What World War I, the 1918 flu and Babe Ruth reveal about America

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A display of United States flags on Memorial Day along a road in a cemetery near Dallas, Oregon. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/11ccf6d/2147483647/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/792x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fce%2F5c%2F2866b0ba4b63ac64eb1877aeac14%2Fadobestock-508053096.jpeg]A display of United States flags on Memorial Day along a road in a cemetary near Dallas Oregon(Bob - stock.adobe.com) Memorial Day honors U.S. military service members who died while serving the country. Historians Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith, co-authors of "War Fever: Boston, Baseball, and America in the Shadow of the Great War," examine a period when war reshaped American life. Their book focuses on the fall of 1918, when Americans faced the overlapping forces of World War I, a deadly influenza pandemic and sweeping social change. Through stories that range from baseball to politics and public life, the authors argue that those events helped redefine the country. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a5ebe43/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1056x480+0+0/resize/792x360!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9a%2F2a%2Fd700d49b4270a3666d13e9b3ddec%2Fjx-draw-47.jpg] In 1918, America found itself at a transformative crossroads. As World War I reached its climax, a deadly influenza pandemic swept across the country and a young pitcher named Babe Ruth began changing baseball. Roberts and Smith describe the period as a "braided narrative" of personal stories that reflect the American experience. At the center was Ruth's transition from standout left-handed pitcher to one of baseball's biggest stars. With rosters depleted by the military draft, Ruth had more opportunities to hit, helping change the way the game was played. “Writers portrayed him as a symbol of American manpower," Smith said. "They made these connections between Ruth's power at the plate and the manpower on the Western Front that was going to win this war.” Yet while Ruth's reputation grew, others fell under the weight of what the authors describe as "war fever." Karl Muck [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Muck], conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, became a target of anti-German sentiment and government scrutiny. Despite no evidence of espionage, he was eventually sent to an internment camp. Charles Whittlesey, leader of the "Lost Battalion," also became caught up in the era's intense nationalism. Though celebrated as a war hero, Roberts said the attention and pressure that followed ultimately took a heavy toll. Roberts said dissent during the war often carried consequences. "If you opposed the war, you were in trouble," he said. "If it was believed you opposed the war, you were in trouble." As the 1918 World Series unfolded in Boston, a more deadly wave of influenza spread through the city. The convergence of war, disease and social change helped shape a new American identity during a turbulent period in the nation's history. Guests * Randy Roberts, historian and co-author of "War Fever" * Johnny Smith, historian and co-author of "War Fever"

Medford physicians explain the long road immigrant doctors face in the U.S.

Dr. Som Ghosh and Dr. Mujahid Rizvi join Jefferson Exchange Host Mike Green in the JPR studio on Jan. 15, 2026. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed4dc42/2147483647/strip/false/crop/4096x2304+0+0/resize/792x446!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1a%2Fe8%2F99963f0448b0a679f1ef3edafce1%2Fdr-som-ghosh-mike-green-dr-mujahid-rizvi-1.jpg]Dr. Som Ghosh and Dr. Mujahid Rizvi join Jefferson Exchange Host Mike Green in the JPR studio on Jan. 15, 2026. (JPR Senior Producer Natalie Golay) Nearly one in four physicians practicing in the United States is foreign-born, a group that plays a significant role in the nation’s health care workforce. Many immigrant physicians work on the front lines in rural and underserved urban areas where U.S.-trained doctors are scarce. That dynamic is explored by Harvard professor Dr. Eram Alam, author of "The Care of Foreigners: How Immigrant Physicians Changed U.S. Healthcare [https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53838/care-foreigners?srsltid=AfmBOooXhKlXkpuEauUrMKDVaSb4FYvSJ_6hkXJaxDmTSGI2Zhl-rjTD]." Alam argues that America’s reliance on immigrant physicians was cemented by the 1965 Hart-Celler Act, which opened immigration pathways for skilled professionals during a physician shortage in the Vietnam War era. In Southern Oregon, doctors Som Ghosh and Mujahid Rizvi have practiced medicine in Medford for more than 20 years. In light of the issues Alam explores, Ghosh and Rizvi discuss their own experiences working as immigrant physicians in the United States. Despite their essential role, entering the U.S. medical system often requires navigating a long process of exams, visas and bureaucratic hurdles designed to standardize international training within the U.S. framework. [https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/23fc1cd/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1000x1500+0+0/resize/352x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2Ff7%2Fb304a31b43828b600e92a9386000%2Fbook-the-care-of-foreigners-by-eram-alam.jpg] For many physicians, maintaining legal status requires ongoing administrative work. Rizvi, an oncologist, recalls the logistical strain. “Each step had its challenges,” he said. “You kind of have to go through the process of going to a U.S. embassy. Sometimes you have to fly to Canada to get your passport stamped.” Even with an established career, systemic bottlenecks can remain. Ghosh, a specialist in critical care and pulmonary disease, said the immigration pathway can be particularly difficult for some nationalities. “Especially for physicians of Indian origin, it still is a challenge because the wait times are exceedingly long,” Ghosh said, citing visa backlogs created in the early 2000s. Alam notes that demand for visas from other sectors — particularly technology workers from India — has contributed to the competition immigrant physicians face. WHY IMMIGRANT PHYSICIANS CHOOSE TO PRACTICE IN THE UNITED STATES For many immigrant doctors, the United States offers the opportunity to practice medicine with resources that may be scarce in other countries. “The level of opportunity in the United States is unmatched anywhere else in the world,” he said. Ghosh said practicing in the U.S. also allows physicians to focus on patient care. “I like that part about practicing medicine in America where you do what is right, you do what is needed,” he said, “without having to worry about financial constraints.” As the United States continues to face physician shortages, immigrant doctors remain a key part of the health care system. In her book, Alam argues their work has helped normalize the presence of foreign-born physicians in American medicine. Ghosh said representation will remain important as the workforce evolves. “Representation, I think, is key,” he said. “The health care workforce needs to represent the greater population." GUESTS * Dr. Som Ghosh [https://www.asante.org/find-a-doctor/profile/somnath-ghosh/], critical care and pulmonary disease * Dr. Mujahid Rizvi [https://www.hoapc.com/providers/rizvi/], hematology and oncology

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What World War I, the 1918 flu and Babe Ruth reveal about America

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