ProductsMayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Portal:
Medical Advisors
Our medical expertise represents a significant differentiator between Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth content and other health Web sites. We draw upon the knowledge and experience of more than 2,000 practicing physicians and health care professionals at Mayo Clinic in developing reliable and timely site content. This base of knowledge provides a unique level of medical credibility and insight not available anywhere else on the Web.
We are content developers, not simply content aggregators. All articles, tools and programs are developed with Mayo Clinic expertise. In developing site material, we conduct our own research, not relying on what’s been reported among competitors or the popular press. This content development philosophy distinguishes Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth in an industry where many Web sites license much of their content from other vendors.
Medical Editor-in-Chief
Roger Harms, M.D.
Medical Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Roger Harms, brings a passion for medicine and health information to his leadership role with Mayo's Web site.
The Auburn, Neb., native has been with Mayo since 1981 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.
"Nothing helps people get healthy or stay healthy more than the power of real knowledge about health," said Dr. Roger Harms. Dr. Harms is excited about the potential for the site to provide the tools to help people stay healthy and the information to make every user a better partner with his or her doctor.
He is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, associate dean of academic affairs at Mayo Medical School, and a consultant in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Harms was 1988 Mayo Medical School Teacher of the Year. His specialty areas include high-risk obstetrics, obstetrical ultrasound and infertility. Dr. Harms was part of the editorial team that produced the Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy & Baby's First Year. "My medical education experience has grown out of a love of teaching, and that is what this site is about," Dr. Harms said.
Senior Medical Editors
The senior medical editors are experienced Mayo clinicians and educators who have broad knowledge of many areas of medicine, occupational health, and disease management and health promotion. They work on a daily basis with Web content producers and editors to ensure that all content produced for the Mayo site is accurate, clear and relevant.
Kenneth Berge, M.D.
As a respected physician and teacher with nearly 40 years of experience, Dr. Kenneth Berge, a native of Wahkon, Minn., brings a wealth of knowledge to the Web site.
"The challenge is twofold: How to present complex information in a clear and understandable way and to assure that the information is reliable," he said. "My past role as a primary care physician for nearly 40 years provided me with experience in communicating complex information to a wide variety of patients in a manner that they could understand. I also came to know the most common concerns and questions."
He developed the Ask a Specialist segment, wrote Editor's Notes, and edited and helped plan content and design. Dr. Berge has also been an editor of CD-ROMs and books produced by Mayo.
Dr. Berge, board certified in internal medicine, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1955 and has a special research interest in cardiovascular risk factors, including cholesterol and hypertension. Dr. Berge served as the director for a number of major National Institutes of Health clinical trials that established the fundamental roles for lifestyle modifications needed to prevent cardiovascular disease.
He was a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School, won the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame Award in 1987 and was Mayo Clinic voting-staff president in 1976.
Dr. Berge served in various capacities with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. He was vice chairman of the steering committee for the Coronary Drug Project, chairman of the site visit for the Honolulu Heart Study in 1971 and chairman of the steering committee on Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program from 1984 to 1993.
He was named a Fellow in the American College of Physicians in 1962 and was president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Physicians in 1981.
Brooks Edwards, M.D.
Dr. Brooks Edwards, MayoClinic.com's first medical editor-in-chief, brings a passion for medicine and health information to his role as a senior medical editor.
A Rochester, Minn., native, Dr. Edwards is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology and has been on the Mayo staff since 1989. He is medical director of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Medical School and served as president of the staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Edwards is the medical director of the cardiac transplant team at Mayo Clinic. This multidisciplinary team includes specialty physicians from cardiology, cardiac surgery, infectious diseases, psychiatry and psychology along with transplant nurse coordinators, social workers and intensive care unit nurses.
"The Internet opens doors," Dr. Edwards said. "For people around the world, our site allows access to some of the best medical professionals in the world. The site provides the tools to help stay healthy and information to make every user a better partner with their doctor."
Dr. Edwards, past president of the American Heart Association's Minnesota Affiliate, was founder and editor of the former Web site Mayo Clinic Health Oasis, has reviewed for Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Family Health Book and Mayo Clinic Heart Book and edited the professional CD-ROM Prime Practice Cardiology.
Philip Hagen, M.D.
Dr. Phil Hagen has a longtime interest in, and is a nationally recognized expert in, the utilization of computers in health care. He is one of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions' medical directors, and is vice chairman of the Division of Preventive, Occupational and Aerospace Medicine within the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic. "Through online health management, we are able to incorporate current behavior change theory, along with the most up-to-date medical information, using interactive and personalized tools," said Dr. Hagen. "This is a powerful tool that can empower people to take control of their health."
