Magazines:

Primary Care Where Everyone Knows Your Name: This story features a primary care clinic in Annapolis, Maryland housed in a low-income senior housing unit which has worked to decrease emergency room visits from residents in the building and the neighborhood by addressing social determinants. (Health Affairs, January 2019)

Will the Affordable Care Act Survive?: In this article for CQ Researcher, I provide an in-depth look at what is happening with the landmark health care legislation and efforts by congressional Republicans and President Trump to unwind rules undergirding the law. (CQ Researcher, July 2018. Story is behind a paywall.)

Will Abortion Foes Prevail?: I take a look at state laws and political efforts to undermine Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court ruling that made abortion legal nationwide. (CQ Researchers, July 2018. Story is behind a paywall)

Will Antibiotics Keep Working?: This 10,000-word report is a deep dive into the topic of antibiotic resistance which is already killing more than 23,000 Americans a year and efforts to change health policy to encourage drug companies to invest in new antibiotics. (CQ Researcher, June 2018. Behind paywall)

Is the World Prepared for a Global Pandemic?: This 10,000 word report takes a look at the issue of global health emergencies and whether countries, including the U.S., are prepared and able to address a sudden infectious disease outbreak that spreads around the world. (CQ Researcher, June 2017. Behind paywall)

Bringing Him Home: My story about a Bethesda family’s multi-year quest to adopt their son from Haiti. (Bethesda magazine, March 2017)

Integrating Social Needs to Improve Health: A deep dive look at efforts around the country to address the “super-utilizers” of the health system. The Affordable Care Act incentivized the health system to create these programs which aim to reduce costs and improve health outcomes by addressing patients’ social needs, like secure housing and access to nutritious food. (Health Affairs, March 2017. Behind paywall.)

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research: Early Evidence from a Burgeoning Field: I take an in-depth look at the Patient-Centered Research Outcomes Institute (PCORI), which was created by the Affordable Care Act to help the health system determine the most effective diagnostics and treatments and to engage patients in directing the focus of medical research. (Health Affairs, April 2016)

Six Cutting Edge Medical Procedures Happening in the Bethesda Area: What is the latest with cancer, stem, antimicrobial, prosthetics and rare disease research? I take an in-depth look at six procedures happening in the Bethesda region thanks in large part to the proximity of the National Institutes of Health an international hub for medical innovation. (Bethesda magazine, November/December 2016)

Can Combined Care Help the Most Vulnerable: This article considers the progress on multiple state efforts to reform health care delivery services for Medicare patients who are also low-income enough to qualify for Medicaid. These beneficiaries also called “dual-eligibles,” are among the most expensive patients in the health care system. (Governing, November 2015)

Pocketbook Costs of Living With Cancer: This story about living with cancer examines the increasing phenomenon known as “financial toxicity.” Cancer patients are finding that their health insurance plans are paying less of their care, forcing them to pay more out-of-pocket costs. My article provides some strategies for patients can seek financial relief. (Cancer Today, Summer 2015)

Breaking Ebola: The story of Patrick Flaherty, graduate of the College of William & Mary, who now works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the early fall of 2014, he was sent to Liberia to help with the U.S.’s efforts to quell the deadly Ebola outbreak. (W & M magazine, January 2015)

How Sitting Is The New Smoking: As part of my research for an article on office ergonomics for Costco Connection, I was surprised to learn how much sitting for multiple hours in a row has a negative impact on our bodies. Here’s the story on why and what you can do about it. (Costco Connect magazine, August 2014)

Are Hair Straighteners, Hair Dyes Safe?: I explore the safety of hair salon products – specifically hair straighteners and hair dyes. Are they safe? (Bethesda magazine, March 2014)

Testing the Limits: True or false? Comprehensive screening can help you live longer (Hint: The answer may not be what you think.) Some patients feel like getting an annual executive physical ensures their health, but scientific data raises questions about that supposition. (Bethesda magazine, July/August 2013)

The KPC Killer: In 2011, patients at the National Institutes of Health’s Clinical Center began testing positive for a deadly organism. Even as it began claiming its first victims, two female scientists were on a desperate search to track it down. This is their story. (Bethesda magazine, January/February 2013)

Costs of Living With Heart Disease: If you received a diagnosis of heart disease, how much would it cost you? How much does heart disease cost the nation? I explore the topic for USA Today’s special issue “Heart & Stroke” magazine. (May 2012)

Lobbying for Architects: How to make friends and influence policy? I spent time with the architecture industry’s chief trade association in Washington, the American Institute of Architects, and followed around their chief lobbyist for a story about how the architecture industry wields, or doesn’t wield it’s influence in Washington. (Architect magazine, March 2012)

Minor Mistakes, Deadly Results: Thousands die in hospitals because of simple oversights made by doctors and nurses. Here’s how hospitals can improve patient safety. (Washingtonian, February 2012)

Think Tank Briefs:

The Changing Face of the Nursing Workforce: I took an in-depth look at diversity in the registered nursing workforce for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and found that while minorities are expected to become a majority by 2044, the nursing profession remains overwhelmingly white and female. That gap is one of many reasons why there are social disparities in health care. (Charting Nursing’s Future, published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, January 2016)

Nurses Growing Role In Long-Term Care Services and Supports: With number of Americans 65 and older expected to reach 84 million in the next few decades, nurses are going to be needed in greater numbers to help the aging population remain healthy. (Charting Nursing’s Future, published by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, January 2015)

Trade Publications:

Flavor Boosting Additive Carries Some Risks: Among the many additives that food companies use to make foods stay fresh and flavorful are phosphates. The additive has long been deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration, but there may be some health risks associated with phosphates. (WebMD, July 23, 2015

