May 26, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It’s 4:56am and I haven’t yet received the students’ presentation. This is the fourth year we’ve been organizing the H3SD San Diego’s Heat and Human Health Summit, and we have a meeting with the San Diego Foundation today to secure funding for our meeting. Our meeting is at 4pm. It’s 5K that we ask for, and it’s really just to feed everyone. The entire day is a huge day of networking and moving the climate work forward locally and nationally. Its’ a great deal for everyone, as it brings out network closer together and it’s volunteer driven.

I had asked the student leaders who receive stipends and generous mentoring, to update the slide deck that I need to do the presentation. I can do the slide deck myself very quickly likely in an hour. But I’m giving them some pressure to get their act together and be coordinated to deliver me some kind of slide deck. I already have the medical student who will be co-presenting with me. She’s a senior medical student and her job is honestly just to show up. The premedical student leaders have already been working together for a while, and the pressure is somewhat on. It’s make believe pressure, because $5K is not a lot of money for the physicians who are organizing it. I can easily donate that amount and we did in previous years, and I donate about the same in the student stipends. These students are paid, albeit very nominal stipends. But the entire point is that everyone has a role and a task in planning the H3SD summit and indeed in combatting climate change. I’m trying to teach them to get things done and to hustle. I’m trying to teach them responsibility, and what it is like to work for a cause.

I’m really really curious to see if they can get their act together. They’ve had some miscommunications in the entire group twice now in terms of scheduling. The meeting dates for the last two coordinating meetings were not the dates that I had asked for. I showed up and we were able to get things done, but I know in their group – they are not quite coordinated. It’s hard to work in groups, but that’s the entire point. I’m trying to get them to build professional climate and health connections, and give them real-world challenges. There is no playbook in this monumental planetary code. But what I try to do is to create mini-deadlines with the different projects that we need to get done, and they either make the deadline or not. They need to learn that getting things done, even imperfectly is better than a polished project. The most important thing is to show up, and any slide deck they send me will be great.

I’m really curious if they can get their act together? I haven’t received the slide deck yet and it’s 5:08 am. LOL. What they receive in kind beyond the stipends and opportunities they have been given is enormous. I think some of my calm that I haven’t received the slide deck is that $5K isn’t a lot of money. I can afford to do it without the funding. I don’t honestly even need the San Diego Foundation. It’s a situation where we all need each other and this network.

My ability to help coordinate our large network of physicians and students, is that I fundamentally know the value of my own time and skills. The going rate for premed mentoring is $500 an hour. That’s what I could charge students. I do this mentoring without any pay to select students who commit to doing climate and health work. But they only get mentoring, if they try. So I hope they try to get some sort of slide deck to me. LOL.

It’s 5:11am and instead of doing their slide deck for them. I’m going to get a head start on my charts this morning, as I have morning clinic. I’m going to send a few H3SD emails out. I’ll do everything such that I’ll get myself home right after morning clinic by maybe 1245 to check to see if they student group will send their slide deck to me in time. If they don’t, then I’ll put together something quickly between 1-3pm and make the meeting at 4pm – no problem. I like that they are feeling this pressure. Because it’s a true planetary code and I need to get the physicians and students together and coordinated in San Diego. I know that is what I need to do, and we’ve done it for four years now.

Otherwise, I’m proud to show you my daughter’s picture. She is not yet graduated but it’s the APIDA (which stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desai American) affinity group stole for graduation. They received it on Saturday during a very nice medium sized gathering on Saturday. She looks very elegant and capable. I know my kid has her act together. She gets things done. Which is why she’s going to the school that she is going to. She does her own projects and pursuing her own passions. I’m super proud of her.

Wishing an virtual-blogger good luck to the students who are likely stressing out right now! LOL. They are going into medicine and will be in far more stressful situations, so I don’t feel guilty. They’ll appreciate the lessons they are learning right now. I know that in my heart. We are trying to save millions of lives by doing climate and health work, and they are part of the solution. And mentoring them, and teaching them, and stressing them out – is part of my job. No matter what, these students will do great. But I enjoy seeing them stressed out a little bit. LOL. I’ve been working since the age of 8 and still maintain a busy clinical practice while doing a tremendous amount of climate and health organizing, so I feel no guilt in asking them to do this important task. Because I’m part of their team, and if they can’t get it done – I will do it this afternoon. But I believe in them! Wish them luck LOL.

May 24, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Where is my darn wallet? I’ve been to so many places recently and life is in a bit of upheaval and I can’t find my mini-wallet that holds 1 credit card and my drivers license. I think it may be in . . . OMG I FOUND IT! I had to change the title of this blog post from “Wallet vs Warehouse ISR (Indirect Source Rule)” to “The Magic of Blogging! I Found My Wallet!”

