Professional Experience

Faculty of 1000, Editor-in-Chief

Jan 2010 – present, London

Oversee editorial content of post-publication peer-review subscription service for biology and medical researchers, which involves 5,000 top-level Faculty Members and 5,000 of their junior associates who rate and evaluate the top 2% of published scholarly research. Additional open access products available and in progress include F1000 Reports, review articles that provide context for the evaluated literature; the F1000 Posters repository; the Naturally Selected op-ed pages; and F1000 Research, a repository for original research and data that provides solutions to acknowledged weaknesses in the traditional journal model.

The Scientist LLC, Editor-in-Chief

Dec 2009 – Nov 2011, New York and London

Developed content and wrote editorials for magazine aimed at biology and medical researchers; developed and edited feature article content and created new columns including Thought Experiment, Critic-at-Large, Speaking of Science, Reading Frames and Hidden Jewels. After May 2011 issue, moved to Director role with broader oversight of content until magazine was sold to LabX Media in November 2011.

Journal of Participatory Medicine, Managing Editor

Jul 2009 – Apr 2010, New York

Co-founded and launched (Oct 2009) an online, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to documenting how patient participation affects outcomes in health care. As Managing Editor, co-developed publishing platform in WordPress and Open Journal Systems; developed and collaborated with editorial team, board members, and authors to encourage submissions, edit and produce articles; and strategized marketing and PR campaigns to reach a diverse audience of stakeholders. Also served as Board Member and co-founder of Society for Participatory Medicine (Cooks Branch Health Initiative), whose mission as an advocacy group is to transform the culture of medicine to be more collaborative. Currently serving on the Editorial Board of the journal.

Keas Inc., Advisor and Chief Content Officer

Nov 2008 – present, San Francisco and New York

Joined startup founders Adam Bosworth and George Kassabgi in online initiative to combine personal data with health content to deliver interpretations and tailored plans to individuals (see New York Times article by Steve Lohr). As Chief Content Officer, was responsible for developing original and licensed text and multimedia content, plus community and other social media strategies. Left full-time staff position in July 2009; currently on Advisory Board as consultant on publishing and community strategies.

The New York Times, Product Director, Online Health

2006 – 2008, New York

Developed, in close collaboration with newsroom, technology, and business units, Health Vertical with original and licensed content in wellness and disease, as a major destination portal for consumers of health information. Products include:

• Health Guide – licensed reference covering 3,000+ conditions and 100 in-depth reports on the most common diseases, coupled with NY Times news, features, and multimedia
• Times Essentials – original reports published in weekly series, covering 100 conditions, interpreting the news and connecting seamlessly with licensed reference content. Each set of reports includes Reporter’s File, Expert Q&A, Questions for Your Doctor, 5 Things to Know, and Clinical Trials.
• Consults – blog in which top academic MDs discuss the latest news and take readers’ questions on diabetes, heart failure, stroke, cancer, lung disease, and Alzheimers.
• Patient Voices – audio slide series with patients talking about their experience with diseases and other conditions; interpretive graphics.
• Well – Tara Parker-Pope sifts through medical research and expert opinions for practical advice to help readers take control of their health; includes blog, weekly column, podcast, and video.
• Personal Best – Gina Kolata’s column on high-performance workouts and fitness.
• The New Old Age: Caring & Coping – Jane Gross’s blog providing expert advice and navigation for the 70+ million U.S.seniors and their baby-boomer caregivers.
• Recipes for Health – new column on menu planning and daily recipes; forthcoming: a healthy eating video blog, user-submitted healthy recipes, and a recipe nutrition analyzer.

New York Academy of Sciences, Director, Publishing & New Media

2003 – 2006, New York

Created world-class Web site and original e-content that garnered the Webby Award for top association site in 2005. Developed products and business models aimed at scientist-members of the Academy, science teachers, and the lay public:

• eBriefings – multimedia reports prepared by science journalists on meetings convened at the Academy, uniquely formatted in drill-down layers for access by a diverse audience of specialist/nonspecialist scientists, graduate students, instructors, physicians, and the lay public. Nearly 400 produced in 3 years, covering over 1500 speakers on topics such as neurodegenerative diseases, genomic medicine, systems biology, environmental science, chemical biology, and nanobiotechnology. Partners and sponsors included the National Academy of Sciences, IBM, Kavli Institute, National Institutes of Health, Princeton University, Nature Publishing Group, and Harvard Medical School.
• Science & the City – Web site for lay public including calendar of all events in NYC relating to science – art, performance, lectures, outdoor & family events, and exhibits, funded by the Sloan Foundation and with business plan to expand globally to satellite cities; plus feature articles and rich media including Readers & Writers salon, event previews and reviews, art gallery, podcast lectures and interviews, RSS feeds and weekly newsletter.
• Science education initiatives – Science Alliance career development Web site for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Also SciEduNet for science educators featuring articles and searchable database of student programs in metro area, including field trips, internships, and summer camps.
• Annals series – developed business plan, identified partner, and established terms with Blackwell Publishing, to take over publication and marketing of this 200-year-old publication; established dynamic Web content (preBriefing and prePrints) to provide continually updated conference-based content; produced 28 volumes annually.
• Member magazine – rebuilt Update newsletter as content-rich magazine; developed business plan and new design to relaunch the National-Magazine-Award-winning member magazine, The Sciences.
• Custom web tools and services – ecommerce system with sophisticated access control, pay-per-view utility, member directory, My Calendar with email notification system, My Favorites database, content management system, subject channels pulling dynamic content, RSS feeds, WebTrends tracking.

