What is your position and role at Gillette Children’s?

As a content specialist in the Communications and Advertising team I get to interview patients, families and clinical staff to share the work being done at Gillette. These stories are often featured in the Gillette Stories blog. I also write a variety of other material such as patient education guides, internal communication information, magazine articles and even signs for our big construction project. 

What brought you to Gillette?

I spent many years as a newscaster, reporter and program host at Minnesota Public Radio.  I was crazy enough to work full time and go to graduate school at the University of Minnesota. After years of hard work I earned my Ph.D. in Journalism and Mass Communication. I spent some time teaching journalism at the U of M and the University of St. Thomas. 

My life changed on July 13, 2009.  I became the mother of a beautiful girl born in China.  She had a cleft lip and palate. I had been a new mom for 57 days when I placed my faith and my 2-year-old daughter into the hands of Gillette's craniofacial team. 

I’m so impressed and grateful for the care my daughter received. When I heard about the content specialist opening at Gillette I felt the position would utilize my training as a journalist and my experience as the mother of a patient. I’m so happy to be here!

Do you have a favorite Gillette story or memory?

I started working at Gillette in December 2015 so my “memories” are pretty fresh.  If I had to single out one remembrance it would be the day I met the incredible Dudley family.  Shantel and Kent Dudley are parents to 13 children—seven biological and six adopted children who are considered to be medically fragile.

My colleague, Callan Henrich, a video and photography specialist, and I had the opportunity to drive to Bemidji and spend an afternoon talking to the family and photographing their children. Shantel and Kent are so devoted to giving their children the best. They’re enthusiastic about Gillette and shared many touching stories.

After our time with the Dudley family, we took a quick side trip to see the famous Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox statue. It was a memorable day.

What is one fun fact about you?

I attended a cooking school in Provence, France and used Julia Child’s butcher knife to decapitate a plucked pigeon. I also helped to prepare an evening meal on Julia’s stove. The cooking instructor was friends with Julia Child and received her stove and butcher knife when she departed France. (The instructor likened it to having the opportunity to get Freud’s couch!) Bon appetit!