A native of Austin, Minn., Dr. Hagen is board certified in preventive medicine and internal medicine. He is an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Mayo Medical School and director of the Preventive Medicine Residency.
He was also the course co-chairman of Preventive Medicine Update 1992 (continuing medical education course for primary care physicians) and of Computer Applications in Medicine, a workshop for clinical reviews, which took place in October, November 1992, 1993, 1994.
For more than 10 years, Dr. Hagen has been involved in the production of books, newsletters and computer-based health information and in the development of the Mayo Clinic Electronic Medical Record software. Dr. Hagen became a medical director for Mayo Clinic Health Solutions because of his interest in helping people make lifestyle changes through health education.
Scott Litin, M.D.
Editor-in-chief of Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, Third Edition, Dr. Scott Litin is a practicing general internist and a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic. A distinguished practitioner, lecturer and teacher, Dr. Litin has served in numerous leadership positions at Mayo Clinic and nationally. He's a recipient of many awards, including the prestigious Henry S. Plummer Distinguished Physician Award and the Distinguished Clinician Award from Mayo Clinic. The American College of Physicians has recognized him as a Master of the college. Dr. Litin has authored numerous medical journal articles, and he serves in editorial capacities for several Mayo Clinic publications. He's actively involved in continuing education programs for practicing physicians and is frequently an invited speaker at medical gatherings.
Sheldon Sheps, M.D.
Dr. Sheldon Sheps, emeritus professor of medicine and former chairman of the Hypertension Division in the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, was on Mayo's staff for 37 years before joining our emeritus staff.
"I have always believed in involving the patient and family in their health care," he said. "I have facilitated their understanding of the illness and issues and encouraged their participation in decisions. The Web is a natural extension of that, and now many more people can be informed."
Dr. Sheps, who chaired the working group that originated the latest guidelines for hypertension developed under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), has helped develop books, newsletters, CD-ROMs and other Mayo health information material. He was editor-in-chief of Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure, published in 1999. He was section editor for the Hypertension Primer, American Heart Association, 1999.
Dr. Sheps, a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native, is board certified in internal medicine and specializes in hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases. He developed a multidisciplinary approach comprising specially trained nurses, dietitians, technicians and educators to help form a team approach to the treatment of people with abnormal blood pressure.
Dr. Sheps is also chairman of the Science Base Subcommittee, National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and is a consultant to the Hypertension Initiative of the Pan American Health Organization.
Founding Medical Editor
Brooks Edwards, M.D.
Dr. Brooks Edwards, MayoClinic.com's first medical editor-in-chief, brings a passion for medicine and health information to his role as a senior medical editor.
A Rochester, Minn., native, Dr. Edwards is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology and has been on the Mayo staff since 1989. He is medical director of Mayo Clinic Health Solutions, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Medical School and served as president of the staff at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
As a cardiologist, Dr. Edwards is the medical director of the cardiac transplant team at Mayo Clinic. This multidisciplinary team includes specialty physicians from cardiology, cardiac surgery, infectious diseases, psychiatry and psychology along with transplant nurse coordinators, social workers and intensive care unit nurses.
"The Internet opens doors," Dr. Edwards said. "For people around the world, our site allows access to some of the best medical professionals in the world. The site provides the tools to help stay healthy and information to make every user a better partner with their doctor."
Dr. Edwards, past president of the American Heart Association's Minnesota Affiliate, was founder and editor of the former Web site Mayo Clinic Health Oasis, has reviewed for Mayo Clinic Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Family Health Book and Mayo Clinic Heart Book and edited the professional CD-ROM Prime Practice Cardiology.
Specialty Medical Editors
Specialty medical editors are leaders in their areas of health care. They work with our editorial staff to bring you timely, relevant and accurate information and tools.
Specialty Medical Editor — Internal Medicine
Carl Anderson, M.D.
Dr. Carl Anderson brings years of medical editing experience at Mayo to his role in helping guide the MayoClinic.com news area. Dr. Anderson is an emeritus member of the Mayo Clinic staff. The Winterset, Iowa, native joined the Mayo staff in 1967 and is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. He practiced clinical nephrology and internal medicine, with a special interest in kidney failure, renal transplantation, nutrition and medical publishing.
