Professional Experience

  • WSPA, Spartanburg, SC — Video Editor, June 2006 - June 2007
  • WTWO/WAWV, Terre Haute, IN — Production Specialist, Sept. 2011 - July 2012
  • KTVL, Medford, OR — News Producer, August 2012 - August 2013
  • KMID, Midland, TX — News Producer, Feb. 2014 - Feb. 2015
  • WSLS, Roanoke, VA — News Producer, March 2015 - Sept. 2016
  • O&O FOX News, D.C. Bureau — Freelance Producer, 2017
  • KVLY, Fargo, ND — Multimedia Journalist, Dec. 2017 - Dec. 2019
  • WINK, Fort Myers, FL - Health and Medical Multimedia Journalist, Jan. 2020 - Present

News Philosophy

The more you know about your community, the stronger and healthier it can become! That’s why I believe in local news - energizing and empowering a community is valuable. It can lead to meaningful change and a deeper understanding of your neighbors (allowing you to help them overcome the challenges they face, and share in their successes).

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Let’s lace up those sneakers, throw on some sunscreen, and get outside! Whether it’s hitting the pavement for a jog, strapping on a helmet and biking a new trail, or strolling through southwest Florida’s great outdoors - that’s where I want to be. Another interest? Cats! Don't ask me about mine unless you're prepared for a lengthy slideshow.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications at The University of North Carolina - Asheville

Master’s degree in Elementary Education at the University of Maryland - College Park

Likes best about Southwest Florida

I am blown away by all of the unique creatures and beautiful plants!

Hometown

Gaithersburg, MD

 

Southwest Florida woman dies after reaction to fire ant bites

You see the dirt mounds everywhere, but did you know the insects that call them home are dangerous? One Southwest Florida woman knows firsthand after losing her best friend last month. Now, she’s on a mission to make sure people are educated so another tragedy can be avoided. “It was just such a shock and […]

CDC Advisory Committee: Pfizer vaccine can be given to children 12 and older

A CDC advisory committee has decided the Pfizer vaccine should be given to children ages 12 to 15. Pfizer said the vaccine is 100% effective in that age group. A final decision needs to be made by CDC Director Rochelle Walensky. Wakensky will make the decision using the same information presented during Wednesday’s meeting of […]

Training doctors and nurses using real-world simulations

A multi-disciplinary simulation, the first of its kind in a hospital between Miami and Tampa, is training doctors and nurses of the future – and it’s here in Southwest Florida. NCH showed off the new state-of-the-art facility on Tuesday. The simulation gives a mockup of everything from a typical hospital room to the ER. When […]

Battling back against Parkinson’s

One man is not letting a degenerative disease hold him back. John Cullen, 61, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and is using weightlifting to stop the disease from controlling his life. “It’s a heavy weight to bear, and it’s a heavy weight to continue to battle against,” he said. He started lifting that heavy weight physically. […]

icu nurse

Nurses discuss pandemic challenges during national week that honors them

The past year has been especially tough for health care workers on the frontline of the pandemic. This week, we celebrated nurses and their dedication to the community. Orlando Oliveros’s passion for health care started with his son. “He was born very premature; he had a hole in his heart. And he spent seven months […]

A woman says therapy is helping her husband with his dementia

A therapist is helping people with dementia return to their loved ones. The therapist and a wife showed us the progress her husband is making. For the first time in years, Fran Lavine can spell and write his name. His wife, Barbara, says, since he started therapy, he hasn’t fallen once. The benefits have shown […]

Doctors warn against do-it-yourself injections trending during pandemic

There is a warning about buying unregulated injectables online, things such as fillers for the lines on your face. We spoke to doctors who says this can be very dangerous to try on your own. Dr. Maximilian Padilla is an oculofacial plastic surgeon. He spent 14 years in school to be able to give people […]

CDC developing guidelines to treat COVID-19 long-haulers

Millions of people could be left with chronic health problems after contracting the coronavirus, so we looked at what’s being done to counter the problem. Before she contracted COVID-19 in July 2020, Natalie Hakala was a serious athlete who was used to pushing her body. “I was a collegiate runner at a D2 college,” Hakala […]

influenza stats

COVID-19 precautions lead to fewer flu cases this season

Face masks, hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes are all things we kept close by during the pandemic and they helped us. There were fewer flu cases this flu season. But, as more people get vaccinated and some let their guard down, doctors are worried about the troubles that next flu season could bring. This flu […]

Google says it has developed an artificial intelligence system that can detect the presence of breast cancer more accurately than doctors. (Credit: Shutterstock)

Young women paying to get breast cancer tests

A breast cancer diagnosis is scary, and the test to find out if you have it could cost you thousands, even with health insurance. That has a lot of women skipping their screenings. Women are told to have mammograms annually, but only if you’re over 50. Still, breast cancer concerns exist for everyone. Dr. Tasleem […]