Specializing in making complex science and medicine accessible
Freelance Writer and Editor, Chicago, Illinois
Work with top tier scientists and physicians to produce accurate and informative copy for professionals and the public
Write, edit and manage projects, such as case studies, research summaries, annual reports and other content highlighting the work of organizations or individuals
Clients include Journal of the American Medical Association, Circulation, The American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney News, Medscape, Weill Cornell Medicine, Northwestern Medicine magazine, and eLife, an international science journal funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
Employment History
Senior Staff Writer, Journal of American Medical Association, Medical News and Perspectives Section, Chicago, Illinois
Built an extensive network of contacts and strong knowledge base of healthcare, basic science, and related policy issues.
Specialized in mental health, neuroscience, substance abuse, research integrity, and policy. Reported and wrote meticulously sourced articles based on data from the scientific literature, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Helped launch and maintain the news@JAMA blog featuring breaking news.
Used Twitter for live coverage, reporting, and article promotion.
Contributed to journal multimedia, including audio interviews and interactive graphics.
Reporter, American Veterinary Medical Association, Schaumburg, Illinois
Researched, interviewed sources and wrote features, profiles, and breaking news for two scientific journals and an electronic newsletter.
Participated in editorial decision-making.
Worked closely with graphics and layout staff.
Edited copy and helped proof galley.
Education Reporter, The Island Packet, Bluffton, South Carolina
Covered the education beat that included two colleges, and a 17,000-student public school district with a budget of more than $110 million.
Researched, interviewed sources and wrote breaking news, and in-depth pieces, often driven by data on local school performance acquired through pursuit of public data.
Taught college level biology in sessions intended to supplement a large lecture-based biology course.
Developed lesson plans, teaching aids, and individually tutored students.
Research
Howard Hughes Program for Undergraduate Education in the Life Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Conducted undergraduate research on the pregnancy hormone relaxin in the laboratory of O.D. Sherwood.
Education
MSJ, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University; Science and health concentration
Bachelor of Science in Biology, English Minor, University of Illinois, UIUC
Awards
2007 Addiction Studies Program for Journalists Award, Sponsored by Wake Forest University School of Medicine and National Families in Action for scientifically accurate coverage of addiction.