"The Web gives consumers vast health-related information to use both in planning healthy lifestyles and in answering specific medical questions," he said. "Reliability and applicability remain the Achilles' heel of Web site health information. I believe I can help with both reliability and applicability because of my extensive clinical experience with questions and problems in internal medicine, nephrology and nutrition."
Specialty Medical Editor — Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Brent Bauer, M.D.
Brent Bauer, M.D., is board certified in internal medicine. He is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine and director of the Department of Internal Medicine's Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Bauer, a native of Madison, Wisc., is also an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School and a graduate of Mayo Medical School.
He serves on the editorial board of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter and has been with Mayo since 1992, first practicing at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale before joining Mayo Clinic Rochester in 1996.
Dr. Bauer's research interests include exercise and health effects, asthma in the elderly, and complementary and alternative medicine with a special interest in herbs and dietary supplements, integrative medicine and wellness. He is a member of Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society; the American Federation for Medical Research; the North Central Cancer Treatment Group; and other professional organizations. Dr. Bauer has been published widely on complementary and alternative medicine topics.
Specialty Medical Editor — Dental
Alan Carr, D.M.D.
Dr. Alan B. Carr, vice-chair of the Department of Dental Specialties at Mayo Clinic, is a consultant in the Division of Prosthodontics and a professor of dentistry at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Dr. Carr, a native of Hattiesburg, Miss., received his prosthodontics training at Mayo. Following his training, he was an assistant professor at Marquette University and then became a full professor at Ohio State University, where his clinical duties included director of Maxillofacial Prosthetics at the James Cancer Hospital. He returned to Mayo in 2000.
Dr. Carr is board certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics. He served in the Air Force and has degrees from the University of Mississippi, University of Southern Mississippi and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He also is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Academy of Maxillofacial Prosthetics, the American College of Prosthodontists and the American Dental Association. He has made dozens of international and national presentations and is author of a dental textbook.
His clinical practice focuses on combined prosthodontics and reconstruction of patients with disabling oral conditions. His research interests include oral and craniofacial endosseous implants, tobacco cessation, and the impact of oral health on general health, especially for patients with chronic illness and the elderly.
Specialty Medical Editor — Urology
Erick Castle, M.D.
Dr. Erik P. Castle is a board-certified urologist who joined the Mayo Clinic staff in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 2007.
Dr. Castle is an associate professor of urology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a senior associate consultant in the Department of Urology, where he also is assistant residency coordinator.
He was an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Tulane University in New Orleans from 2004 to 2006 after serving as a clinical instructor/fellow at Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, for one year.
Dr. Castle's research interests include robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, robot-assisted cystectomy and other prostate cancer projects. He is a member of American Association of Clinical Urologists, the American Urological Association, the Endourological Society, the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons and the Working Group of Urologic Robotic Surgeons.
Specialty Medical Editor — Arthritis
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Dr. April Chang-Miller is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is a consultant in the Division of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dr. Chang-Miller's primary field is rheumatology, with special interests in inflammatory joint diseases called seronegative spondyloarthropathies and in a disorder of connective tissue called systemic lupus erythematosus.
The New York City native is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and has been with Mayo since 1991. She is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and has been on the board of directors of the Minnesota Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America and the Minnesota Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation.
Specialty Medical Editor — Diabetes
Maria Collazo-Clavell, M.D.
Dr. Maria Collazo-Clavell is board certified in internal medicine, endocrinology and metabolism and is a senior associate consultant in the Division of Endocrinology at Mayo Clinic and an instructor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
The Aibonito, Puerto Rico, native has been with Mayo since 1994. She is a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American College of Endocrinologists, the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society.
Dr. Collazo-Clavell is a member of the editorial board of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.
Specialty Medical Editor — Internal Medicine
Edward Creagan, M.D.
Dr. Edward Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo since 1977 and in 1999 was president of the medical staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Medical School, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Clinician Award. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and as fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo's Web sites, editing publications and CD-ROMs and reviewing articles.
Specialty Medical Editor — Women's Health
Mary Gallenberg, M.D.
Dr. Mary Gallenberg is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and medical oncology. She is credentialed as a menopause practitioner by the North American Menopause Society.
An Antigo, Wis., native, Dr. Gallenberg is a consultant in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and an assistant professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine.
Dr. Gallenberg has been with Mayo Clinic since 1990. She was on the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource editorial board and has been honored for excellence in teaching. She also won a Mayo Clinic Excellence Through Teamwork award.
