Reader Responses
(Feedback from readers is an important indicator that my work is accurate and touching its audience. Here are a few letters to the editor received after a recent article on Lyme disease entitled, "Tick Wars.")
Editor:
Your reporter, Christianna McCausland, did a great job of representing the two sides of the "Lyme war." I'd like to clarify a few points she made in her article.
"1,248 reported cases of Lyme disease in Maryland in 2006" could represent as many as 40,920 annually if Maryland doctors diagnose at the same rate as Georgia doctors do: i.e. 40 cases to each case counted by the state. And that assumes that doctors consider Lyme at all, which in California only two in 50 do, even when patients complain of symptoms that could be Lyme. This would increase the number of possible cases to 1,248,000 per year in Maryland.
People with tick-borne diseases should have a choice, until other effective treatments are available.For "conservative guys" like Dr. Aucott, who strives to take the middle path, he should try informed consent, letting patients know the potential risks and benefits of the treatment options, and then letting them make the choice. He might find that he would not feel so bad after treating them, because many of them would be better if they chose the ILADS standard of care.
Phyllis Mervine
California Lyme Disease Association
Dear Editor:
Thank you for writing about the “Tick Wars”. Your article allows patient’s voices to be heard, something that hasn’t happened in the past to any extent.
As a volunteer support group leader for the past 15 years, I am on the side of the chronic Lyme disease debate that best serves Lyme disease patients. I am concerned about the growing number of individuals and entire families who were misdiagnosed or didn’t recover after receiving what was promoted to be “adequate” treatment” by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
I am not alone. A group of dedicated physicians felt the complex and often multiple diseases
transmitted by ticks were not being adequately addressed. The International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS) has published peer-reviewed guidelines, which have been very successful. They recommend against relying solely on unreliable tests (which miss 75 percent of those infected).They also indicate a physician should treat based on the patients symptoms, history and the clinical exam.
I urge patients to educate themselves, get prompt and adequate treatment and take a copy of the ILADS guidelines to their physicians so they can work together to develop an individual treatment plan.
Jean F. Galbreath, President
Harford County Lyme Disease Support Group
Awards, Honors & Special Appointments
Excellence in Journalism Award 2005
Maryland Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
This award was present for "The Warden's Story," which was published in January 2005 in Baltimore magazine. The articled looked at the life of the warden in one of Maryland's most notorious prisons and how his life (and that of his family) was thrown into turmoil when his own son became a victim of violent crime.
Excellence in Journalism Award 2006
The American College of Emergency Physicians
Awarded to "ER: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask,"
a look at important information one should understand before going to
the emergency room. This story was published in Baltimore
magazine November 2006. Awards are given for outstanding coverage of an emergency medicine
issue, in-depth analysis or investigation that brings clarity to a key
emergency medicine issue and educates the public, and creates significant
impact that motivates positive change or breaks a new story that
generates widespread coverage.
Guest Editor, Baltimore magazine "Best Places to Live" issue
Published April 2007
New edition on stands April 2008
Guest Editor, Lifestyle magazine, a special interest publication of ChesapeakeHome
Published June/June 2007
Second edition to be published June/July 2008
Editor-at-large, Smart Woman magazine
2005-2006
References
Christianna’s got a great range of knowledge and ability, which is a huge strength for our general interest lifestyle magazine. I’ve assigned her stories about things from medical coverage to an environmental disaster to real estate to the advertising industry, and she’s turned in copy for each that shows she understands each field well enough to ask good questions—and get solid answers. She’s also an incredibly pleasant, professional, and conscientious person with whom to work, which are undervalued assets in this business.
Geoff Brown, Managing editor
Baltimore magazine
Christianna McCausland is a creative, efficient, and focused writer, who would be an excellent addition to any freelance or full-time writing team. She's produced nothing but superior work in a prompt fashion for the many pieces she's executed for Chesapeake Life over the years. She's one of the greats!
Kessler Burnett, Editor
Chesapeake Life
For more than five years, Christianna has been a valuable contributor to Style magazine. Her story pitches are well thought-out and appropriate to our readers and to our editorial mission. Thoroughly professional, she's a joy to work with, and can always be counted on to come through on time with clean copy, clear prose and imaginative ideas.
Brian Lawrence, Editor
Style
For many years, Christianna McCausland has been on a very short list of ‘A’ freelancers used by Baltimore magazine. Whether it’s a political profile, an architecture feature, or a business story, she consistently demonstrates solid reporting skills, professionalism, and a very approachable writing style that are a real benefit to the magazine. Her extensive Rolodex is an extra plus.
Ken Iglehart, Managing editor (special editions)
Baltimore magazine
Christianna is a pleasure to work with—she really makes an effort to understand the magazine, its audience, and my needs. Her writing is on-target, well-sourced, and interesting.
Dennis Hockman, Editor
Chesapeake Home
