Outbreaks and Pandemics is more than just a memoir about your life; it informs readers about food safety and cross-contamination issues that cause illnesses. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Food safety is an essential public health issue. Consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety, and the availability of safe food contributes positively to the overall health of the population and increases worker productivity. Foodborne disease outbreaks have occurred on every continent in the past decade, from Escherichia coli to Salmonella infections, resulting in many deaths. These foodborne outbreaks, which often garner media attention and headlines, are only the tip of the iceberg of a broader and more persistent public health problem.

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?

The hardest part of my memoir was writing about the friends that I have lost because of either homicide or suicide, and patients that I cared deeply for who died because of foodborne diseases or other preventable medical conditions.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about food safety?

A common misconception that people have about food safety is the incorrect assumption that all food found in grocery stores has been tested for microbes and found to be safe for consumers before being sold to the public.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?

My hope is for readers to come away with an increased awareness of food safety and of foodborne diseases and the importance of medical detectives in solving and controlling public health outbreaks and pandemics. In addition, I hope to inspire youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, through my life story, that human achievement is possible through focused determination, hard-work, and perseverance.

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