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
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.
A bill making its way through the state legislature would reduce wait times for insurance approvals, create rules about prior authorization.
As the school district tries to combat chronic absenteeism, some worry tougher attendance rules pressure kids to go to school sick or forgo needed therapy
I took my minivan in for an oil change. The dealer recommended 3 pricey services Honda says are rarely necessary. How to avoid unnecessary service the next time you visit a mechanic.
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.
Snuggle-ready dogs are available to anxious patients at some dentist offices, but some patients worry about the risks, from slobber to nips
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.
Consumer Health
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.
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.
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.
As many as 440,000 Americans die every year from medical errors and infections contracted in the hospital. Combined, they are the third- leading cause of death in the United States. Your best defense? Take charge of your care as much as possible.
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.
Whether you're a cheerleader or a soccer star, the pressure to perform could be putting you in serious danger.
We talked to a firefighter, a police officer, a flight attendant, and 22 others who have learned to stay calm in high-pressure situations.
When someone you care about is diagnosed with coronary artery disease, there's a lot to learn. Here's how to best support them and help them manage the condition.
AARP Health Stories
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.
A veteran RD health journalist shares hard-won lessons from her reporting-and from her family's own health crisis.
Fatalities from injuries among older adults are rising dramatically — and the advice for preventing them is changing.
COVID-19 coverage
Four older adults detail the mysterious and debilitating symptoms that have lingered for months after they had the coronavirus
Good morning! Today is Friday, January 15, 2021. You're reading The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with local business-y news and insights for Charlotte, N.C. This post is sent to paying subscribers only.
The surprising connection between coronavirus and hair loss explained
Mary Adamson was getting ready for her first shift caring for COVID-19 patients when an unexpected thought stopped her cold: "I thought to myself, I could die from this."
With Atrium and Novant restricting visitors, expectant moms look for alternatives
Experts say females have stronger immune response
Expert advice on best ways to treat common vaccine side effects
"Secrets"
Here's what it's really like to be an Amazon driver
Is it a crime to spend money on a home security system these days? A look inside the mind of convicted burglars will help you decide.
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.
From how to get the best seats to disgusting airplane habits to avoid, get these insider secrets to a safer, cheaper flight.
We asked pilots from across the country to give us straight answers about maddening safety rules, inexplicable delays, the air and attitudes up there, and what really happens behind the cockpit door. What they told us will change the way you fly.
Parenting
So Netflix has played babysitter more times than you can count already this year? No shame. We asked experts for the holy grail: screen-free playtime ideas that hold kids’ attention long enough for you to clear out your inbox.
When Julianne Weiner's 4-year-old son, Benjamin, started flipping out about going to preschool, she thought it was typical first-day jitters. Then he told her the reason: "I don't want a teacher with brown skin." Weiner, who is white and lives in a diverse neighborhood in Boyds, Maryland, was horrified and confused.
No parent imagines losing sight of her kid-until it happens. Learn the fastest ways to find her if it does.
Lauren "Lulu" Williams was in middle school when her mom found the first bald spot on her head. "When my mom showed me, I started crying," Lulu says. "I wanted to hide." Lulu, now 16, has a condition called psoriasis (sor-EYE-uh-sis). Psoriasis causes patches of dry, scaly skin.
It may be a place filled with magic, but pulling off a great trip to Walt Disney World is anything but child's play. Here's our best time-saving tips, money-saving strategies, and sanity-saving advice.
Nursing your baby is no easy feat. Luckily, we've rounded up the only breastfeeding tips you'll ever need, from the experts who've figured out the smartest tricks, shortcuts, and solutions. Nursing may be natural, but it's also downright difficult.
How to keep your kids busy when you're all stuck at home
The key to a close-knit fam: a repertoire of fun rituals. Adopt these games, activities and fun traditions and let the good times roll.
Learn how to manage parental controls on iPhones, Androids, gaming systems, and every device in between to ensure anything your kid gets her hands on is safe.
Listen up, expecting moms. Childbirth isn't what it used to be -- and that's good news! We asked top ob-gyns to explain the most important improvements that you'll benefit from on delivery day.
Use your kid's cars, action figures, stuffed animals, and more to reinforce the skills he's learning in school. When your child begs for another Skylander or Lalaloopsy, it's easy to say no. But when she asks for a toy that helps with math, do you give in?
Personal Finance
Inspiring teens
Her Renegade dance got famous. Why didn't she? Jalaiah Harmon's quest for the credit she deserved.
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.
More than 1 million teens in the U.S. are caregivers. Daniel, 17, is one of them.