The Publisher: Oakstone Publishing, LLC dba Personal Best

Personal Best is well known for its high-quality health management publications, which promote wellness, safety, productivity, shiftwork and personal money management. Thousands of health promotion programs trust Personal Best to deliver engaging, motivating health communication tools to approximately 4 million recipients in the U.S. and Canada.

Publisher

Robert S. Amato : Bob also serves as CEO of Oakstone Publishing. He has spent the majority of his professional life in the publishing and professional education marketplace. He was a principal in the family owned firm Jobson Publishing from 1979 through 2005 and rose to President & CEO in 1997. Jobson remains a leading healthcare publishing, education and information provider to the Physician, Pharmacy, and Eyecare marketplaces. He has considerable managerial and operational experience designing medical education programs, business-to-business publications, industry trade shows & conferences, developing industry information services and industry owned e-commerce hubs.

Editors

Susan Cottman: Editor of Personal Best Healthlines and Body Bulletin print and online newsletters since 2009 and Associate Editor from 1999-2009. She also serves as editor for Canadian and lower­literacy publications and the custom calendar program. Susan was managing editor and designer of a medico-legal newsletter reporting on disability and injury issues for workers’ compensation and casualty adjusters for 7 years for a provider of independent medical evaluations based in Seattle.

Liz Carey: Executive editor, Oakstone Wellness Publishing. Liz leads the editorial and production team for the Personal Best family of publications, ancillary products and calendars. She has served as managing editor of Oakstone’s classic two-page publications, ancillary products and calendars since 2001. Before joining Oakstone, Liz worked for 10 years writing, managing, editing and producing daily and weekly newspapers.

U.S. Advisors

Eric Endlich, Ph.D.: Senior Writer for TopHealth®, is a psychologist with a special interest in health and wellness. He has helped design and deliver worksite wellness programs, and his articles include “Maintaining a Healthy Workforce” for Insight magazine (a publication of New England Human Resources Association). Dr. Endlich has been interviewed by WebMD, MSNBC, and magazines including Self, Weight Watchers, and Fitness. He is an adjunct faculty member at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and has a private practice in the Boston area.

Wm. Richard Ludwig, MD: Specializes in internal medicine. Rick is board certified in geriatric medicine, serving as Medical Director Quality and US Family Health Plan at Pacific Medical Center and Clinics in Seattle. He is Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington. Advisor since 1992.

Zorba Paster, MD: Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health. Zorba has been practicing family medicine for 20+ years; served as a clinical investigator; been published extensively in professional journals; and has worked in radio and television, including NPR’s On Your Health, and the PBS special How To Live a Long, Sweet Life. Advisor since 1999.

Charles Stuart Platkin, PhD, MPH: Charles is TV’s Diet Detective, host of the series, I Want to Save Your Life and founder of DietDetective.com health and fitness network. Charles is one of the nation’s leading public health advocates. He specializes in teaching behavioral change techniques. He is also a syndicated columnist for 100–plus daily newspapers and the author of numerous books.

Cynthia Gale, MS, RD: Nutritionist with 15+ years’ experience counseling and teaching diverse groups, using a team approach with physicians and other providers. She specializes in weight issues, diabetes, hypertension and other medical conditions. A member of the ADA, Cynthia often speaks at schools and businesses on health and nutrition. Advisor since 2007.

Mary P. Hollins, MS, JD, CSHM: President of Hollins Risk Management Consulting, LLC. Mary has 21+ years helping public and private sector workplaces manage risk and minimize losses. She has developed education/training resources, published articles and made presentations on safety and risk management; specialties include high-risk settings that serve high-risk populations. Advisor since 2002.

Les Hutchinson, PhD: Licensed clinical psychologist with 30+ years of teaching and clinical practice. Les was chief psychologist for Tennessee Corrections, CEO of community mental health centers in rural and urban settings, and director of health promotion/wellness at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Advisor since 1995.

Diane McReynolds: Former Executive Editor of Personal Best, Diane was editor of the Personal Best newsletter for 28 years. She co-founded the original Personal Best publications in 1989 and served as President of Scott Publishing, Inc. for 16 years. She has 30-plus years’ experience publishing works in health care, wellness and employee communications,and is the author of the Personal Best Wellness@Work cost/benefit report.

Kathleen M. Sherman, BSN, RN: Registered nurse with 20+ years experience in clinical nursing, health promotion, education and training, and care management in government and community settings; specializes in health coaching and worksite wellness. Kathy serves on many community health planning committees. As wellness facilitator for a national insurance company, Kathy coordinates worksite wellness for New Hampshire. Advisor since 2008.

Canadian Advisors

Marica Borovich-Law, MSc (Kin) MBA: Seminar leader, trainer and consultant, specializing in organizational wellness and health promotion. She is a lecturer in the Department of Physical Education and Recreational Studies, Mount Royal College in Calgary, Alberta. Advisor since 2003.

John Brennan, MD, CCFP: Serves as a medical advisor for Honda Canada Manufacturing, Purolator Courier and Campbell’s Soup Company Canada. He specializes in creating occupational medicine and wellness programs in manufacturing environments. He also has a degree in Chemical Engineering and a diploma in Sports Medicine. Advisor since 2007.

Canada Safety Council: National, non-government, charitable organization dedicated to safety. Its mission is to lead in the national effort to reduce preventable deaths, injuries and economic loss in public and private places throughout Canada. The Council serves as a national resource for safety programs, working with and through partner organizations who deliver and/or fund these programs. Advisor since 2009.

Cara Rosenbloom, RD: Dietitian with 10 years’ experience counseling and educating Canadians through TV appearances, magazine articles, newsletters and one-on-one consultations. Cara is the president of Words to Eat By, a Toronto-based nutrition communications firm, and she is a member of Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Advisor since May 2009.