Specialty Medical Editor — Cholesterol
Gerald Gau, M.D.
Dr. Gerald Gau is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. He was born and educated in Alberta, Canada. He attended medical school at the University of Alberta. He was in the Mayo Medical School Internal Medicine Residency Program and had cardiovascular training at the Hammersmith Hospital Royal Post-Graduate School in London, England.
Dr. Gau has been on staff at Mayo as a consultant in cardiovascular diseases from 1967 to present and is a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
Dr. Gau's practice has involved the Cardiac Cath Lab, coronary care and cardiac rehabilitation. Over the past 25 years, he has been a preventive cardiologist. He also been involved with the National Cholesterol Education Program Committee regarding the national cholesterol guidelines.
Specialty Medical Editor — Dermatology
Lawrence Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology. Dr. Gibson has been director of the Dermatopathology Laboratory since 1998 and co-chairman of the Dermatology Education Committee since 1997. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin and lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information is becoming a staple in the diet of a health-conscious society," he said. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid ‘indigestion’ or worse yet, ‘food poisoning’ by the ingestion of tainted information."
Specialty Medical Editor — Heart
Martha Grogan, M.D.
Dr. Martha Grogan is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. She is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and received her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Grogan has been on staff at Mayo Clinic since 1995 and is a consultant in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
Dr. Grogan is a noninvasive cardiologist specializing in heart failure, adult congenital heart disease and echocardiography. She has witnessed firsthand the importance of patient education in the treatment of diseases such as congestive heart failure and is excited about the tremendous educational opportunities now available through the Internet.
Specialty Medical Editor — Mental Health
Daniel Hall-Flavin, M.D.
Dr. Daniel Hall-Flavin, board certified in general psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, is a St. Louis native looking to the Internet as a way to help people improve their health and be more active participants in their own health care by learning from Mayo Clinic's experts.
Dr. Hall-Flavin has been a member of the faculties of Cornell University Medical College, New York Medical College and The George Washington University Medical School before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 1996. He has special interests in adult psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and psychogenomics. He has served as medical director of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence from 1986 to 1999.
"With the advent of the genomics and proteomics revolution and the pace of advances in medicine, informed collaborative relationships between knowledgeable, capable health professionals and informed, proactive individuals and their families are more vital than ever," he said.
"I'm optimistic that our Internet health education activities will contribute to ever-improving health outcomes for all who participate and apply what is learned."
Specialty Medical Editor — Baby's Health and Children's Health
Jay Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker's specialty in treating children in a primary care setting brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com. Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been with Mayo since 1989. "The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker said. "The evolution of the Web will include greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful."
Dr. Hoecker, a consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, works with general pediatricians in a primary care setting following both well and ill children in both outpatient and inpatient settings. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Specialty Medical Editor — Tobacco
Jennifer A. Kern, M.S., C.T.T.S.
Jennifer Kern is a tobacco treatment specialist, certified through the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center. Although her primary work is done as a counselor with the Mayo Clinic Tobacco Quitline, she also has experience working with patients in a face-to-face setting.
Being bilingual, she enjoys counseling in both Spanish and English. She holds a master's degree and is working toward her doctorate in psychology, with interests including: spirituality, psychosomatic illness, depression and anxiety, maladaptive coping behaviors, and overall health behavior change.
A native of Rochester, Minn., her work includes various aspects such as addressing the love-hate relationship many tobacco users have with their smoking or chewing, providing education about nicotine addiction, and offering effective strategies to help with quitting. In addition, she explores the importance of getting emotional and social support when stopping tobacco use, with ideas and suggestions about how to ask for and give this support in helpful ways.
Specialty Medical Editor — Fitness & Sports Medicine
Edward Laskowski, M.D.
Dr. Edward Laskowski is certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.
He is co-director of the Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center. He has been with Mayo since 1990 and specializes in sports medicine, fitness, strength training and stability training.
He works with a multidisciplinary team of physical medicine, rehabilitation and orthopedic specialists, physical therapists and sports psychologists. Dr. Laskowski is a former member of the United States Ski Team (Alpine) and approaches sports medicine from the perspective of a physician and an athlete. In addition to skiing, he is an avid hiker, cyclist and climber.
Dr. Laskowski serves on the editorial boards of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine and The Physician and Sports Medicine. Dr. Laskowski, a Cary, Ill., native, has contributed to Mayo's CD-ROM on sports, health and fitness (a Web site guide to self-care), and dozens of Mayo articles and booklets in print and online. "There are a lot of myths and misconceptions about exercise and fitness in general, and also many traditions that don't stand up to scientific scrutiny," he said. "My goal is to provide the most up-to-date and accurate information on sports medicine and fitness topics in a way that you can practically incorporate into your life."
