picture.  What about female urologists?  We need to look at medical practioners from an objective standpoint, and not just based on gender.

Documentary Reflection: Meditating on Medicaid

Here it is! An honest reflection of the documentary process.  It had its ups and downs, but in the end, I learned a lot about Medicaid and disability care in the U.S.  Making this documentary motivates me to make change!

My group’s documentary topic was a criticism of the present-day attendant care benefits for disabled persons.  It dissected policy that was ineffective for disability rights flexibility and drew upon the personal experiences of two disabled healthcare recipients.  Now that my group is close to finishing this project, I am excited to see the end product and create an advocating message.  Having covered disability studies in my last year’s Inspirations play for drama class, the topic of disabled rights is of huge importance to me.  I will even further explore this through an internship next summer with the Gilchrist Center for Diversity in Montgomery County.  Thus, I have no regrets.  Topic selection was also hugely important because I needed to pick a topic that I knew I could commit to, based on previous experience.  The freedom in choosing a topic allowed me to think and take time with my decision, which was beneficial in the long run.

                One interesting thing that I learned during the documentary process was the extent to which the disabled are forced into Medicare, and the inhumane marrying for insurance, and lack of security of benefits.  The personal interviews helped me to truly realize this, and also dispelled any myths I had about disability healthcare.

                The biggest challenge that my group faced creating the documentary was integrating the B-Roll and Interview A-Roll into a cohesive product.  This challenge arose due to the lack of communication between me and Ravyn, when we were scripting each part of the documentary.  We tackled this challenged by first transcribing all of the A-Roll footage and looking at where our B-Roll or secondary research could add in more depth.  Thus, we integrated our extra B-Roll by using the A-Roll as a point of reference.

                If I had the chance to create another documentary, I would take more part in the interview part.  Finding diverse and dynamic interviewees is the key to a great jump-start in a subject-based documentary.  Although our interviewees were extremely informative and effectively passionate, playing a personal role in that process would’ve helped to become more involved with the overall process.

                In terms of what the teacher can do, I think less is more (to some extent).  Monitoring the students is GOOD, and honestly, it helps me stay on track.  However, I think the weekly planning half-sheets are a waste of time, and don’t really help the students organize their time (tasks and plans are often repeated).  Furthermore, I think it would be helpful to have a professional reference guide for technical errors/troubleshooting in Final Cut Pro, such that major mistakes (such as loosing footage) will be avoided.  Along with this, should come strict protocol for file management. A few final cut basics should be re-enforced in the beginning of the process.

                Overall, this was a FUN PROJECT! I would definitely do it again, and feel as if I can explore other documentary topics on my own, using the schools I have learned. 

Author in Profile: Priscilla Gillman

She has an English PhD from Yale, and is by far one of the most talented memoir writers I know.

Priscilla Gilman writes about autism, but particularly how it has changed her as a mother, woman, and writer.  After learning that her son, Benji, was diagnosed with severe Autism, Gilman ventured to write the book The Anti-Romantic Child: A Memoir of Unexpected Joy.  This book speaks volumes on the subtle, and unspoken transformations people go through, while living and learning with an autistic child.  Gilman's book, daily facebook posts, and deep insight shed an informative and progressive view on children with autism.

Me being personally interested in the neonatal aspects of developmental disorders such as autism, Gilman's book and perspective have really inspired me to pursue some area of research related to this.  Her book isn't scientific but rather humanistic focusing on the little progressions and hidden talents of her son, such as poetry, or science fairs, and small milestones that reveal his true humanity!

I love the perspective and the light that's shed upon on just one boy.  Gilman's message is one that I think we can all follow!  There should be more books like hers.

Book PREview- Bengali Harlem

Queens. Jackson Heights. Beeps. Lights. Fish Smell. Goat bones.

Is this the real precedence of BANGLADESHI AMERICA?

