From Buddhist monks drinking snake venom in the 17th Century as an inoculation to snake bites, and the 17th century english using cowpox as a protection against smallpox, vaccinations have been around...

Although people might not be able to fully verbalize the pain they are in, the physical signs are clear. They could writhe in their beds, moan in agony. Even the stoic cannot help the occasional grimace.

In 2012, 270,000 women died from cervical cancer, caused nearly exclusively by the spread of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) according to the WHO. The organization additionally reports most sexually active people will come into contact with the virus at some point in their lifetime. While 90 percent of people overcome the HPV infection within two years, some cases persist and progress to cancers.

Technology has long generated scientific discovery, innovation and exploration, yet the true purpose of medicine stems from humanity’s innate desire to help others and alleviate suffering.

The sun rises, and I crawl out of bed, stumbling into the bathroom; I follow the typical morning routine of showering, dressing, breakfast. Then the time comes to take my medicine for the day, and my...