Specialty Medical Editor — Allergy & Asthma
James Li, M.D.
Dr. James Li, a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist, hopes his expertise and the information on Mayo Clinic Web sites help educate health care consumers in an area of rapid change both in medications and diagnoses. "There are a lot of misperceptions about allergy and asthma," said Dr. Li, a New York City native who has been with Mayo since 1985 and works with a group of subspecialists in allergy, asthma and immunology. "I believe it's important to provide truthful, accurate information about allergy and asthma to the public. The more people know, the better they can take care of these conditions."
Dr. Li is a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology and chaired its Immunotherapy Committee from 1997 to 1999.
He is a fellow in the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and was president of the North Central Allergy Society from 1986 to 1987 and 1995 to 1996.
Dr. Li is associate editor of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology honored him with the Distinguished Service Award.
Specialty Medical Editor — Alzheimer's
Angela Lunde
Angela Lunde is a dementia education specialist in the education core of Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at the Abigail Van Buren Alzheimer's Disease Research Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
The transfer of information about dementias, as well as understanding the need for participation in clinical trials, is an essential component of the education core.
Angela is a member of the of the Alzheimer's Association Program Services Advisory Council, co-chair of the Advanced Practice Professional Education track for the Minnesota State Dementia Conference, and a member of D-BART (Dementia-Behavioral Assessment and Response Team), a multidisciplinary outreach service assisting professional and family caregivers in understanding and managing difficult behaviors often present in dementia.
Specialty Medical Editor — Pain Management
David Martin, M.D.
Dr. David Martin is board certified in anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology with advanced certification in pain medicine.
He is a consultant in the Department of Anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., and an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Mayo Medical School.
Dr. Martin, a Cincinnati native, received his M.D. degree, and a Ph.D. in neuroscience, from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He has been with Mayo since 1993. Dr. Martin, who chaired Mayo's Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology from 1999 to 2001, is a member of the International Association for the Study of Pain, the American Pain Society, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the Minnesota Society of Anesthesiologists and other professional groups.
He has been widely published in the medical literature on pain management and related topics.
Specialty Medical Editor — Mental Health
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Dr. Gabrielle Melin, board certified in general psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, is looking for ways to empower patients and families dealing with chronic mental illness. She encourages patients to commit to working together with their physicians and health care teams.
Dr. Melin completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. She completed both her psychiatry residency and consultation-liaison fellowship at Mayo Clinic before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 2001. She is medical director of Mayo Clinic Psychiatry Emergency Services in Rochester, Minn. She has special interests in emergency psychiatry, adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.
"Instilling hope is one of the most important things we can do for patients and families. Mental illness can be chronic and significantly impacts lives. Our goal is to provide the best treatment and education so that patients can manage their symptoms more effectively," she said.
Specialty Medical Editor — Hematology
Ruben Mesa, M.D.
Dr. Ruben Mesa is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and medical oncology and is a senior associate consultant in the Division of Hematology and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
The Chicago-area native's primary field of interest is hematology with special interests in both acute and chronic leukemias — specifically the chronic myeloproliferative disorders.
"I believe patients' understanding of their disease is a critical first step in the healing process," he said. "I believe that the Internet, carefully used, is a phenomenal resource for patients to be able to access high-quality and valuable information to understand both their diseases and various treatments."
Dr. Mesa has been with Mayo Clinic throughout his training since 1991 and is a graduate of Mayo Medical School. He is a member of the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Physicians.
Dr. Mesa spends his time in research and taking care of patients and has received several awards for his research. He has lectured internationally on hematologic malignancies and their pathophysiology and therapy.
Specialty Medical Editor — Working Life
Robin Molella, M.D.
Dr. Robin Molella, a Sharon, Conn., native, is a senior associate consultant in the Division of Preventive and Occupational Medicine at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Molella, in addition to her role with the Working Life Center, is a key contributor to the Healthy Lifestyle Programs on Mayo Clinic Web sites.
She is board certified in internal medicine, was a captain in the U.S. Army from 1990 to 1994 and joined the Mayo staff in 1999. Dr. Molella also serves as an assistant medical consultant for the Olmsted County Health Department.
