Reviews Team

Amber Snow, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C

Amber Snow, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, combines her training and experience as a board-certified Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with her passion for providing holistic care.  Amber received her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from the University of Vermont and her Master’s of Science in Nursing from The George Washington University. She is board certified as an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Amber has worked in a variety of settings including cardiology, hospice, and pain management. Her passion lies in caring for older adults. She is universally respected for her leadership, knowledge, and compassionate care.

Brad Ingrao, AuD

As a practicing audiologist since the 1990s, Brad Ingrao, AuD, has fitted thousands of hearing aids to older adults and people of all ages.  Dr. Ingrao’s first exposure to hearing loss was with his uncle, Angelo, a musician who lost his hearing and career to a mastoid infection. Poor quality hearing care led his uncle to become a hearing instrument specialist in the family pharmacy, where Dr. Ingrao observed his unorthodox (yet highly effective) ways of helping patients left behind by the “standard” approaches of the time. After a brief stint as a Sign Language Interpreter and mediocre success studying computer science, he obtained a BS in Education of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped followed by a MS in Audiology. After ten years in clinical practice, he hit the books again and earned his Doctor of Audiology degree in 2005. Dr. Ingrao is known as an early adopter of technologies, a computer geek, and an author and lecturer who makes complex topics understandable. His clinical practice encompasses the entire spectrum of audiology care with particular focus on severe to profound hearing loss, including cochlear implants, Hearing Assistive Technologies, and hearing loss prevention and treatment for musicians. He has worked in private practice, in educational audiology, for the hearing aid industry, at the VA and has taught at three universities. He has presented at professional and consumer conferences across the US, Canada, and Europe. He is  an active member of the Hearing Loss Association of America, including the National Association, the Florida State Association, several local chapters, and a guest presenter for the newly formed Veterans Virtual Chapter. In addition, Dr. Ingrao is on the Board of Directors for the Association of Adult Musicians with Hearing Loss.

Brian Murray

Brian Murray was born and raised in upstate New York. He studied at Ithaca College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Language Pathology and Audiology in 2010. In the fall of 2020, Brian relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina to be closer to family. He is registered/licensed to dispense hearing aids in New York, North Carolina, and Virginia, where he has worked in both private practice and retail clinics. He currently works as an event consultant, working with clinics across the country. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, playing golf, watching sports, and trying out new local restaurants. Brian is passionate about delivering the highest quality of hearing healthcare and is determined to help patients reach their ultimate hearing potential. All product recommendations are determined by the testing and analysis of our Reviews Team and are not a reflection of the opinions of our medical reviewers.

Carla Payne, MA, CMC

After being a caretaker for her father, Carla Payne began volunteering as an Ombudsman for seniors living in nursing homes. She wanted to help families who were struggling to help their aging parent or loved one. Carla earned a certificate in Gerontology and discovered the Aging Life Care Association (formerly the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers) and found her calling. In 2010, she co-founded Brandywine Elder Care Management, LLC, assisting families navigating the chaotic and stressful maze of elder care. In 2013, she completed her National Certification in Care Management from the National Association of Certified Care Managers. In January 2018, Carla opened Aging Care Matters, LLC. Her agency helps families in Wake County, NC navigate the ins and outs of elder care.

Christopher Norman, MSN, APRN, APHN-BC, GNP-BC

Christopher Norman is a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Holistic Nurse. As a nurse’s aide, registered nurse and now nurse practitioner, he has loved working with older adults since 2004. He earned his MS with Honors at Yale University, completed an Advanced Practice Nurse Fellowship in Geriatrics at New York University, and gained comprehensive experience working with people with dementia (and their families) at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He currently works within a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Central New York (PACE CNY) as a primary care provider. Christopher maintains memberships in multiple professional organizations, enjoys continuing education in older adult and holistic care, and has particular interests in successful aging, holistic therapies, and educating people about dementia. He is also a certified yoga instructor and enjoys yoga for self-care and spiritual development.

Liam M. Fry, MD, FACP, CMD

Dr. Fry attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergraduate school. After college, she attended Oxford University in England.  She graduated from the UT Southwestern Medical School in 2002, followed by an Internal Medicine Residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. After finishing residency, she completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine at the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. She is the Chief of the Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care at the University of Texas Dell Medical School, was appointed by Governor Abbott to serve on the NFAAC committee to HHSC, and is the current chairman of the geriatric committee of the Travis County Medical Society. She is married and has three wonderful children.

Jenny Sanford

Jenny is an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner in NYC with a passion for working with aging adults and their caregivers and families. Prior to her clinical training at Vanderbilt School of Nursing, she worked in business and medical research at Harvard Business School and Massachusetts General Hospital. As a Caregiving Coach at Givers, Jenny helps family members manage the financial, emotional, and educational stresses of caring for their loved ones who are aging in place.

Vanessa Ling, ND, CNS

Vanessa Ling is a health writer and licensed health care practitioner. As a naturopathic doctor, she advocates for life-long, whole-person health through simple, accessible, and evidence-based interventions. Vanessa writes and medically reviews topics in nutrition and mental health. Off-screen, she enjoys hiking, especially to admire wildflowers and plant life.

Cara Everett, MS, RDN

Cara Everett is a writer and health care practitioner who has been helping people reach their wellness goals for 20 years. She has written and edited health content for publications including Everyday Health, NCOA, Verywell, and Road Runner Sports on topics such as hearing aids, medical alert systems, health care equality, and nutrition. Cara holds a MS from Texas A&M University and completed her Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist training at University of Kentucky Hospital. She lives with her family on a farm in southern Ohio.