I’ve been to so many different places lately and using different bags, and in different family cars since we have so many drivers. I’ve been just flowing with life and family functions and projects . . . but sometimes if you flow too much, you can misplace your wallet! OMG I was actually really stressed for about 24 hours because it’s been misplaced for a few days now. I had gone on a fun workout trip to the La Jolla YMCA with our oldest, and learning new ways to move my body and get stronger. We had a fun time stopping by Sprouts and got healthy salads, which of course I paid for. He is almost 21 but has never had a paying job, despite the good grades from the top Public University in the country. But anyways, I pulled out my wallet to register for a guest pass at the La Jolla YMCA and then paid for our healthy food at Sprouts which is the last time I remember having my wallet. I definitely had it when I paid for the food, so it was good to know likely it was somewhere in my car, or in the house , or in one of the shopping bags. I think you are like our family and probably have too many reusable shopping bags. Anyway, after looking through all the bags we’ve used recently, the different pockets of the different outerwear I’ve been wearing, and just looking and looking around the house – I FOUND MY WALLET! And it all started with I began this morning with the title “Wallet vs Warehouse ISR.” Thank you MY BLOG!

There is really magical things that happen on this blog! I guess I’ll be able to help with the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule. You probably missed the news stories about the Warehouse ISR because there is a toxic exposure in Garden Grove, and also the domestic terrorist attack at the local nice Islamic Center. It’s really terrible right now. But I try to concentrate on what I’m supposed to do, and I’m concentrating on the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule especially since I FOUND MY WALLET! Phew.

For the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule, I’ve gathered the “A team” for premedical students. Oh, let me text one of them back now! (pause). Okay texted them. And then I got distracted on Instagram by cute pictures of my daughter and her new Harvard sweatshirt.

Okay! Just know that I found my wallet and I’m super grateful for blogging for so many reasons. Everything that is lost is then found on this blog, especially my true self. Sending everyone green hugs!

May 19, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Dear HMO.

Don’t take away our chalkboards.

Don’t take away our space that we use to teach, to write, to communicate, to create.

Don’t take away our space that we use to connect, to write, to draw, to exist.

Don’t take way the space that we love.

We draw uteri

Kids draw fish

We draw lungs

Kids write messages

We draw bronchi

Kids draw circles

Magic happens on these chalkboards.

Dear HMO. Why do you love AI but you hate chalkboards?

Dear HMO. Go find someone else to control. You seriously have nothing better to do than go after our chalkboards?!!!

A pediatrician.

May 18, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It was unexpected. An hour of travel when we thought we’d just be finishing our drive from Berkeley to San Diego, bringing our oldest home from his 3rd year in college. But our son was set on having sushi and he wanted it in Little Tokyo. We were initially thinking the revolving sushi restaurant but it was a 2 hour wait. But honestly, the place we ate at was excellent and more importantly we experienced an hour of real delight.

It was really a sidequest, as our son called it.

And we bough the cutest matching souvenirs. Mine is the one in a bee.

The most fun was walking through the crowd in just a completely different part of California, that we never knew existed. The parking was $15 in the lot across the main part of Little Tokyo and it was 100% worth it! We will definitely be back! The family wants to go to Universal Studios together.

May 13, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

We still have more than 3 months until our youngest goes to college, but I’m absolutely wallowing. I’m wallowing in the pit of boredom and life is not interesting. There is no more college updates about her class. There is no more dress fittings and major photo shoots (we have one more). There is no more drama about college (although that was exhausting). We are in a peaceful lull now. She’s done with all but one AP test and will finish her high school academic career strong with all top marks. I think she only ever got one A-? And she’ll be off to Harvard at the end of the summer.

I’ll wallow but I’ll wallow and drag this wonderful last summer out. She’ll still be here and it’s been healing seeing her healthy and happy with her accomplishments. She’s finally having some fun. And fun for a former preemie raised the way she is raised, is going to the craft store and fabric painting shirts for her friends. She’s running in the morning, and taking walks to the beach and sometimes I’m invited. She made focaccia bread and had funny stories about her homeroom teacher taking the last few ones in a tupperware to share with the other teachers. Her focaccia bread is THAT GOOD. We had some for dinner last night and relishing each piece. She’s giggling with her friends about doing “hot girl pilates” and working out with her high school friends, as they prepare for adulthood and college.

She’s missing her older brother who will be home soon. And she’ll finally be stress-free and enjoy his boisterousness because he’s a big personality.

And she’s healthy and alive. While I was wallowing a few days ago, she turned to me and said “mommy what are you going to do when I’m gone? You love me too much. What if I die?” And I confidently turned to her and said “you didn’t die, and you are alive” and each day is a gift with you. I never take anything for granted these days. Each breathe is a blessing.