Pesticides, Chemicals & Kids Brains: A recent scientific study concluded there could be a link between a common insecticide chemical, pyrethroid, and delays in childhood learning. What is known about a common insecticide. (WebMD, July 13, 2015)

Strategies for Keeping Dementia At Bay: Pursuing a passion in mid-life may be the key to keeping your mind sharp as you age, according to a new study published by the Mayo Clinic. (Everyday Health, April 10, 2015)

Does the Pesticide in Roundup Cause Cancer?: Many of us have used the weed killer Roundup from time to time to get rid of annoying weeds in the garden. Should you keep on wearing gloves when using it? (WebMD, April 7, 2015)

New Drug Target for Multiple Sclerosis: Canadian researchers identified a potential drug target for treating the neurological degenerative disease, multiple sclerosis. (Everyday Health, February 19, 2015)

Blood Pressure Monitoring Saves Money and Lives: Recent data show if primary care physicians focused on helping their patients control their blood pressure, thousands of lives would be saved. (Everyday Health, January 29, 2015)

Allergy Tests and Food Diets Explained: Parents are often confused about food allergies and food sensitivities. Here’s and explainer on the difference and what diagnostic tests and food diets they should consider. (WebMD, January 2015)

Does Medical Marijuana Work?: As more and more states (21 states and rising) are making medical marijuana legal for certain chronic conditions, WebMD decided to produce a special report on medical marijuana. Here’s what the research says. (WebMD, April 2014)

Health Insurance Market Places Open For Business: WebMD asked me to do some reporting as well as write up a round-up from reports from across the country on the opening day of the health insurance marketplaces. (Oct. 3, 2013)

Obama Encourages Americans To Buy Health Insurance: I traveled to the campus of Prince George’s Community College in Largo, MD to cover President Obama’s first speech on the launch of the health insurance marketplaces for WebMD. (Sept. 26, 2013)

Understanding The Health Care Law: I was part of a team of writers working with the consumer health care site WebMD, which has created a consumer page to help people understand the health care law and how its impact, state by state. (September 2013)

How Safe Are D.C. Area Hospitals?: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ website, Hospital Compare, began reporting patient safety ratings for thousands of the nation’s hospitals, including those in the Washington area, in October 2011. (Kaiser Health News, Jan., 30 2012)

Expert Advice On Finding Medicare Savings: As the Nov. 23, 2011 deadline looms for Congress’s Budge Deficit “Super Committee” to release a set of recommendations for cutting the deficit by $1.2 trillion, here are some ideas offers by some of Washington D.C.’s leading Medicare policy experts. (AARP Bulletin, Oct. 1, 2011)

Newspapers:

Controversial Health Board Braces For Medicare Battles: The health law created a new independent board, the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), to propose ways to curb Medicare spending without impacting benefits or rationing care. (Kaiser Health News, Washington Post, May 8, 2011)

Complex Health Law Turns Into Payday For Consultants: From Washington to California, the year-old health law is setting off a gold rush for high-priced lawyers and consultants. (Kaiser Health News, Washington Post, April 2, 2011)

Health Groups Rise Against Panel: Lobbyists for doctors, hospitals and drug companies are urging lawmakers to derail a planned government panel that health industry officials fear will sharply curb Medicare spending — a critical revenue source for them. (Kaiser Health News, Politico, Jan. 26, 2011)

Health Reform Pays Big Dividends: Health care reform was a big job in 2009, and it paid very well for some executives: Nine of 12 CEOs of health care trade associations made $1 million or more. (Kaiser Health News, Politico, Jan. 5, 2011)

Academia:

UCSF Urges Congress to Fund Brain Research: Funding support by the National Institutes of Health has been critical for brain research at the University of California San Francisco. One of the university’s leaders urged Congress in January to fully fund the NIH and its brain research programs. (University of California, February 6, 2015)

Blogs:

Frustrated, Big Health Insurers Maneuver to Boost Washington Influence: Five of the nation’s largest health insurance companies are looking to build their own inside-the-Beltway coalition to influence implementation of the new health law and congressional efforts to change it. (Kaiser Health News, NPR Shots Blog, Dec. 9, 2010)

Best of my National Journal stories:

K Street Paradox: President Obama’s fight against special interests boomerangs as lobbying firms just get richer. (National Journal, March 13, 2010)

The Envy List: Love it or hate it, it’s the list of who makes what in the association, advocacy and think tank world. National Journal’s 10th biannual salary survey. (National Journal, April 3, 2010)

Health Care Reform Faces Its Superbowl Moment: Congress has kicked off the legislative battle over health care. Insurers and small business are key players on the field. (National Journal, June 20, 2009)

Who’s Watching The Lobbyists?: The enforcement of federal lobbying disclosure rules is limited by small staff. (National Journal, Oct. 3, 2009)

Blogging On – How K Street Is Blogging: K street has embraced blogging as a new tool for advocacy. Here are some of their stories. (National Journal, Oct. 6, 2007)

Supreme Court Spinners – K Street Lobbies The High Court: What is Washington, D.C.’s latest PR trend? It’s pitching reporters Supreme Court cases. (National Journal, Oct. 21, 2006)

Taking Cover – Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Under Fire: Wounded mortgage industry giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pulled back their once vaunted lobbying operations. They are relying on allies and a softer touch to try to influence Congress. (National Journal, May 28, 2005)

Partying With The Podestas: A Day at the Denver Democrat convention with Heather and Tony Podesta, two of Washington, D.C.’s most powerful lobbyists. (National Journal’s Convention Daily, Aug. 27, 2008)