The world was shocked with the news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman, the extraordinary actor who played pivotal roles like Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, and most notably, T’Challa in the Black Panther. Boseman was a beacon of light to the African American community and a picture of perfect health to those outside of his inner circle. The news that someone so vibrant and seemingly healthy could die so young has shaken the world to the core. No one knew he was sick. In fact, in the months leading up to his death, his recent weight loss brought so much bullying and ridicule that he was forced to delete pictures and turn off comments from his Instagram account. As we now know, Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. He never spoke of his battle with the deadly disease publicly. He succumbed to the disease at the young age of 43. His passing has left many of us with so many questions. How could someone so healthy have such a deadly disease as colon cancer? Doesn’t co
We’ve learned a lot about the SARS-CoV-2 virus since the emergence of COVID19 worldwide in the early months of 2020. As cases continue to rise across the US and in certain parts of the world, it is wise to understand how this virus works. A deeper understanding of the mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 can help to provide better care for those who are suffering with this illness. While clinical medicine and research continues to advance our knowledge of this virus and the way it interacts with a human host, the COVID19 crisis and our understanding of the virus is still evolving. When the majority of individuals think of COVID19, a viral respiratory illness immediately comes to mind, and this would be a largely accurate reflection. SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus responsible for the COVID19 crisis does indeed cause a respiratory illness that can be fatal, especially for those who are at high risk due to immune dysfunction and comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes. But how has this new cor