Dr. Molella's research interests include using the Internet as a tool for health promotion, special population health, improving health by improving health care delivery systems, and the impact of community social structure on health care.
"The Internet offers profound opportunities for us to impact the lives of individuals and of populations," said Dr. Molella. "It is a powerful tool, which can inform, guide and motivate our patients, clients or employees as they strive to improve their health."
Specialty Medical Editor — Cancer
Timothy Moynihan, M.D.
Dr. Timothy Moynihan believes that providing consumers accurate, timely information on the broad, complex topic of cancer is the biggest challenge facing medical Web sites. The guiding force behind our cancer coverage, he makes sure Mayo meets the test.
"As a practicing medical oncologist, I meet with patients and families every day to help manage their course through this disease called cancer. This experience provides unique insight into the needs of cancer patients, their families and loved ones and brings into sharp focus the need for reliable information to be readily available in terms that can be easily understood," said Dr. Moynihan.
Dr. Moynihan, a Las Vegas native, is a senior associate consultant in medical oncology and assistant professor at the Mayo Medical School. He is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology and came to Mayo in 1999 from the University of Minnesota and the St. Paul Regions Medical Center.
His past honors include Distinguished Clinical Teacher at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Best Internist at the Medical College of Wisconsin and The Upjohn Achievement Award for Excellence in Medicine.
Specialty Medical Editor — Pregnancy
Mary Murry, R.N., C.N.M.
Mary Murry is a nurse-midwife practitioner who is certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
A Cincinnati native, she is director of the Advanced Practice OB/GYN Service and instructor of obstetrics and gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Ms. Murry is a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the Certified Nurse-Midwives Service Directors Group and has been a nurse-midwife practitioner for more than 20 years.
Her research interests include adult female survivors of sexual abuse, women's perception of pain in labor and gestational diabetes.
Specialty Medical Editor — Food & Nutrition
Jennifer Nelson M.S., R.D., L.D., C.N.S.D.
As specialty editor of the Food & Nutrition Center, Jennifer Nelson plays a vital role in providing healthy recipes and meal planning.
"Nutrition is one way people have direct control over the quality of their lives," she said. "I hope to translate the science of nutrition into ways that people can select and prepare great-tasting foods that help maintain health and treat disease."
A St. Paul, Minn., native, she is certified by the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification, has been with Mayo since 1978, and is director of Clinical Dietetics and an associate professor of nutrition at Mayo Medical School.
She leads clinical nutrition efforts for a staff of more than 50 clinical dietitians and nine dietetic technicians and oversees staffing, strategic planning and financial planning, and quality improvement.
Nelson has been in Who's Who of American Women since 1993. She has been a contributing author to and reviewer of many Mayo books, including the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book and The Mayo Clinic/Williams-Sonoma Cookbook. She provides the answers for nutrition questions posed to Ask a Spcialist and works on the Virtual Cookbook.
Specialty Medical Editor — Men's Health
Todd Nippoldt, M.D.
Dr. Todd Nippoldt is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and metabolism. He has special expertise in the area of hormone disorders affecting the pituitary and adrenal glands as well as the testes and ovaries. He has been a member of the Mayo staff since 1988.
Dr. Nippoldt is a consultant in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Nutrition and works with patients who have disorders of the hormone-producing glands. Common disorders include diabetes, thyroid problems, osteoporosis and elevated cholesterol levels.
He is also involved in andrology, the study of male hormonal disorders, male infertility and sexual dysfunction, and is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
Dr. Nippoldt, a St. Paul, Minn., native, has also contributed to Mayo Clinic Health Letter, a CD-ROM and the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. He is a fellow in the American College of Physicians and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Society of Andrology.
"I have found that those patients who have gone to the Internet and obtained accurate medical information come to their appointment with me very well informed, and the discussions regarding the evaluation and management of their condition are very productive and satisfying," he said.
"The key, however, is obtaining accurate medical information. As a medical editor, I hope to be able to ensure that accurate, relevant and up-to-date information is available for patients and their families."
Specialty Medical Editor — Internal Medicine
Douglas Peterson, M.D.
Dr. Douglas Peterson of Mayo Clinic Scottsdale brings a worldwide perspective to his practice and the Web site.
Dr. Peterson, from Cody, Wyo., is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, has been with Mayo since 1990, and is a consultant in regional and international medicine. He has special interests in sports medicine wellness and fitness, and the business of medicine.
