The Story Of Our Book
In collaboration with Pre-Health Shadowing, a student-led non-profit organization, student authors Ramsha Essa and Mirza Mustafa Baig are working to develop a book entitled Heroes Behind the Mask. The book showcases the incredible care the healthcare providers delivered during the unprecedented time amidst the COVID-19 pandemic while shedding light on their individual experiences, including the discussion of their innermost thoughts and concerns.
“I wrote this book because I was left in awe of the sacrifices healthcare providers made during the pandemic,” states co-author Ramsha Essa. She further explains that the “[healthcare providers] neglected themselves to ensure that others were safe and protected; unfortunately, their stories of struggles were not highlighted enough.” Similarly, co-author Mirza Mustafa Baig, regarding the need to develop this book, states how he “saw the worthwhile impact in compiling these gut-wrenching stories and experiences of the pandemic for future generations.” He further mentions that “to have documented stories of such an impactful time would be advantageous for individuals to travel back in time and see how the pandemic affected the lives of medical professionals and patients.”
Through the publication of this book, the authors hope for the audience to understand how the pandemic impacted the different facades of our frontline workers’ lives, with hopes to give tribute to the healthcare workers who relentlessly put themselves at risk to care for the public during those uncertain times. Several narratives will be shared throughout this book, including the stories of Physicians, EMTs, NPs, CNAs, Physician Assistants, Techs, and others, to express appreciation and gratitude to those individuals who put their lives on the line to save the world.
Heroes Behind the Mask - Book Breakdown
The book is structured to include four key themes woven throughout its chapters:
PART 1: An introduction to the history of the coronavirus, addressing common myths, vaccine controversies, and the research methods used to compile historical data, scientific findings, and personal narratives. This section also acknowledges the dedicated efforts of the Pre-Health Shadowing team and medical providers who made this project possible.
PART 2: Personal narratives from healthcare providers who worked on the front lines of the pandemic. Based on interviews with over 50 medical professionals, this section explores their experiences, struggles, and resilience. Themes such as mental health, isolation, burnout, and perseverance are highlighted throughout the book.
PART 3: An examination of the broader impact of the pandemic on healthcare providers, including systemic challenges, policy shifts, and changes in the medical profession. This section provides insights into how COVID-19 reshaped the healthcare workforce, influenced public health strategies, and altered the personal and professional lives of those in medicine.
PART 4: A reflective analysis of the pandemic’s lasting effects on the healthcare system. This section explores how medicine has adapted, the lessons learned from crisis response, and the ongoing challenges healthcare providers continue to face. These reflections offer a deeper understanding of how COVID-19 reshaped the future of healthcare.
What We Need & What You'll Get
The money raised will go towards keeping Pre-Health Shadowing free for all students and to further our mission of equity in health education.
Exclusive rewards will be offered to those individuals who pre-order the book, including the following:
A personalized, hand-written thank you note for pre-ordering the book
An invitation to attend the virtual book launch party
Risks & Challenges
One of the most significant challenges we faced while writing this book was finding the time to write. There will be days when life gets in the way, where motivation can be lost. However, we remembered the “why” behind this project, which was enough to motivate us to continue! Setting weekly goals and constantly keeping each other accountable for various tasks was extremely helpful.
Another challenge we faced was to defeat our inner critic and understand that perfectionism is not always possible. Initially, it was difficult as we would critique and analyze every word of the chapter to ensure it flowed well. With the incredible support of the Pre-Health Shadowing team, we realized that we are doing our best and our efforts are worthy enough to continue without any second doubt!
Lastly, we struggled to balance our time while writing and overseeing tasks like editing, marketing, and designing. As they say, teamwork makes dreams work! With massive support from our talented volunteers from the Pre-Health Shadowing team, we worked collectively to exchange ideas and collaborate on different ways to help this book reach successful completion!
We hope the readers will be able to recognize our efforts to bring a collection of healthcare providers’ narratives; to share their side of the story that the world may not know.
Other Ways You Can Help
Join Us!
If you're unable to contribute financially, your voice still has power. Share our campaign on social media using #HeroesBehindtheMask and spread the word to amplify our impact.
Thank you for believing in our project and the heroes it seeks to honour.
About The Authors
Ramsha Essa is a recent Loyola University Chicago graduate with a B.S in Software Engineering.
She wrote this book to explore her passions of medicine, writing, and media. When she is not writing, you can find her spending time with her family and friends. She loves writing fiction and also creates educational videos about networking and writing in the Urdu language to empower women in her homeland to pursue their dreams. She loves working out and cooking different types of cuisines in her free time.
For more information, you can connect with Ramsha at essaramsha@gmail.com and on the following social media networks:
Instagram: @_ramshuu_
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorramshaessa/
Mirza Baig is a recent Loyola University Chicago graduate with a B.S in Molecular Biology.
He wrote this book to combine his passion for research and medicine. When he is not writing, you can find him playing basketball or spending time with his family and friends. He also loves finding ways to give back to the community through the Rohingya cultural center to tutor children so they can become confident working professionals. He also loves to cook different dishes and go to the gym to keep himself fit.
For more information, you can connect with Mirza at baigmirza7866@gmail.com and on the following social media networks:
Instagram:@mirza_bbaig
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirza-baig-58860531...
About Pre-Health Shadowing
Pre-Health Shadowing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to democratizing access to healthcare education worldwide. Founded in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, our organization has grown to impact over 60,000 students across the globe, providing them with invaluable virtual shadowing opportunities. Through these sessions, students aspiring to enter various healthcare fields can connect with professionals, gaining insight and experience that bridges the gap between academic studies and real-world practice.
Our virtual platform ensures that regardless of geographical or financial barriers, all pre-health students have the opportunity to engage directly with healthcare professionals through interactive sessions and Q&A. Each session is designed to be as informative and engaging as possible, offering students a comprehensive look into the daily lives and responsibilities of healthcare workers. Upon completion of each session, students are eligible to receive a certificate verifying their participation and hours, which they can use for college applications, job resumes, or even sharing on platforms like LinkedIn.
Join us in supporting this mission. Every contribution helps us to provide more sessions, better resources, and broader opportunities for students everywhere. Together, we can shape a future where every aspiring healthcare professional can achieve their potential, regardless of their starting point.
For more information on how you can get involved or participate in our sessions, visit our website or follow us on our social media platforms:
Pre-Health Shadowing Socials:
Website: www.prehealthshadowing.com
Instagram: @prehealthshadowing
Linkedin: @Pre-Health Shadowing
Heroes Behind the Mask Socials:
Instagram: @heroesbehindthemaskbook
TikTok: @heroesbehindthemaskbook
Help us empower the next generation of healthcare heroes. Your support makes a difference!
