Introducing the 2023-2024 AFP Jay Siwek Medical Editing Fellow: Dr. Laura Blinkhorn

Jennifer Middleton, MD, MPH
Posted on June 12, 2023

It's my pleasure to introduce our 2023-2024 Jay Siwek Medical Editing Fellow, Dr. Laura Blinkhorn, whose fellowship begins this year. Here are some highlights from a recent interview:

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Washington, DC. I was a comparative literature major in college and three weeks after graduation left for the Peace Corps in Guinea, West Africa. Before starting medical school, I worked as a reporter on Capitol Hill covering health care and other legislation. Family medicine seemed the perfect specialty to me because I am a generalist at heart. I completed residency and fellowship in Seattle and worked at a community health clinic in the city before returning to the DC area. I now practice at the FQHC Mary's Center in both Silver Spring, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

2. What got you interested in medical writing and editing?

As a nervous intern overwhelmed with the responsibility of practicing medicine, I became a cover-to-cover reader of AFP. What started with anxiety soon became a passion. I love researching and discussing clinical questions with colleagues. In our daily work, we grapple with important ethical, scientific, and cultural dilemmas. I have learned a lot as a peer reviewer for AFP and hope to hone skills during the fellowship.

3. What are you hoping to get out of the fellowship?

I am excited to learn about how the journal comes together. One aspect I know I will be working on is videos. Videos can be an important tool in brushing up on procedural skills, preparing for difficult conversations, or engaging in shared decision-making. I also hope to sharpen my analytical skills when reading original research.

4. Is there anything else you'd like AFP readers to know about you?

I am married with two young children. I love to read novels and memoirs, play the piano, and cook with my family.