He is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. Dr. Peterson was the Los Angeles Dodgers team spring-training physician from 1975 to 1990 and in 1995 was in the Citizen Ambassador Program for People-to-People to Australia and New Zealand for Sports Medicine.
He is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and serves on the advisory board of the Arizona Governor's Council on Health, Physical Fitness and Sports.
"Our group across all Mayo Clinic locations has a truly unique and rewarding practice — internal medicine for the world," he said. "Now we have the potential to extend Mayo quality health care information to our international patients, to our patients-to-be, to physicians and to the Internet world."
Specialty Medical Editor — Digestive and Hepatology
Michael Picco, M.D.
Dr. Michael Picco has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Picco is an assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and a consultant in gastroenterology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.
He is chairman of the Gastroenterology Education Committee, whose main purpose is to train future gastroenterologists. He has authored numerous publications in the area of gastroenterology, including original research, editorials and textbook chapters. He works with a team of gastroenterologists that takes care of complex gastrointestinal conditions and has a particular interest in diarrheal illnesses and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease).
Dr. Picco serves as a reviewer of new research for several medical journals in the area of gastroenterology and is an active member of the American Gastroenterological Association, American College of Gastroenterology and the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. He serves on numerous committees that address physician training, research and clinical practice in gastroenterology, both at Mayo Clinic and at the national level.
"Patients need to know about their disease, what to expect, the latest treatments and side effects so that they can make informed decisions about their health care. Gastrointestinal disease affects not only patients but also their families. My goal is to assure that our Web site provides accurate, reliable information and resources for patients. We must always provide the latest, most cutting-edge information to assist patients in dealing with their medical problems," Dr. Picco said.
Specialty Medical Editor — Women's Health
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
She is a consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native stresses education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. She is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of a nationwide study of tamoxifen and raloxifene for the prevention of breast cancer. Her research and clinical interests include management of women at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain, hot flashes, breast cancer prevention and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns. She is director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and chairs the Breast Clinic Practice committee.
"Having an opportunity to share information with my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," she says.
"The Web has become a major information site for people, and I want them to get the best and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
Specialty Medical Editor — Eye
Dennis Robertson, M.D.
Dr. Dennis Robertson was born in South St. Paul, Minn., and grew up in a musical family on the Mississippi River. He completed his undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Minnesota, where he received a B.A., B.S. and M.D.
Following an internship at San Bernardino County Hospital in California, he worked for two years on Indian reservations under the umbrella of the United States Public Health Service. He later completed a residency in ophthalmology at Mayo Clinic and pursued postgraduate fellowship training in vitreoretinal disorders at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami. He returned to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where he has been a consultant for the last 37 years.
His studies included a sabbatical during 1987 and 1988 at Moorfields and St. Bartholomew's hospitals in London. His scientific interests have been chiefly in disorders of the retina and vitreous and ocular oncology. In 1999, he became the recipient of the Whitney and Betty MacMillan Professorship.
Specialty Medical Editor — Internal Medicine
Edward Rosenow III, M.D.
"It has always been my feeling that the better informed the patient is about his or her body and its functions, the better the patient-physician partnership," said Dr. Edward Rosenow III. "The informed patient is in turn more compliant with the physician's recommendations and better able to make intelligent decisions about health care needs."
Dr. Rosenow, a Columbus, Ohio, native, is board certified in internal medicine and pulmonary disease and worked in the pulmonary and critical care medicine division of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. He retired from clinical practice in 1996 after 30 years of service at Mayo.
Dr. Rosenow is a former Arthur M. and Gladys D. Gray Professor of Medicine and former chairman of the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Mayo Clinic. He was also president of the American College of Chest Physicians, consultant to NASA on the Space Station Freedom project, president of the Mayo Clinic staff, a Regent with the American College of Chest Physicians and program director of the internal medicine residency program at Mayo.
During his distinguished career, Dr. Rosenow was a five-time Teacher of the Year in internal medicine and inducted into the Mayo Fellows Hall of Fame of Outstanding Teachers.
In 1994, he won the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award from Mayo Clinic staff and in 1995 was honored with the Ralph O. Claypoole Sr. Memorial Award for lifetime dedication to patient care by the American College of Physicians.
He was named to a mastership by the American College of Physicians in 1998 and that year also won the Mayo Foundation Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Dr. Rosenow has contributed to 156 publications, including 48 book chapters and one co-authored book.
Specialty Medical Editor — Alzheimer's
Glenn E. Smith, Ph.D.
Dr. Glenn Smith is a board certified clinical neuropsychologist who specializes in Alzheimer's disease.