May 10, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Especially to all the mothers out there that I’m your actual or spiritual pediatrician. You deserve a WONDERFUL FANTASTIC SUSTAINABLE MOTHER’S DAY! Your pediatrician is cheering you and your children and your family on! I’m a bit self-serving though since your family keeps me employed!

I realized today is a big day, or an important Mother’s Day because I am done with my mothering of minor children. Our last child turned 18 before Mother’s Day and is now officially an adult. I know we never finish mothering, and I hope to be at some point in the next 10-15 years to be grand-mothering. I will of course continue doctoring and pediatrician-engineering (or is it pediatric-practicing?). But it’s a major milestone to finish raising minor children as a working pediatrician mother.

THAT WAS HARD!!! Trying to figure out work schedule with another physician parent with two minor children WAS NOT EASY! We had to leave Boston/Harvard and find a more manageable system, so landed back in San Diego where we had more family and enrolled them in prep school. We had to combine our household with my in-laws (and we happily have a three generation household now) so that everyone could take care of each other. We had to sit and coordinate call schedules, and I can’t tell you the number of times I almost quit. There were times things were so stressful that I wasn’t sure if we as a family would make it out on the other side of raising children, intact. It was super frustrating shipping my kids to relatives during school holidays or enrolled in another camp so that I could work and adhere to the rules of our organization. It was not easy and I look at the younger physicians in our office, and know it is super difficult for them and they don’t have as much support as we both had. I’m usually open hearted but this is my blog and an emotional journal of my climate and health journey, and I can just say here honestly – PHEW! I’m DONE! Good luck to you guys! LOL. It wasn’t easy and I don’t want to ever repeat the stress of the last 18 years when they were sick, hospitalized, college application season, emergency funerals where the grandparents had to suddenly go to Korea and on and on and on. I remember when Mr. Plastic Picker had back surgery and I wasn’t sure if we would be able to continue with the kids schooling without his income, and thought of so many alternatives. It was upsetting to me that I had to first figure out finances and not get to worry about my own husband’s health. He figured out his own health, as I sat and made contingency plans financially. It all worked out but it was stressful.

Now the children are 18 and healthy, and admitted or enrolled in good colleges. Their college accounts are fully funded, so they will be college-educated. And everything else is icing on the cake, and they have health insurance until 26. We did our duty, and I have finished my mothering of minor children. I told them both they need to get jobs and health coverage by 26. I expect both to go to graduate school.

Now I’ll just try to save the earth, which honestly will be much easier than mothering minor children. Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Isn’t she cute? And she doesn’t want to be a mother yet – THANK GOODNESS! And it’s her choice. I’ve evolved in my thinking. I LOVED being a mother, but you can have a fulfilling life without being a mother. It’s less stressful and easier, and it’s a choice.

May 9, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot, the feeling of awkwardness. Relationship awkwardness mostly. Doing climate work and really trying to help get things done, has involved me meeting a lot of new people, new personalities and pushing myself to accomplish new things. New projects. New partners. New ideas. And putting the climate and the environment at the center has required personally growing, and redefining myself – and also growing closer to who I was originally in my purest form as a child. Being joyful and productive, this is something that comes naturally to toddlers and children! I’ve gotten to know so many people at different levels and learned how to have productive relationships with them, and also learning how to draw appropriate boundaries. It’s all led to this reoccurring concept in my daily life that it’s all just very AWKWARD.

And I’m okay with this. Sometimes people text you things that make me angry and sad, and I ignore it and things are just left hanging. Sometimes people cross personal boundaries, and it gets incredibly awkward because we aren’t really family.

I think it’s due to change. As one person changes, the others around them have to accommodate or make way for that growth – and there is that awkward stage. Eventually the relationship can continue and you can grow together, or it can remain awkward. Awkward is that in-betweenness in a relationship. It’s that pause that each other is not sure how the other one is going to move. The moment seems so long, but it’s brief. But that mindfulness of that moment and how incredibly long and AWKWARD it feels , is really interesting to me.

So if you are feeling AWKWARD. That’s okay. That’s a completely valid feeling! It means someone is changing and growing in a relationship, and sometimes others have to step back and let it happen. It can feel lonely at times. It can feel awkward.

May 8, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I appreciate all the time our speakers spent speaking at our H3SD 2025 Summit last year. We are in the midst of planning of H3SD 2026. I got to tell two captivated UCSD students the true origins from my point of view of the original summit at the Starbucks at Price Center and why I’m a Muir Provost Innovation Fellow. LOL. But it’s my take on the last few years, and just my perspective. But like your own children, these are my own students who belong to UCSD Revelle college, and I’m allowed to have my own perspective on events. That was super fun! My two students were so enthralled in my made up drama, but they are also doing real climate work through their UCSD Academic Internship with us.

