The Roanoker - July/August 2019 - 8

Top Docs, Family Fun in the Sun
The most painful experience of my life makes me appreciate health care
professionals so much more.

R

EAL TALK TIME: I HAD A health scare
earlier this year when I contracted shingles
on the left side of my face, and on my eye.
What I thought was an allergic reaction turned out
to be one of the most painful, frustrating and scariest
experiences of my life. I had no idea someone my age
(33 at the time) could get shingles, especially on their
face. Between an entire day in the ER, a week on my
couch, the eye doctors, dermatologists and missing a
major conference of which I'm director, it was quite
a harrowing time. I would not wish shingles on my
very worst enemy! Perhaps it was especially ironic as
my New Year's goal was to create a better facial skin
care routine. (Believe me, I heard the fates laughing
at me, too.) What a way to kick off 2019, right?
I know many of you deal with plenty of medical
emergencies and experiences, whether for yourself,
family members or friends. Not everyone is as lucky
as I was moving past shingles. I learned how vital it
is to work with your doctors and health care team,
which is why I appreciate our biennial Top Docs
poll now more than ever. We asked thousands of
nurses to tell us their selection of doctors, from
dozens of categories. With a massive number of
votes this year, I want to thank the nurses and health
care professionals who took the time to complete
our survey, as well as congratulate the distinguished
winners (page 28).

In addition to Top Docs, we're also sharing stories
of four women in their battles against breast cancer,
written by Christina Nifong (page 65). You might
remember from a previous editor's letter that my
mother is a survivor, and I had genetic testing done
last year to see if I ran the risk of getting it anytime
soon (thankfully, no). I was so moved by these
women and their journeys as they recovered and had
to step back into their lives, find new routines or in
some cases, face relapse.
Continuing with health care, Dan Smith takes a
deeper look into violence in hospitals, the surprising
statistics and what our health care providers are
doing to combat it (page 61).
Plus, now that summer's here, it's time for family
fun in the sun. We've got you covered with Becky
Ellis' summer recipes (page 20); Laura Wade's
suggestions on family activities (page 80); and even
catching local food trucks on the move during
festival season (page 104). Don't forget to hydrate
and wear plenty of sunscreen!

TELL US ABOUT...

your summer fun
activites! What do
you and your family
love to do? Share your
thoughts on our social
media pages!

WE WANT TO
HEAR FROM YOU

Questions, comments
or feedback about
The Roanoker?
E-mail llong@
leisuremedia360.com

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Cheers!

llong@leisuremedia360.com

MEET THE

David Hungate

is a Roanoke-based
freelance photographer
that is fortunate to
have clients around
the country, but is
grateful to work with
his neighbors here in
southwest Virginia.
See his photography
in the Medical Profiles
section beginning on
page 50.

8

JULY/AUGUST 2019

Christina Nifong

is a writer with a
decades-long career
profiling interesting
people, places and
ideas. She's also a
committed locavore
and mother to three
kids, four chickens and
one very sweet kitty.
Read her Gist piece on
page 12; the Cancer
PTSD feature on page
65; and her Family
Essay on page 82.

Amy Pearman

of Boyd Pearman
Photography is
a professional
commercial
photographer with
more than 20 years of
experience capturing
people, places and
products. Outside of
work, Amy is a wife,
a "baskeball mom," a
rescue dog champion
and a music lover. See
Amy's photographs on
our cover and in the
Top Docs section on
page 28.

Jennifer Riales

is a Roanoke-based
freelance writer
and blogger. She
and her husband,
both originating
from Memphis, TN,
enjoy visiting local
coffeehouses, going
on walks with their dog
and cuddling with their
two cats. See her piece
on the Wasena retail
growth in The Gist on
page 14.

Christy Rippel

is an award-winning
freelance writer,
covering lifestyle,
design, health and
parenting. A VT
graduate, she likes to
bike and walk local
trails. A Maryland
native, she lives in
Roanoke County. Read
her piece about the
new Salem Red Sox
announcers in The Gist
on page 16, and her
Salem Home feature on
page 96.

Dan Smith

is an award-winning
writer, author and
photographer and a
member of the Virginia
Communications
Hall of Fame. He is a
former Virginia Small
Business Journalist of
the Year. Read Dan's
features on Hospital
Violence on page 61;
Literacy in Roanoke on
page 77; and the Local
Journalism Exodus on
page 84.

Laura Wade

founder of Thrive by
Heart, offers workshops
and individual guidance
to empower women to
live from soul to goal
and love their lives.
You can reach her at
soultogoal@gmail.com.
Read Laura's piece
about the The Gauntlet
in The Gist department
on page 16 and Family
Summer Fun Activities
on page 80.

TheRoanoker.com

LIZ LONG HEADSHOT: AMY PEARMAN / AMY PEARMAN HEADSHOT: TIFF JONES

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The Roanoker - July/August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Roanoker - July/August 2019