Dr. Smith, a Lincoln, Neb., native, has been at Mayo Clinic since 1990 and works with neurologists, psychiatrists, internists, social workers and nurses involved in diagnosing and providing care for people with dementia and their families.
"For Alzheimer's disease, there is currently no cure," he says. "The best 'medicine' for patient and family remains education and support. Hopefully, Mayo Clinic's Alzheimer's disease Web resources contribute to compassionate care and understanding for Alzheimer's families."
Dr. Smith is a professor of psychology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, a consultant in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, and co-principal investigator of the Mayo Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Education Core. He is president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology.
Specialty Medical Editor — Infectious Diseases
James Steckelberg, M.D.
Dr. James Steckelberg is chairman of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Mayo Clinic, a consultant and a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School.
A native of Fremont, Neb., Dr. Steckelberg was a Rhodes Scholar and graduated from the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine as a resident in internal medicine and a fellow in infectious diseases, and is board certified in both. He is the former director of the Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Steckelberg belongs to numerous professional organizations. He is a founding member of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society of America and a fellow with the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He has served on many Mayo Clinic committees and is a member of the Department of Medicine Leadership Committee and the executive committee of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He also served on the editorial boards of Mayo Clinic Proceedings and Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy and has been an editorial reviewer for more than a dozen publications.
Dr. Steckelberg's research interests include experimental models of infection, epidemiology of infection, and antimicrobial resistance and therapy of bacterial infections.
Specialty Medical Editor — Brain & Nervous System
Jerry Swanson, M.D.
Dr. Jerry Swanson is a board certified neurologist at Mayo Clinic and is a professor of neurology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine. He has a special interest in headache disorders and medical education.
Dr. Swanson, a Lacon, Ill., native, was appointed to the Mayo Clinic staff in 1982 and works in the Department of Neurology with about 80 other physicians. He chairs the Headache Division in the Neurology Department at Mayo Clinic and works with headache subspecialists around the world. He has published and lectured widely on headache disorders.
"In a manner similar to the printing press, Internet technology enables the unprecedented ability to communicate with the global community about health information," Dr. Swanson says. "There is no doubt that the knowledgeable individual contributes greatly to his or her own health care, and now we can share information much more widely."
Dr. Swanson was the neurology editor for Mayo Clinic Family Health Book and has reviewed articles for Mayo Clinic Health Letter and Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. He is also editor in chief of the Mayo Clinic on Headache book, published in 2004.
Specialty Medical Editor — Senior Health
Paul Takahashi, M.D.
Dr. Paul Takahashi works with older patients as a member of the geriatric consultative group at Mayo Clinic. He works in all medical settings, including the outpatient clinic, the hospital, the nursing home and occasionally the patient's home. He is especially interested in strategies for successful aging, preventing elder abuse and mistreatment, and cognitive screening in older patients.
Dr. Takahashi is senior associate consultant, Department of Medicine, Division of Community Medicine at Mayo. He had a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine from 1997 to 1998.
Dr. Takahashi cares for all of a patient's acute needs and chronic problems and focuses on specialty issues such as memory problems, safety in the home, issues associated with healthy aging, proper medications and end-of-life concerns.
He sees the Internet playing a growing role in the health information field.
"Patients and their families want and expect the most up-to-date information about life, health, disease and death. Healthy aging as a concept has grown quickly over the last 20 years as we have all lived longer and hopefully better. I expect that Mayo Clinic will be a significant part of this growing movement of a healthy maturity."
Dr. Takahashi, a native of Pittsfield, Ill., joined Mayo in 1998 and is board certified in internal medicine with added qualification in geriatric medicine. He is a fellow of the American Geriatrics Society.
Specialty Medical Editor — Food & Nutrition
Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
As a specialty editor for the Food & Nutrition Center, Katherine Zeratsky helps you sort through the facts and figures, the fads and the hype to learn more about nutrition and diet.
A Marinette, Wis., native, she is certified in dietetics by the state of Minnesota and the American Dietetic Association. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 1999.
She is active in nutrition-related curriculum and course development in pediatrics at Mayo Clinic Rochester and nutrition education related to the physiology and recommended intakes for premature infants.
Other areas of interest include breast milk and formula safety, neonatal feeding, and nutrition for breast-feeding mothers.
She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, served a dietetic internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and worked as a registered dietitian and health risk counselor at ThedaCare of Appleton, Wis., before joining the Mayo Clinic staff.