Praxis Press Inc., President & CEO

1998 – 2002, New York

Founded Internet-based medical publishing company in partnership with Vitek Tracz and his Current Science Group of London. Developed original content with MDs from top medical institutions including Cornell, Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and Stanford. Staff of 40 enlisted and edited original content; developed proprietary software for coding (Word to XML) and subscription services; designed unique, layered web interface and pioneering tools for fast, focused information delivery; and created handheld products. Company was sold in April 2002 to Thomson Healthcare after successful hospital- and Web-based licensing arrangements. Products:

• Best Practice of Medicine – continually updated, evidence-based reference for primary care physicians and other health professionals, covering 300+ conditions (see infectious diseases section and resource center for hyperlipidemia).
• Best Health Guide – matching patient reference delivered as customizable printouts or accessed directly through consumer Web site.
• Praxis Press News Bureau – proprietary service covering practice-altering news & alerts enhanced with point-of-care recommendations, provided daily and programmed to update core references. See sample news and alerts for physicians and patients.
• Praxis Post – webzine of medicine and culture, with unique mix of news, opinions, debates, reviews, profiles, humor, and art; nominated with Slate, Salon, and CNet in category of ‘general excellence’ by Columbia School of Journalism Online Awards. See archived articles in Views, Rounds, Lives, and Cafe sections.

BioMedNet, President & CEO

1997 – 1998, London and New York

Developed resources for world’s largest Internet biomedical research portal, overseeing staff of 50. Utilities and content included full-text journal library with payment tool for individual articles, Medline and other research databases, book and labware stores, interactive job exchange, and webzine with daily news service. Presided over sale by Current Science Group to Elsevier Publishing Co., and served as transitional head under Elsevier. Membership upon sale was 750,000 biomedical students, scientists and other professionals; later grew to >1 million.

HMS Beagle Magazine (BioMedNet), Founder & Publisher

1995 – 1997, New York

Founded and developed premier biology & culture Web-based magazine, HMS Beagle; responsible for increasing membership of parent site, BioMedNet, ten-fold in less than two years. Selected by Newsweek as one of the top three ‘webzines’ on the Internet in 1997, and hailed by Business Week for its groundbreaking commercial vision. Upon sale to Elsevier, 750,000 registered readers and ultimately reached 1 million registrants before its closure in 2002. See sample home page, archived articles, and reviews.

Current Protocols, President, and Greene Publishing Associates, CEO

1989 – 1994, Brooklyn, NY

Founded Current Protocols, a series of looseleaf, updateable laboratory manuals and CD-ROMs for research biologists; partnered with John Wiley & Sons for marketing and fulfillment expertise. Collaborated with scientists from Harvard Medical School to enlist and edit original content for the initial title – Current Protocols in Molecular Biology – now used in all major labs worldwide. Subsequently launched titles in immunology, genetics, and protein science. Negotiated sale to Wiley in 1994; the product line continued to expand and remains a top-selling series found in laboratories worldwide.

Macmillan Publishing Company, Editor ~ Senior Editor ~ Publisher

1981-1988, New York, NY

Developed a line of monographs and advanced text books in Professional Books Division for biology researchers. Published dozens of titles and established award-winning series, Handbook of Plant Cell Culture.

Advisory Roles

ACOR (Association of Cancer Online Resources) Advisory Board

Oct 2011 – present

Online communities offering access to 160 listservs that provide support and deep information about treatments and doctors, via published literature searches and patient experience, to everyone affected by cancer and related disorders.

Center for Advancing Health Board of Trustees

April 2011 – present

Conducts research, communicates findings and advocates for policies that support everyone’s ability to benefit from advances in health science. Motto: “Evidence. Engagement. Equity.”

Cancer Commons Editorial Advisory Board

June 2010 – present

Nonprofit organization offering the latest information in translational medicine, with the goal of every patient receiving personalized therapy based upon the best available science. Editorial boards comprised of leading physicians and scientists in each cancer curate molecular disease models (MDMs) that identify the most relevant tests, treatments and trials for each molecular subtype of that cancer, based on the best current knowledge.

Cook’s Branch Health Initiative Board of Directors

Feb 2008–present

Web 2.0/Health 2.0 experts with mission of empowering patient knowledge and decision-sharing with healthcare professionals, through internet information systems and technologies. (See blog, http://e-patients.net.)

Epic Theatre Ensemble Board of Directors, New York

2006–2011

Off-Broadway theatre company whose activist focus is producing original plays–on stage and in public high schools–that convey social responsibility and stimulate civic dialog. As board member, directed construction of Web site and provide ongoing support in education outreach efforts and post-show panel lineups.

William Penn P.S. 321, District 15, Brooklyn

1992-1999

Initiated and coordinated “Meet the Scientist” program, bringing scientists to most classrooms, K through 5.

William Alexander M.S. 51, District 15, Brooklyn

1995-1996

In partnership with the New York Academy of Sciences, initiated & coordinated SP3ARK pilot project to promote inquiry-based methods as a basis for science fair. Resulted in $1M NSF grant to extend the pilot program in NYC.

Research America!/NY Academy of Medicine, Citywide Program

1994-1995

Coordinated Scientist-in-the-Classroom Outreach Program, headed by Albert Kuperman, MD (Albert Einstein Medical School), as part of a nationwide initiative to promote biomedical research in city schools.

Education

Master of Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Major: Agronomy/Soil Microbiology; Minor: Plant Pathology.

ABD (all but dissertation toward PhD)

Bachelor of Science, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ

Major: Environmental Science; Minor: Biology/Forestry.

See References