BIO

I strive to use my knowledge and skills to help others improve their lives in meaningful ways through communication, information, and technology.

Research Interests

Health literacy

Information architecture and design

Medical communications

Medical informatics

Online pedagogy

Social equity/justice

Technology-assisted learning

Technology is not the answer to our growing problem of information overload. It is merely one tool in finding a solution. The fundamental issue is the information itself: its structure, its acquisition, and its use. To be beneficial, information must have relevance, meaning, and value. Therefore, it must be systematically organized; relationships and patterns must be obvious and underlying concepts clear.

 

 

Much of my work has centered on structuring information in meaningful ways (whether in the written word or computer code). My past projects include the design and implementation of large-scale information solutions for Aetna, NASDAQ, NYSE, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. During my career, I’ve served on numerous standard-setting committees in the educational, financial, and healthcare arenas.

Professional Affiliations

​American Civil Liberties Union

American Health Information Management Association

American Medical Informatics Association

Association for Educational Communications and Technology

Justice Writers

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences

Society for Technical Communication

U.S. Basketball Writers Association

Women’s Basketball Coaches Association

My doctorates are in communication and information (PhD) as well as the humanities (DArts). I also hold undergraduate degrees in English, history, and political science and post-baccalaureate degrees in literature and publications/new media design. In a (much) earlier life, I was a novelist, law clerk, and government policy advisor. I also had a sweet 25-foot jump shot.

 

In 2002, I designed a prototype of one of the first fully interoperable electronic medical record (EMR) systems in the United States. I continued to research and refine my design over the next several years. My doctoral dissertation was a completely functional EMR system that allowed providers, patients, and insurers to access necessary information at the point of care—all while maintaining the highest levels of privacy and security, far surpassing the requirements spelled out in the HIPAA legislation.

 

Since my initial design, there are now hundreds of EMR vendors on the market. With the adoption of the HITECH and Affordable Care Acts, the federal government has made EMR adoption a top priority to increase the quality of patient care and decrease the cost of healthcare in this country.