My main focus with the MedTerm Topics Blog is to offer some medical humor as you learn. As a community speaker and also in tutoring, I found that strategic humor would not only keep participants awake during my talks but could also encourage retention of material. Some years later, a formal neuroscience study proved what I knew all along — “laughter IS the best medicine” — or as I like to say, “medicine makes the best laughter.”

I began my professional career in healthcare as an emergency room ward clerk, now known as health unit coordinator. Working at a community hospital, my ward clerk position (and education) led to several promotions including longtime department management, which comprised multiple areas and an interaction with all clinical and diagnostic units. Active in the Arizona chapter of the (now named) National Association of Healthcare Access Management (NAHAM), I was elected to various offices and administrative boards.

In addition to my healthcare service, I previously worked for many years on various healthcare textbooks as a reviewer, contributor, subject matter expert, copyeditor, and proofreader. I currently volunteer time as a Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) and in writing medical-legal appeals.

I have a Bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, certificate in Geriatric Care Management from the University of Florida, and several other healthcare certificates and commendations. I look forward to hearing from you and how you use humor (and mnemonics) as you happily engage with your healthcare studies.