Show notes
Ayesha Khan, Ph.D., (she/ they) is a neurodivergent Infectious Diseases Scientist, Germ doctor, grassroots organizer, writer, educator and abolitionist decoding the science of social justice, collectivism, neurodiversity & trauma. Dr. Khan is building the foundations of a novel field of study- Abolitionist Science, to use evidence-based science to drive anti-capitalist grassroots movement strategy and shape daily praxis (i.e. the application of revolutionary political theory in our daily life and relationships). A glimpse of her art activism is on instagram @wokescientist Ayesha also studies the impact of capitalism and systemic intergenerational oppression on ecological and community health outcomes. As an educator, she crafts unique, creative educational pedagogy to break down complex scientific or political concepts to make them accessible to everyone. Her activism focuses on Palestinian liberation, prison & police abolition, dismantling internalized capitalism, neurodivergence advocacy, decolonizing psychology & medicine, South Asian minority rights and immigrant or migrant worker rights. Her specialty is outreach, cross-community coalition and solidarity building, community education, and anti-capitalism organizing. To support Dr. Khan's work and sustain community mutual aid efforts: Venmo: Ayesha-Khan-4 or Cashapp $ayeshakhan4 or Paypal.me/ayeshakhan4 Dr. Khan is a Siddi (Afro-Indian), Queer, Muslim, immigrant born in Bangalore, India, and grew up in several countries from Russia to Saudi Arabia, spending most of her childhood in the Middle East. She received her Bachelor's in Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, and Global Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2015 and her Ph.D. in Infectious Diseases from the University of Texas Health Science Center and MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2020. Dr. Khan is currently a visiting faculty in infectious diseases at the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile. Her medical research focuses on the development of infectious diseases diagnostics and novel treatment strategies to combat antibiotic resistant superbugs in low-resource settings.
In This Episode:
- Dr. Ayesha's impressions on America versus her experiences in other parts of the world regarding health and healthcare.
- American privilege, supremacy + medical apartheid.
- Why doing the work requires critical thinking, discernment and taking the time to learn.
- For people who mistrust the government, how they can navigate through making decisions about their health.
- The anti-vaxx industry
- Ayesha's observations on the spiritual and wellness influencers on anti-vaxx misinformation and their end-game.
- Ayesha shares that knowing we are all complicit in the systems of oppression is actually liberating.
- Ayesha shares what we all have to do for revolution.
- The harmful impacts of capitalism on all aspects of our lives.
Full Show Notes: Dr. Ayesha Kahn Linktree Dr. Ayesha Kahn Instagram Brittany Simone Anderson Instagram Laura Chung Instagram The Werk Podcast Instagram The Werk Podcast Website
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