HuffPost ● American Kennel Club ●

Animal Wellness ● Introvert, Dear ●

YourTango ● HuffPost Canada ● 

Medium

I became a therapist before specializing in public health for my PhD. My research focused on cancer survivorship and the human-pet relationship.

For inspiration, I turn to my dogs, Dally, Rusty, and Frankie. Two of my pups are named after S.E. Hinton characters, played by Matt Dillon in the film adaptations.

As a storyteller and lifelong fan of The Golden Girls, I aspire to be “Picture it, Sicily, 1920-something”…but really I'm more “Back in St. Olaf.”