Contributors
Nicole Arzt
Nicole Arzt is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist with nearly a decade of experience treating issues related to anxiety and mood disorders, parenting and family dynamics, complex trauma, and substance use disorders. A professional content writer, she has authored hundreds of scholarly articles for mental health professionals, treatment facilities, and nonprofit organizations. Check out her website at souloftherapy.com
Carolyn Cordtz, RN, BSN
Carolyn is a registered nurse with a BSN from the University of Virginia. After spending 5 years in the operating room, she transitioned to the healthcare information technology space and currently works in product management and development.
Amber Deubler
Amber Deubler is a freelance medical science content contributor with 15 years of experience in the Health and Wellness Industry. She began as a physical therapist in Beverly Hills, working for a network of holistic doctors and orthopedic surgeons. She then went on to successfully manage an integrative cardiology clinic until the doctor’s retirement in 2016. Since then, she’s been passionately using her experience to contribute content that helps people enjoy a better quality of life.
Dr. G
Dr. G has been a pharmacist for the past eleven years, clinical educator across many disease states and a clinical instructor at a doctor of pharmacy program. She has supported and counseled hundreds of patients on medications used to treat anxiety disorders and many other disorders, including non- pharmacologic interventions that help to aid anxiety symptoms. She prides herself in helping and supporting patients and everyone around her in any way she can and fights to help them in any way she can, whether it is for the cost of their medication or the disease state they are facing. Due to many stressful situations in her career, she has personally experienced burnout and battled anxiety symptoms due to everyday job related stress factors. It has become her passion to support, counsel, and provide hope to other healthcare professionals and everyone that may be in a similar situation.The important message she wants everyone to know is to never be afraid or reluctant to ask for help whether it is from family, friends or your medical provider, never lose hope and just know you are one step away from overcoming this.
Dr. Kari Hall Jones
Dr. Kari Hall Jones is a Licensed Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She earned her Doctorate of Psychology from Spalding University in Louisville, KY and completed predoctoral internship with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Jones worked in private group practice for seven years before transitioning to work in post-acute care in the Central Kentucky area. Additionally, Dr. Jones is an adjunct professor at the University of Kentucky in the Counseling Psychology PhD program. Dr. Jones resides in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, two sons, and sweet dog Sadie Mae.
Kim Lux, RN
Kim Lux was a software writer for over twenty years before her experiences as a caregiver opened her eyes to the difficulties of navigating healthcare. Her sense of empathy and fascination with all things medical drew her into the clinical world. Now, as a registered nurse and a writer specializing in health and wellness topics, she translates complex health topics into relatable health education. Her lifelong interest in psychology and mental health issues came in handy when her husband was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2013. Together, they explore and write about love and life with bipolar disorder and the connection between concussion and mental health.
Rebecca Metzler, RN, BSN
Storytelling is her passion. Rebecca is a native Texan working in Austin as a Registered Nurse and freelance writer. She has been working in a community health setting for 2 years, caring for patients who suffer from an array of mental health illnesses, including anxiety. She works directly with physicians, counselors, and dietitians to address the emotional and physical needs of patients with anxiety. Through her experience, she has learned that a holistic approach to managing anxiety greatly improves and maintains individuals overall mental health. Having anxiety herself, she knows how derailing it can feel and how the right help makes all the difference! On her days off she enjoys reading, writing stories, and daydreaming about her next travel adventure. Each day is different and brings endless opportunity to learn.
Shelly Montgomery, RN, BSN
Shelly Montgomery, RN, BSN is a Wyoming-based freelance writer with diverse experience and a deep passion for creating worlds with words. She enjoys presenting complex health and medical topics in ways that empower readers to develop deeper understanding and independence in their health and wellness. Her expertise includes public and population health, adolescent development, mental health, trauma and resilience, alternative medicine, wellness, and more. Shelly has over 30 years of writing experience from grants and presentations to blog and web articles. She is able to provide content for providers, organizations, and the general public. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing where she was presented with the Making a Difference in Wyoming’s Health award. She has presented on health topics at both state and national conferences. Shelly also enjoys writing about topics including travel, live music, spirituality, organic farming, and social justice.
