March is Women’s History Month, so let’s take a moment to celebrate the badass women who have paved the way in science and medicine. But let’s also acknowledge a hard truth—not all women in this history had a choice. Some, like Henrietta Lacks, had their contributions taken without consent. If you haven’t read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot, consider adding it to your list. Published in 2010, it spent nearly a year and a half on the New York Times bestseller list, won multiple awards, and was adapted into a film in 2017. The book tells the true and deeply important story of Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman in her early 30s who was diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer in 1951—and whose cells changed the course of modern medicine.

The devastation in the Los Angeles area is horrific. The amount of destruction that has occurred due to the fires is unfathomable. I have friends that have lost their homes and businesses which breaks my heart. Even those not at risk from the fires themselves still have to deal with the smoke and extremely poor air quality. My friend and colleague, Dr. Christian Gonzalez, practices in the Los Angeles area. He took to social media to post lung, sinus, and immune support and I’m reposting it here with some extra information.