Chrissy Holm

Chrissy Holm is a writer and content editor with experience in health and wellness, weight loss, and hypertension. With her degree in Public Health Education and Promotion, she has designed promotional items, helped clients reach their health goals, and has written about sustainable agriculture and healthy food access for a local Minnesota nonprofit. Currently, Chrissy writes extensively about hearing aids and medical alert systems. When she’s not juggling her many creative endeavors, such as podcasting, book coaching, and book writing, Chrissy loves to stay active, travel, and spend time with her family.

Courtney Schmidt, PharmD

Courtney Schmidt, PharmD, is a clinical consultant pharmacist and geriatric care expert. Since completing her studies at the University of Florida, Dr. Schmidt has worked in multiple clinical settings and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida.

Jennifer Walker-Journey

Jennifer Walker-Journey is a writer with special interest in the research, development, and federal regulations of medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs, and psychedelic therapies. Her clients include law firms, health care systems, financial corporations, public health entities, and digital marketing groups. Her work has been featured in USA Today, HowStuffWorks, Psychedelic Spotlight, and Health, among others. She is also a contributor to the coffee table books Birmingham: Magic for the New Millennium and Birmingham At 150: Built To Last. When she is not writing, she runs, almost daily, and she still considers qualifying for the Boston Marathon among her greatest accomplishments.

Jenny Wisniewski

Jenny Wisniewski is a professional writer specializing in older adult care. With a BA in English/journalism and political science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, she has researched and written dozens of articles, whitepapers, and blog posts for older adult care consultants, medical alert system providers, and print and media publications.

Sara Lindberg, MEd

Sara Lindberg is a mental health and fitness expert who enjoys writing about health, wellness, online therapy, nutrition, parenting, and education. With a BS in exercise science and MEd in counseling, she's spent the last twenty years helping people improve both their physical and mental health. Her writing career began five years ago after spending seventeen years as a middle and high school counselor. She takes a special interest in providing readers with easy-to-understand, factual health information that is grounded in science and research. Her work has appeared in publications such as Healthline, VeryWell Health, VeryWell Fit, Livestrong, Men's Health, SheKnows, Runner's World, and many more.

Sheila Olson, MPH

Sheila Olson has over two decades of experience writing about Medicare, health, and personal finance. Her work has been featured on sites such as Investopedia, The Motley Fool, and Boomer Benefits. Sheila holds a MPH (Master of Public Health) from Northern Arizona University.

Steph Coelho

Steph Coelho is a freelance writer and journalist with a particular interest in health and wellness. She is determined to write about health and wellness in an inclusive way and seeks to critically examine our society’s concept of “health.”

Zach Riggs

Zach Riggs is a professional writer covering topics in health care, tech, and personal finance. He currently specializes in coverage on hearing aids and medical alert systems.

Nicole Hernandez, DPT

Nicole Hernandez is a writer and physical therapist who empowers people to make informed decisions about their health as a writer and clinician. She has written for NCOA, AginginPlace.org, and physical therapy clinics to educate readers on fall and injury prevention, rehabilitation, home modifications, and other clinical themes including hearing aids and medical alert systems. Nicole holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Campbell University in North Carolina. She now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband.

Emily Breaux

Emily Breaux is a writer with a background in education. She has written on multiple health care and technology topics, as well as for the higher education and hospitality industries. She specializes in medical alert systems and enjoys writing about hearing aids, health insurance, and wellness topics specifically for older adults. Emily received her BA in English Secondary Education from Louisiana State University. She currently lives in New Orleans.

Joe Kellman, JD

Joe Kellman is a writer and lawyer whose goal is to help others navigate common legal processes with confidence. He has written and edited legal content on topics such as LLC formation, business law, tax law, family law, divorce law, estate planning, and asset protection. Joe holds a J.D. from the Charleston School of Law where he received a CALI Award for his legal writing on regulatory laws in New York. During law school, he worked as an editor for a local nonprofit focused on helping survivors of sexual violence and was a law clerk at a complex civil litigation firm. Joe received his undergraduate degree in Legal Studies from Virginia Tech, where he worked as a law clerk for a general corporate law firm. He lives with his fiancé in North Carolina, along with their labradoodle and cat.

Miranda Riva, Esq

Miranda Riva is a writer and licensed Tennessee attorney who has written and edited legal content covering the topics of family law, business law, criminal law, environmental law, and estate law. As a student at William & Mary Law School, Miranda edited articles for the Environmental Law and Policy Review and taught legal citations to first-year law students. After Miranda earned her JD, she became a law professor teaching legal research, writing, and citations to first-year law students. In her spare time, you can find Miranda hiking with her family, coaching students for the Uniform Bar Exam, or volunteering her time and expertise to assist older adults in her community with legal issues.

Laura Jackson, Esq

Laura Jackson is a lawyer who, after several years in private practice, left to fulfill her dream of serving a larger audience through freelance writing. She graduated from Emory University School of Law and is an active member of the Georgia Bar Association. In her writing, she covers international politics, veterans’ affairs, and wildlife conservation issues. She is passionate about making complex legal topics understandable for all audiences. She lives in Arlington, Virginia and when she isn’t traveling, she loves spending time at home with her pets.

Kate Van Dis

Kate Van Dis is a health writer in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has written for various audiences on health & wellness, education, and aging. Her current focus is on assisted living, home care, and other extra-care housing options for older adults. In her personal life, Kate is passionate about embracing the aging process. Kate is an advocate for empowering older adults and their caretakers to make informed choices about their care. She believes that older adults deserve quality care and well-paved roads to lead them there. Kate received a Bachelor of Arts in English & Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of North Carolina. She is also a certified yoga teacher (RYT-200).