Recent favorites
I'm an award-winning writer and a former newspaper reporter with more than 20 years of experience writing for some of the nation's top publications. I have a special interest in writing about health care, but editors also turn to me when they need someone who can dig deep for surprising insight or advice on any subject.
My national credits include: Reader’s Digest, Parents, Real Simple, Prevention, Dr. Oz The Good Life, Parenting, AARP, More, CreditCards.com, The Washington Post and The New York Times. As a long-time contributing editor at Reader’s Digest, I authored dozens of so-called “secrets” stories covering subjects ranging from airline pilots to convicted burglars. Two favorites: “50 secrets a surgeon won’t tell you” and “50 secrets a waiter won’t tell you.”
I write regularly for North Carolina Health News and The Charlotte Ledger. I also contribute to several Scholastic classroom magazines and to Wells Fargo's consumer-facing publications. Other corporate clients have included TIAA, Fidelity, Brighthouse Financial, USAA, Honda, WalMart and Harris Teeter.
Recent favorites
Atrium and Novant won't sell their debt to a charity that buys medical debt and forgives it, saying it conflicta with charity care policies.
As you age, you start to lose muscle mass, so it's important to strength train to stay strong. Learn why squats are the best exercise for your health.
Kini, 12, lived through the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years. This is the story of how her family survived—and what life looks like after a natural disaster.
Snuggle-ready dogs are available to anxious patients at some dentist offices, but some patients worry about the risks, from slobber to nips
A bill making its way through the state legislature would reduce wait times for insurance approvals, create rules about prior authorization.
Eye experts explain how to stop the pain and reclaim your tears
Consumer Health
From calories in, calories out promoting weight loss to detox diets eliminating toxins, here are nutrition myths experts want you to know about.
Over the past two decades, the percentage of older adults taking five or more prescriptions has tripled, from 14 to 42 percent. The more medications you take, the higher your risk for an interaction or side effect.
Plant-based meats are coming soon to a dinner table near you, but what's actually inside those burgers, meatballs, nuggets, and crumbles, and do they deserve a spot on your plate?
These top doctors have seen thousands of patients and all kinds of skin. Here, they share their best advice to keep your skin healthy and glowing.
As many as 440,000 Americans die every year from medical errors and infections contracted in the hospital. Your best defense? Take charge of your care as much as possible.
Get a glimpse into the highs and lows officers experience, including the causes of and fallouts from high-profile shootings of unarmed African Americans.
A veteran RD health journalist shares hard-won lessons from her reporting-and from her family's own health crisis.
We talked to a firefighter, a police officer, a flight attendant, and 22 others who have learned to stay calm in high-pressure situations.
If you're among the 164 million Americans who struggle with sleep, a friendly "Good night!" is cold comfort. It's especially galling if you've already done the obvious-cut out afternoon caffeine, closed the blinds, and put away your screens-and you still can't doze off.
Health news and trends
Is Atrium playing it both ways? Atrium enjoys the benefits of being a government entity, but critics say it doesn't act like one.
As Charlotte leaders discuss a tax increase, Mecklenburg County hospitals avoid $23 million per year in property taxes, a Charlotte Ledger/N.C. Health News analysis shows. Some say it's time to ask North Carolina hospitals to pay up.
A shortage of nursing home inspectors and a surge of complaints means some residents wait months for the state to investigate problems.
Three families share their real-life experiences of going to the hospital for help with mental health emergencies.
Dan Hurst’s medical procedure cost thousands more than he was quoted. Despite a push for more transparency, medical pricing remains hopelessly complicated. Here's what you can do to lower your medical costs and be a smarter patient.
When you go to the hospital to have a baby, you might assume that a doctor will carefully examine your newborn after you deliver. But that's not always the case.
AARP Health Stories
Every year, people die of a heart attack during or just after shoveling snow. Some experts say any adult over age 45 should think twice before tackling the winter chore.
If a loved one is having memory issues, don't automatically assume it's dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Medications, infections and sleep issues can also cause you to feel foggy or confused.
Chuck Boetsch was desperate for a new pair of lungs. A rare disease was causing the set he had carried for 72 years to harden and scar. He could barely breathe. Finally, after 10 weeks on the waiting list, Boetsch got a call that a lung was available - but there was a catch.
For women who years ago grappled with the decision about whether or not to get genetic testing for breast cancer, experts say it may be worth going another round.
Four physicians share what surprised and challenged them most while taking care of their parents.
Four older adults detail the mysterious and debilitating symptoms that have lingered for months after they had the coronavirus
Reader's Digest "Secrets" stories
Here's what it's really like to be an Amazon driver
Parenting
Personal Finance
Scholastic classroom magazines
Her Renegade dance got famous. Why didn't she? Jalaiah Harmon's quest for the credit she deserved.
Teens are getting less sleep than ever before, and experts are calling it a national health crisis. Read on to learn the shocking consequences—and real strategies for getting the rest you so desperately need.
This amazing teen plays the piano with only four fingers
You won't believe what these service dogs can do
McKenzie, 17, has a serious disease called Type 1 diabetes, but she hasn't let it hold her back.
Whether you're a cheerleader or a soccer star, the pressure to perform could be putting you in serious danger.
More than 1 million teens in the U.S. are caregivers. Daniel, 17, is one of them.