I write mainly about public health issues affecting children and communities that are particularly vulnerable due to economic, geographic, or cultural factors. My reporting ranges across the country, taking me everywhere from remote mountain towns to inner city hospital wards, where I spend time getting to know the people who experience firsthand the burden of hidden health crises and the policies aimed at solving them. I also use a network of expert sources and troves of documents to understand the players and dynamics behind some of the biggest threats to the next generation’s health and well-being — whether that’s gun violence, addiction, hunger or even noise pollution.
I started my journalism career almost a decade ago by flying to West Africa to cover the aftermath of the Ebola epidemic, and soon after, to the Democratic Republic of Congo to report on a perilous yellow fever outbreak. I earned a master’s degree in public health from The George Washington University, which involved a research project in Madagascar, but I couldn’t resist the pull to become a storyteller — I wanted to connect unlikely people and places, providing context to help foster understanding.
Before covering health for The Times, I was a science and medicine reporter for the Los Angeles Times, where I investigated issues ranging from bioterror defense systems and gene-editing technology to surrogacy scams and the teenage vaping crisis. I also wrote about the lax infrastructure around pandemic preparedness — a topic that became painfully relevant in 2020.
I was born in New Haven, Conn., and lived in Washington, D.C., for nine years.
Maintaining journalistic independence is vital to my role at The Times, and I abide by our extensive ethics policy. I do not belong to or give donations to political parties or organizations that advocate on issues that I cover. I also do not accept invitations to press junkets or gifts from contacts in the health industry.
I work hard to make sure my coverage reflects a diversity of voices and perspectives, and to understand issues from multiple angles. When I use sources who wish to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, I fight to protect their identity, but verify their claims with other sources or with documents. When I interview patients and families, I am careful to explain the reporting process clearly and prepare them for possible repercussions. And I make sure all my sources know that, while I strive to capture their perspective, my reporting seeks to bring the whole truth to light, and they may not agree with all of its conclusions.
I welcome all story tips and will keep your confidentiality.
Email: [email protected]
Signal: Message me securely: 310-733-7077
Anonymous tips: nytimes.com/tips
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