The Big Ordeal

A former freelance journalist, management consultant, and marketing executive, I have spent a lifetime preparing to write and market this book. An early writing career (with by-lines in Savvy, Working Women, Advertising Age, Advertising Week and TV Guide, among others) taught me the basics of interviewing, synthesizing information, finding the headlines, and telling a compelling story. After a brief interruption to earn an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, I further honed these skills over 30 years of management consulting, where my success continued to rely on my ability to jump into new topics, pull sensitive information out of sometimes reluctant interviewees, digest specialized knowledge, and draft a persuasive narrative that turned complex findings into easy-to-digest guidance.

Additionally, as an adjunct professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and executive trainer I developed courses and taught thousands of professionals, speaking frequently in front of large groups, answering difficult questions on the spot, and conveying enthusiasm for new ideas and challenging concepts.

Shortly prior to my own cancer diagnosis, I resigned from Montefiore Medical Center, where for three years I served as vice president and chief marketing officer. In addition to providing a deeper understanding of the medical world, this experience gave me an opportunity to sharpen the marketing knowledge gained through my consulting practice and build relationships with many professionals in the cancer field. Having returned to the writing profession, I recently completed my first novel and am now dedicated full-time to the completion of The Big Ordeal.

Contributions to the book will be made by Sara R. Pasternak, PhD, a clinical psychologist in private practice since 1981, Ann Marie Beddoe, MD, MPH, a clinical assistant professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, and Christian Zanartu, MD, a palliative-medicine specialist at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care.

Detailed bios of contributing professionals:

Sara R. Pasternak, PhD, has devoted her career to private practice since 1981. She also serves as clinical consultant and is a founding member of the Advisory Board for Women to Women Gynecological Oncology Support Program, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, and previously served as a Professional Associate in Psychology, New York Hospital, in New York. As a clinician, Dr. Pasternak supports patients with a variety of emotional needs, including anxiety, depression, PTSD and dealing with relationships and intimacy issues.

Dr. Pasternak earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University, with a Clinical Fellowship in Psychology from the Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, and an Advanced Clinical Fellow in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, New York Hospital-Westchester Division, Cornell Medical Center, White Plains, New York. While earning her degree, she also served as a Psychology Extern at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell Medical Center, New York. Over the years, Dr. Pasternak has continued her relationship with Memorial Sloan-Kettering as a Principal Researcher, Department of Neurology, Special Fellow in Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, and Volunteer, Breast Cancer Center, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Pasternack has written and published material on coping with cancer used by Mount Sinai Hospital Women to Woman peer support program.

Ann Marie Beddoe, MD, MPH, is Clinical Assistant Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. She has previously served as the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Mount Sinai Services, City Hospital in Elmhurst, New York and held senior academic positions at Interfaith Hospital in Brooklyn and SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Kings County Hospital.

Dr. Beddoe received her Undergraduate Bachelors of Science degree (BSc) at Brooklyn College and her Medical Degree (MD) from SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where she also completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. Dr. Beddoe completed her fellowships in Gynecologic Oncology at SUNY Downstate and in Clinical Nutrition at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Widely published in medical journals, she is Board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology. Dr. Beddoe graduated with a Masters of Public Health, Global Health Leadership from NYU in 2014. Dr. Beddoe is an outspoken advocate on women's health and lectures extensively across the country on issues such as gynecologic cancer, nutrition and chemotherapy. She is active in numerous charitable organizations in the United States and global health agencies abroad.

Christian Zanartu, MD, a palliative medicine specialist at Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care, treats patients at all stages of their disease, providing continuous support and care to help relieve their physical and emotional symptoms, while guiding them and their loved ones as they face complex choices and decisions.

A native of Santiago, Chile, Dr. Zanartu earned his undergraduate degree and medical degree with honors from Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile. He completed his internal medicine residency (including rotations at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center) at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, a palliative medicine fellowship at New York's Beth Israel Medical Center, and a clerkship in palliative medicine and psychosocial oncology at Harvard Medical School/Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts.

He is first author and co-author of articles on palliative medicine and infectious diseases published in peer-reviewed journals including the American Journal of Hospital and Palliative Care and has presented research at national medical meetings in Chile. Dr. Zanartu is also an attending physician with the Palliative Care Program of Montefiore Medical Center's Department of Family and Social Medicine.