COMMUNITY MANAGER: Tina Tran

Background

Tina is the online community manager for empowher.com where she oversees forums, blogs and works on content. Prior to taking the position at EmpowHer.com, Tina worked for a television station Web site for eight years in Phoenix and is an award-winning newspaper reporter.

HerStory

While I’ve had the good fortune of good health so far, I understand the importance of sharing health information. It’s a point that was driven home to me in the Spring of 2005 when my father – who embodied the strong, silent type -- died from a massive heart attack. About a year prior to his heart attack, my father began drinking red wine and taking supplements – two activities he had dismissed as ‘hooey’ in his younger days. In hindsight, it became apparent me that he was suffering in silence, treating his own symptoms and likely experiencing serious pain. Those around him can’t help but wonder if he would’ve shared or opened up about his condition or if we would’ve reached out with some information, things could’ve turned out differently.

OTHER MODERATORS

Alison B.

Background

Alison B. is a Certified Health Educator by training and experience
and has a Masters degree in Health Education and Promotion. She enjoys
providing health resources to women; perusing journals to find the most
current and relevant health information…and then converting it to a
format that is easily understood and interesting to others.

HerStory
I became interested in health, particularly mental wellness (i.e.,
stress, depression, anxiety, body image) and its connection in all
areas of health: physical, social, intellectual and spiritual, when I
was very young. We all have our personal health story; mine includes
helping friends, family and others through emphysema, cancer, diabetes,
osteopenia, disordered eating and a hysterectomy; myself going through
gestational diabetes and preterm delivery…all of our lists can go on
and on. I am excited that I can make a difference in women’s lives by
providing resources, and being a part of a credible and reliable social
network of sharing and understanding.

In my free time, I love spending time with my family, dancing with
my 14 month old son; eating Tex-Mex food with my hubby and extended
family on the weekends, and spending time with other moms and toddlers,
both in-person and online. The value of friends, and online support
systems, is truly invaluable! I look forward to “meeting” you all, if
only virtually, soon!

Alysia K.

Background

Alysia K. is a 50-something marathon coach fighting "meno-paused
metabolism," lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. She considers herself a
professional Web geek or one of those people who sits behind a computer
and makes magic happen on the Web for corporate enterprise. She has
more than 10 years of experience in board moderation for Web sites such
as ivillage.com. Alysia is an adjunct faculty member of local college
-- teaching other Web geeks really nerdy stuff. In addition to her
interests in the World Wide Web, she is an aspiring sommelier - one of
those people who likes to share the joy of wine with others. She is
married, with adult children who are just as geeky and as food- and
entertainment-oriented as their parents. If that weren’t enough, she
has a marathon/half marathon training program: USA Fit-Round Rock (http://www.roundrockfit.com/ )

Her Story
In 1990, I was diagnosed with lupus after a puzzling drastic weight
loss and chronic fatigue, and was forced to leave my long career in
investment banking. Thankfully, my physician, who is also a naturopath,
my rheumatologist, who believes in homeopathic care, and other of my
healthcare providers worked with me to stabilize my compromised immune
system and progressive rheumatoid arthritis as much as possible over
the next few years. A few years ago, I started training for a marathon
and am now also coaching people to walk a full or half marathon. If
anyone shouldn't be running, it is I; but, I've found that staying
active keeps my joints relatively healthy, and I take supplements to
help with joint health. I'm also a firm believer in organic, whole
foods and have been eliminating refined, processed, enriched and
bleached food products from my family's eating regimen. I've also been
sharing my love of eating "real food" with my online friends for
several years, and now my growing knowledge of sports nutrition.

Susan C.

Background

A native of Ireland, Susan is a member of a
writers group in her city and is pursuing publication of her both her
non-fictional and fictional works. She has worked as a drama therapist,
brings the creative and literary arts to mentally and physically
disabled people, and as a health care marketing coordinator. She has
two years of board moderation experience and is an active member of
other online communities. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and
young children.

Her Story
It is said that information is our greatest
commodity and I agree. Having lost my young mother to breast cancer
when I was a kindergartner, I spent my childhood wondering why nobody
talked about cancer and especially breast cancer. It was a woman’s
secret disease and a woman’s private problem. Information is key to
educating ourselves about our bodies. As an adult, accessing
information and research has taught me an understanding of our rights
and responsibilities as women. We are our own best advocates and our
own best line of defense with regard to our health, our well-being and
to living our lives to the utmost.