Veteran health and medicine reporter, most recently for the Los Angeles Times, and also for newspapers and magazines across the country, including 13 years at U.S. News & World Report. Co-author of the definitive history of the Framingham Heart Study. Currently at work on a second book about infant development. 

Available for freelance writing assignments, consulting on writing, health-related writing projects and lectures.

Professional Experience

Staff Health Reporter, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, 2005-2008.
Cover stories, medical news, consumer health stories for the Health section and page one.

Senior Writer, U.S. News & World Report, Washington, D.C., 1993-2005. Health and medicine beat including mental health, behavioral health, aging issues, addiction, public policy, health care delivery system and medical ethics.

Author, Alfred A. Knopf, (March 2005), A Change of Heart: How the Framingham Study Helped Solve the Mysteries of Heart Disease, by Daniel Levy and Susan Brink.

Reporter, Boston Herald, Boston, Massachusetts, 1985-1992. Helped launch the Herald’s daily Living section. Helped create the Health section.

Reporter, Statesman-Journal, Salem, Oregon, 1981-1985. Covered police, criminal justice, state government, social services and health.

Reporter, Suburban Trib, Hinsdale, Illinois, 1978-1980. While a journalism student, worked part time covering suburban community life.

Instructor, Boston University, 1988-1989. Taught newswriting and reporting to second and third year communications majors.

Skills and Specialties

In 30 years of of writing about medicine, health policy and the health care delivery system, I've never missed a deadline. I have an exceptional ability to listen to people's stories and do justice to them in the re-telling. I have a deep and broad understanding of America's health care delivery system, and the skill to write about policy in a rich and compelling style.