Not really.  In fact, Bangladeshi American aren't solely a minority among the large of wave of Asians that came to the U.S. in the 60s.  We have a history in New York, that goes long back.

The purpose of the book Bengali Harlem is to relay the profiles of early Bengali fishermen, and trades people who arrived on New York City's shores, and began their unique lives.  They intermarried with Puerto Ricans and Blacks and created a long-lost identity in Baltimore  Chicago, and NYC.

I'm getting this book in late february from a cousin-friend and am curious to learn about the history of my people in the U.S.  I love diversity and the urban minority story of NYC.  This book is sure to be a blast, getting to know to transnational stories of Bengali-mixed persons across the socioeconomic spectrum.

The Cyber Walls are Crumbling

I am a sucker for all things Middle East.  Not only the political and international relation tensions, but also the food, culture, music, etc.

However, one thing that has interested and provoked me recenetly, is a very silent war.  A war done completely through computers, but also harming the United States' most precious security networks.  The war is with Iran.

Iran's nuclear power is not its only asset.  Its  SMART country.  Kids study almost all of hours of the day, and computer science and cryptography are majorly innovative fields of study in the country.  With a plethora of youth and old professionals, cyber warfare is booming.

Network decryption, hacking into missile files, and damage personal information are some of the ways Iran is attacking the U.S. almost discretely.  However, the true harm is that not only is the attack done on the national or defense level, but also at the level of personal computers and identity theft.  Iran's leadership combined with the grandness of Chinese cyber-power, can only possibily result in utter chaos.

Colleges across the states are urging undergraduates to pursue the promised field of Cybersecurity.  This push for more Computer whizzes in American soil is urgent, as the demand for strengthened securities is HIGH!

So let's think.  Can we really wait long?  How much time will it take for America's " binary" walls to start crumbling.

Ethnic American Literature: There is SO Much!!

I love books.  I love books about people, about changing experiences, and about people from all across the world.  Reading a particularly short story about world travel in English Class today, reminded me of how much I love Children's Ethnic Literature.  Ethnic I guess can mean a multitude of things.  Chinese, Hispanic, Black, Indian, Arab, Pacific Americans and more.  However, the interesting thing about this genre, is the mixing flavors of voice and style.  Just take a look at a few of these excerpts:

"For woman is yin, the darkness within, where untempered passions lie. And man is yang, bright truth lighting our minds." 
- Amy Tan, The Joy Luck Club, Ch. 4


“We are like the phoenix," said Abuelita. "Rising again, with a new life ahead of us.”


Pam Muñoz Ryan, Esperanza Rising



I love the traditions of old generations past, the tones of ancestors, and the interesting facets of one's ancestral ethnic culture that play a part in the American Dream.  That's why I really love this genre.  It makes being American so flavorful, all-encompassing, and new in constantly changing experiences.

Future Plans? I may take some college courses on Latino Studies, Asian America Lit, Black Diaspora, etc. (you name it!:)).  The more classes and experiences I get to have in this genre, the more tastes I'll get of the melting pot!

And oh, just one more proposal.  How cool would it be to take a shot at creating some of my own.  Maybe integrating an Ethnic Short Story into a project for Film Class?  I'm sure It'll be a challenge, but I think it might be an interesting/supercoolandfun idea.  Tell me what you guys think.  Any ideas??

Hidden Gems: Public Art in Silver Spring

Hi Readers! This is my new Independent Video Project on what it is like to live in Silver Spring.  It combines two of the main things I love about Silver Spring, Maryland: the murals and multicultural diversity.  I highlighted my favorite pieces of public art displays in the downtown area.  I hope the British kids coming to visit CAP enjoy it, as well as Blair Students.  We often take for granted a simple piece of sculpture or painting as we pass by, but taking a closer look helped me to TRULY to appreciate the hidden layer of intense history and stories!  I hope you guys enjoy this tour through Downtown as much as I did!
(This was shot using an iPad 2)