Jayna Nickert, MBA, MFT
Jayna Nickert is a writer, integrative therapist, and entrepreneur residing in San Diego, CA. When she isn't writing or playing with her dogs at the beach, she enjoys helping adults, children, and adolescents be their best selves. As an MFT, she has helped equip her clients with the tools needed to process and manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, bereavement, and trauma.
Bailey Opsal
Bailey Opsal is a practicing BSN-prepared nurse at a regional medical center in the Pacific Northwest. She also is an established wellness blogger and medical copywriter, with her work being featured in both national and international online publications.
Joanne, Perry, Ph.D.
Joanne Perry, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist who currently works within the Novant Health Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Institute, where she provides clinical, health, and sport psychological services to orthopedic and sports medicine patients. Additionally, she organizes and conducts service line research initiatives, which broadly seek to optimize patient outcomes by measuring and intervening on perioperative psychosocial variables. Prior to her role at Novant Health, she worked as the sport psychologist at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she delivered clinical and sport psychological interventions to student-athletes. Dr. Perry completed her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Pepperdine University and attended Saint Louis University for both her Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Sport Psychology. Following her graduate work, she completed a pre-doctoral internship at Northwestern University with a specialty focus in sport psychology. Dr. Perry has published on a variety of topics within the field of sport psychology and largely focuses on applied research.
Leann Poston
Leann Poston is a licensed physician in the state of Ohio. She has had a diverse range of careers including practicing pediatrics in a physician's group practice, teaching high-school science, mentoring medical students and residents, overseeing the admissions process as assistant dean and director of admissions at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, writing and editing articles for medical journals, and owning and operating her own business. She attributes all these experiences to making her a well-rounded person who craves challenges and a passion for knowledge and understanding complex topics. After practicing in the medical field, Leann pursued an M.B.A. to better understand and contribute to the discussion on financing health care. She has written several book reviews and blog posts for the Academy for Professionalism in Health Care on topics such as professional behavior in medical practitioners, the virtuous physician, how healthcare became big business, irrational choices and why we make them, patient rights, genetic testing, and ethics in health care. Leann was selected to be a Romanell fellow based on her work in the area of medical professionalism. Leann has a keen interest in medical student education and curriculum development and was an active participant in the redesign of the medical school curriculum and the reaccreditation process for Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. Leann's vast writing and teaching experience have led to several awards in the teaching profession as she has been cited as being an innovative educator who can break down complex topics and make them understandable to a reader with little background in the subject matter. Outside of work, Leann enjoys hiking with her family at national parks across the country and reading books in nearly every genre. She volunteers as a science fair judge at the local high school and enjoys tutoring students in her community.
Kevin Rail
Kevin is an internationally known and sought after fitness coach who specializes in fasting, historical training and restorative arts. He is featured in the documentary films The Motivation Factor and Fasting. He has a degree in Sport Management--Fitness & Wellness, and holds certifications with ACSM, AFM, ACSM and ACE
Dr. Shelly Scamardo
Dr. Shelly Scamardo is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Barrington, IL with more than 20 years of experience working with children and adults. She graduated with a BA from Michigan State University, a MA in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University/ISPP. Dr. Scamardo’s experience includes work in a variety of treatment settings, including outpatient, inpatient, day school and residential treatment as well as outreach and crisis intervention in Chicago police departments. She enjoys working with clients to help them manage all of life’s stressors so that they can reach their full potential.
Dr. Conor Sheehy
Dr. Sheehy is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS). He completed his BS in Molecular Biology before completing his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). His primary experience is in behavioral health, cardiology, and oncology. Dr. Sheehy is an advocate for mental health through his support of the National Alliance on Mental (NAMI) and membership in the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP). His long-term professional goals are to make meaningful changes in the lives of his patients and the general public. As a member of the American Medical Writers Association, he consistently strives to improve communication between patients and the medical community.
Dr. Patricia Weiser
Patricia Weiser, PharmD, is a licensed pharmacist and a medical writer. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2007. She currently practices in the community pharmacy setting. Patricia is the owner of PW Pharmacist Writer, a company that researches and writes articles in the health and medical space. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and one charming goldendoodle.
