Writing
Beyond the journals
Op-eds, essays, and the occasional poem — some about public health, some about history, some just because.
Essays & columns
History, culture, and curiosities
Essay
July 30, 2026
Struck by a Turtle
Ten years inside America's health care system — from the ICD code for "struck by turtle" to Medicare card No. 1, written for the anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid Act.
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Essay · LinkedIn
Removal of the Pump Handle & Public Health
On John Snow, the Broad Street pump, and what the most famous handle in epidemiology still teaches public health today.
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Essay · LinkedIn
Mapleford Mishap: A Thanksgiving Tale of Chaos & Cleanliness
A holiday story of one town's Thanksgiving gone sideways — and the hygiene lessons hiding in the chaos.
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New essays — and the occasional poem — land here first. Follow on LinkedIn to catch new pieces.
© 2026 Tarang Parekh · Epidemiologist & Health Services Researcher