Experience
- Accepted into the BSN-RN Accelerated Track program at William Jewell College, May 2020
- Certified in Basic Life Support and Basic First Aid, 2020
- Hospice Volunteer, Phoenix Homecare & Hospice, December 2020 – present
- Nursing Clinicals 2020-2021 at: Liberty Hospital (40 hours), North Kansas City Hospital (92 hours), Children’s Mercy Hospital (36 hours).
Education
- William Jewell College – Bachelor of Science in Nursing (expected graduation: May 2022).
- Metropolitan Community College – prerequisites for nursing school (GPA: 3.8)
- University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas – Master of Journalism (1994)
- University of North Texas, Denton, Texas – Master of Music (1988)
- Capital University Conservatory of Music, Columbus, Ohio – Bachelor of Music (1983)
Previous Work Experience
Journalist, The Kansas City Star, December 1991 – January 2015
- Writer of features on medical and military stories
- Gave numerous speeches about reporting in war zones and disasters, including one after the Joplin tornado, on working in extreme stress to nursing staff at North Kansas City Hospital
- Won the Pulliam National Writing Award for a medical series on prenatal hospice care for a baby named Zeke, born with Trisomy 13
- First female journalist from The Star to travel to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, embedded with Kansas/Missouri troops. Rode in C-130s, and Chinook helicopters, Jeeps and one tank, writing stories about the troops’ daily lives
- Sent to disasters as The Star’s jump reporter: Hurricane Katrina, (embedded with FEMA); Joplin tornado, and smaller events with tornados, floods, accidents
- Known for ability to engage people who previously refused to talk with media
- Awarded a journalism scholarship to a seminar on Critical Incident Stress in War and Disasters, in Washington D.C.
(Read a selection of my medical stories)
Other Experience
- Substitute Teacher and Paraprofessional, K-12, Fort Osage School District, Independence, Missouri
- Volunteer Mom, Fort Osage High School Marching Band
- Professional Musician, Bass Trombonist, Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, and in jazz concerts throughout Kansas City area
- Professional Musician, Bass Trombonist, Diva: No Man’s Band, New York, New York, traveled around the world, playing concerts from Carnegie Hall to Rome
- Music Educator, taught area private lessons, and at high school/college band clinics
- Freelance Writer, articles for music journals, travel magazines and newspapers
- Professional Musician, Bass Trombonist, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and American Hawaii Cruises
- Outpatient Surgery Registration Clerk, Denton Hospital, Denton, Texas
- Weekend Emergency Department Admitting Clerk, St. Anthony’s Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
Professional Affiliations
- National Student Nursing Association
- Society of Professional Journalists
- Military Editors and Writers
- Kansas City Federation of Musicians, AFL-CIO
Personal Achievements
- Married 29 years to Keith
- Mother to two children; Hannah, 19 and Jesse, 13, both IVF successes after years of infertility
- Earned Black Belt in Taekwondo, May 2018
- A wolf-watcher/primitive camper in Yellowstone National Park for more than nine summers
- Bass trombonist, NorthWinds Symphonic Band, (2016 – present), numerous other gigs around Kansas City
