Raised here, in beautiful southwest Virginia, this is where I love to write, spend time outdoors and be of service.
After an incredible career practicing medicine and public health, I decided to retire from full time work in 2016. The change was wonderful and I quickly adjusted to what it means not to hurry.
I had time to weed my garden, hike, write more, forage for food in the woods and fully enjoy my friends and family.
When SARS CoV-2 introduced itself to our planet, I re-joined the Virginia Department of Health work force to lead the COVID response in my corner of the world.
My expertise and interests continue to grow and I’m particularly interested in helping people and organizations grow and learn how to get along. Explaining infection prevention has become something I do in my sleep and I love sharing what I know about personal and organizational well being.
Writing continues to be an important creative outlet for me. New phrases and ideas continue to fill pages of lined paper, interspersed with the details of life and work.
Thanks to WordTech Communications, my chapbook, Off the Chart was published in 2015 and my multi-genre collection, Care is A Four Letter Verb, was released in March 2021.
And now, thanks to the folk at Whaler Books, a fun new book exists with phrases to help us put dealing with SARS CoV-2 in perspective. Check out Unsolicited: 96 Saws and Quips from the Wake of the Pandemic.
My immediate ambition is to read more, deepen my writing and glean feedback about Care is A Four-Letter Verb and Unsolicited: 96 Saws and Quips from the Wake of the Pandemic. I love to help children and teenagers find their voice and adults re-claim their core values, through writing.
I received my BS from Longwood College in 1976 and a medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, in 1980 before completing my Family Medicine Residency at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. I currently serve as Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine where I sponsor the Public Health Club and mentor medical students and residents. I serve as an adjunct faculty member for the MPH program at Virginia Tech and work as a health consultant on an interdisciplinary team for the National Episcopal Church. I received an MFA from University of Nebraska in 2009.