Community Medicine

Unmasked is the story of what happened in Okoboji, a small Iowan tourist town, when a collective turn from the coronavirus to the economy occurred in the COVID summer of 2020. State political failures, local negotiations among political and public health leaders, and community (dis)belief about the virus resulted in Okoboji being declared a hotspot just before the Independence Day weekend. Emily Mendenhall spoke with over 100 people and observed a community that rejected public health guidance, revealing deep-seated mistrust in outsiders and strong commitments to local thinking.

Caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming, leaving many caregivers feeling burned out, isolated, and emotionally drained. However, there's hope and resilience to be found on this challenging journey. Many caregivers share these struggles, but with the right support and guidance, caregiving can transform from a daunting task into a path of strength and healing.

Choosing an assisted living community isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s a defining decision that touches every part of your loved one’s life. It’s not transactional; it’s transformational. This isn’t just about beds, buildings, or amenities. It’s about people, values, and the everyday details that shape someone’s dignity, peace of mind, and sense of self. It’s about choosing a place where your loved one doesn’t just survive—but lives well.

On a Thursday in November of 2013, Guadalupe Morales waited anxiously with her sister-in-law and their four small children. Every Latino man who drove away from their shared apartment above a small auto repair shop that day had failed to return - arrested, one by one, by ICE agents and local police. As the two women discussed what to do next, a SWAT team clad in body armor and carrying assault rifles stormed the room. In Separated, William D. Lopez examines the lasting damage done by this daylong act of collaborative immigration enforcement in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

For readers of Mary Roach and Jared Diamond, an innovative look at the histories of different epidemics and what it meant for society, alongside what lessons different diseases have to teach us as society battles the novel coronavirus. Throughout history, there have been numerous epidemics that...