Heroes Behind the Mask Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Alina Azmat
[email protected]
347-947-2369
Book Honoring the Untold Stories of COVID-19 Healthcare Workers to Launch at Roscoe Books
Nonprofit Organization Making Healthcare Education More Accessible Announces Release of First Book in Partnership with Loyola Alumni
Chicago, IL – April 10 – Heroes Behind the Mask, a powerful new book chronicling the experiences of frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, is set to launch at Roscoe Books on April 28th, 2025. Written by co-authors and Loyola alumni Ramsha Essa and Mirza Baig, the book is the result of a collaborative effort with Pre-Health Shadowing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing accessible learning opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals.
Through a series of compelling firsthand accounts, Heroes Behind the Mask sheds light on the unseen struggles, resilience, and sacrifices made by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals during one of the most challenging global health crises of our time. The book aims to preserve these essential narratives while fostering discussions about the future of healthcare and the systemic changes needed in the field.
“Working on this book changed me. It’s more than a collection of experiences; it’s a mirror for all of us to reflect on how we value care, empathy, and each other,” said Alina Azmat, project coordinator. Heroes Behind the Mask shares real, deeply human stories and captures the emotional, mental, and physical toll of working through a global crisis–and the strength it took to keep going.
“If we want to build a better future, it starts with listening to the people who held it together when everything else was falling apart,” said Nina Bouzamondo-Bernstein, CEO of Pre-Health Shadowing. The book is not only for pre-health students, but for everyone who wants to reflect on the lessons of the pandemic and the people who carried us through it.
Even as the pandemic fades from headlines, its effects remain. This book reminds readers of the people behind the masks, what they endured, and the changes our healthcare system still desperately needs.
Heroes Behind the Mask is available to order on Amazon, with a portion of the proceeds supporting initiatives that aid healthcare workers and medical education programs. Readers are encouraged to follow and share the movement online at @prehealthshadowing on Instagram.
For media inquiries, interview requests, or event details, please contact Alina Azmat.
About Pre-Health Shadowing:
Pre-Health Shadowing is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free and accessible virtual shadowing opportunities for students interested in healthcare. Since its founding in 2020, the organization has helped over 65,000 students gain exposure to the medical field and connect with healthcare professionals worldwide.
You may also like

Pre-Health Shadowing Program reaches 20,000 students
- February 6, 2021
- by Pre-Health Shadowing Team
- in Press Release
