Medical Ethics Newsletter
Shaping a Just and Equitable Future in Medicine
The writers and editors of the Medical Ethics Newsletter are committed to shedding light on critical issues within the medical field. Kaitlynn Esemaya founded the newsletter in 2022 to address past and present medical injustices faced by minority groups. The newsletter aims to educate students, faculty, and healthcare professionals about these ethical concerns, encouraging reflection and discussion on how to create a more just and equitable healthcare system.
Kaitlynn Esemaya is a fourth-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine with a focus on psychiatry, global health, and culturally competent care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Medicinal Chemistry and Neuroscience with a minor in Psychiatry from Syracuse University in 2020. Raised in a rural area in Pennsylvania as the daughter of a Nigerian immigrant, she had early experiences navigating identity and discrimination that fueled a personal and professional passion for mental health and cultural understanding. Her journey led her to explore cross-cultural psychiatry, integrative medicine, and holistic healing practices that treat the mind, body, and soul.
As the founder and chief editor/writer of the Medical Ethics Newsletter, a monthly publication dedicated to exploring historical and ongoing medical injustices affecting minority populations. The newsletter was created from her desire to create space for reflection and dialogue among healthcare professionals about the ethical responsibilities of medicine. Kaitlynn currently sits on multiple national boards dedicated to racial equity and global health, has presented nationally on global mental health, led multiple diversity and leadership initiatives, and volunteered extensively with refugee, immigrant, and underserved communities. Outside of medicine, she enjoys fashion styling, traveling, nail art, African hair braiding, cooking, baking, and dancing. Kaitlynn brings a global and compassionate perspective to her future career in psychiatry.
Alexis Thompson is a fourth-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine with a focus on global health, health equity, and reproductive health. She holds a Master of Public Health from George Washington University and a Master of Medical Science in Women’s Health from the University of South Florida. Raised in a predominantly Caribbean and Latinx community before relocating to a rural area, Alexis developed a strong commitment to addressing the social and structural factors that perpetuate health disparities in underserved populations.
Her work bridges clinical medicine, public health, and advocacy. From conducting health education in rural clinics across Tanzania and the Dominican Republic to implementing teen pregnancy prevention initiatives along the U.S.-Mexico border, Alexis is dedicated to dismantling barriers to care and advancing equity on both local and global scales. She currently serves as President of Wombs of the World Foundation, a nonprofit focused on promoting culturally grounded, community-led approaches to maternal wellness.
As a senior writer and editor of the Medical Ethics Newsletter, Alexis curates content that addresses racial inequities, immigrant health, reproductive justice, and ethical challenges within the medical system. She has presented nationally on cross-cultural ethics in care, adolescent health disparities, and language access in clinical practice. Outside of medicine, Alexis enjoys photography, pilates, and traveling with her husband. She brings a justice-centered, community-driven perspective to her future career as a physician and health advocate.
Annique McLune is a fourth-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is committed to advancing health literacy, global and immigrant health, and addressing health disparities through education. As a first-generation college graduate and Jamaican immigrant, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience from the State University of New York at Binghamton. Her focus is to pursue Neurology, studying integrative neuroscience and researching Parkinson’s disease, which strengthened her commitment to becoming a physician who combines clinical insights with empathetic, informed, and culturally humble care.
She serves as a senior writer and editor for the Medical Ethics Newsletter, a publication geared towards highlighting past and ongoing medical injustices affecting minority communities. The newsletter aims to educate readers through thoughtful reflection and critical engagement. It seeks to raise awareness and inspire meaningful dialogue around equity in healthcare. Annique actively serves on national boards, is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Sigma Sigma Phi national service fraternity, and uses her leadership roles to advocate for underserved communities while volunteering extensively throughout her local community through education, outreach, and medical ethics. In her spare time, she enjoys reading romance novels, cooking, knitting, and watching Turkish dizileri. Annique is dedicated to a future in medicine that prioritizes health equity and culturally informed care.
Anamaria Ancheta is a third-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego in 2021 and is passionate about increasing educational and mentorship opportunities for Latinas through her role as a college mentor with MANA de San Diego. As the daughter of two former farmworkers turned military veterans, Anamaria is deeply committed to expanding healthcare access in rural and underserved communities through her advocacy work as a medical student representative to the Dona Ana County Medical Society. With her maternal family having lived in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico for over 80 years, Anamaria was inspired to serve as a New Mexico AHEC Scholar. In this role, she has conducted research on the social and structural drivers behind high cesarean section rates and adolescent pregnancies among Latinas in the U.S.–Mexico border region.
As a senior writer and editor for the Medical Ethics Newsletter, she channels her passion for health policy and health literacy into making complex health topics accessible and culturally relevant. Anamaria is particularly passionate about the role of healthcare providers as trusted messengers and is driven to equip patients and communities with the knowledge needed to make informed, empowered decisions about their care. In her free time, Anamaria enjoys capturing memories through photography and celebrating physicians’ stories in her biopic series, Faces of Family Medicine.
Reflect and Engage
We invite all residents, practicing physicians, faculty, and healthcare leaders to engage with the Medical Ethics Newsletter. If you’d like to reflect or respond, please email us at medicalethicsnewsletter@gmail.com.
You’ll find a set of reflection questions included in each edition of the newsletter to help guide your thoughts.