They are officially interns through the American Academy of Pediatrics and Kaiser Permanente. This years internship has been so fun, and I’ve gotten to know the students better. I met with two separately yesterday and these are young kids struggling through midterms and academic stress. So it was good just to sit and listen to them share their stresses with classes. They are going to do great! I really want to give them a little gift bag after they complete their internships maybe get some free swag from AAP and from Kaiser? I’ll ask! It never hurts to ask!

Otherwise I’m oddly tired today. I did do a lot of walking last night and fell straight to sleep. I’ll try to walk at lunch today. Our 18 year old (OMG I can’t believe she is 18 already!) was up late last night making yummy short bread cookies for her last Library Ambassadors meeting at school. She’s president! She is packing me 6 cookies to split between the 3 nurses that I made gift bags for. It’s nurses week and it’s honestly been fun but nonstop eating in our clinic. I’ve been good and partaking just a bit, because it’s actually not the best-for-your-health food. But I’m present and enjoying everyone’s company mostly while drinking my tea. I did have a yummy KFC biscuit and 1 drumstick that was warmed up in the air fryer by Leilani one of our nurses. It was really yummy! I also had a sausage patty one morning, and there were nachos several times. OMG, nurses week needs to end! LOL. I have to give 3 wonderful nurses their gift bags. Nurses Week was a bit disorganized this year, but it all works out. Everyone gave out of love. I’m trying to show love through bookstore purchases! I think our nurses are going to love our gifts!

That’s it! I just wanted to remind myself to send out the H3SD 2025 video links!

May 5, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

“The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, known as the AMOC, functions like a vast conveyor belt, transporting heat, salt and freshwater through the ocean and influencing climate, weather and sea levels around the planet.” https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/16/climate/atlantic-ocean-circulation-collapse-update

Did you watch the movie Independence Day? This actually happened. The collapse of the North Atlantic Current. Europe and Northern parts of the United States were plummeted into an Ice Age. A band of young kids had to trek across the frozen tundra of the new world to rejoin loved ones. And now on CNN and on my Instagram feed, there is climate scientists data that everything is accelerating and that it will happen sooner than we thought.

Which is why I am saying no to the semi-annoying person who contacted me about a book offer? I’m honestly not even sure if that offer is legitimate. But I don’t have time to write a book, or let him ghost write a book for me or about me. I have things to do. Like climate work to do.

As a mother, what I know is that this catastrophic event will happen within my old child’s lifetime. So I have to do everything in my maternal power to stop or delay this. So I’m saying no to the book offer, because that book will just be put in the bargain book bin anyway at some point. I don’t have that big of an ego, to think my life deserves the time required to write a book. A blogpost, maybe?

But there is so much climate work to do. I have to send several emails about the Tijuana Sewage Crisis. Did you know that you can see the Tijuana Sewage Pollution from SPACE? Geez Louise people! It’s really bad. Can you imagine being a blue whale and swimming near that gunk! It’s not good for anyone or any-animal. I need to email the San Diego County Medical Magazine about two articles the H3SD organizing committee wants to write, one re AI and one re One Health Concept. I have to write a letter of recommendation for a deserving student who is working on two big projects that we have going on. And I have to start commenting on an article regarding fast fashion. See lots of writing and reading, just not a self glorifying book about myself. The entire point of this blog is to try to help stop the climate crisis, while still working as a pediatrician and mothering my children.

Being a mother is really powerful. I really don’t want to imagine my children being grandparents themselves and living through the collapse of the North Atlantic Current and the world plunged into the next ice age!

May 3, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Feel free to go to the Harvardclass30 Instagram account and like the post from our daughter! I’m trying to help her get 200 likes and she’s at 147, which isn’t bad – since she’s an introvert. There is one very extroverted Harvard San Diego bound new friend who is at 600!

But all kidding aside, I was going to blog about being OK WITH AWKWARD. But I got distracted by my own daughter’s pretty picture. I’m sure you are as well distracted by your child’s toddler cuteness or prom pictures as well. The more I indulge myself on my blog, the more open-hearted and loving I can be in clinic and with my premedical and medical students. They are all doing really well by the way! Two more students were admitted to medical school! They were the two students who worked on transgender education and awareness, and given the current state of the world, I’m SUPER PROUD OF THEM! They essentially created their own premedical advocacy opportunity and were collaborative and supportive of each other. I just re-read their letters of recommendations, and am filled with peace as these two immensely qualified students will help care for our community and dedicate their lives to clinical medicine. They are truly wonderful.

I have to write another letter of recommendation for a very qualified and eager student. They’ve worked tirelessly for the last two years on several projects and was one of my official students in the UCSD Academic Internship Program, so I am happy to write that letter and it will be very easy.

But back to my Introvert. I just wanted to show you her pretty picture and let the blog readership know that she finally posted on the Harvard Class of 2030 Instagram account, which makes everything so Instagram real – not reels.