My Resume

Invited to read my poem, “The People’s Republic,” at the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas in 2002, where a signed copy became part of the library’s permanent collection, displayed with the works of four other poets as part of a special exhibit that included an original copy of the Declaration of Independence. “The People’s Republic” was reprinted in Red, White and Blues: Poets on the Promise of America by the University of Iowa Press.

“Appetites” was awarded 1^st Prize in Poetry by Ascent Aspirations Magazine (Canada).

“Black and White Photograph” was awarded 1^st Place in the New Words 2008 Poetry Competition (sponsored by the Akron Art Museum).

“Positive” was awarded 1^st Place in Poetry at the 2009 Bob Dylan Days (Hibbing, MN) and published in their literary journal, Talkin' Blues (volume 6). “Positive” was also awarded 1^st Place in the 2002 TOCOPA Poetry Contest.

“Permanent Record,” “Worship,” and “Waltzing with Roethke” were awarded 1^st Place in the 14^th Annual Lorain County Community College Literary Festival.

“A Miss America Pageant Finalist” was awarded Best Poem in the A Picture Worth 500 Words Contest (Creative Writing Program of California State University, Hayward).

“Sea Shell” was awarded 1^st Place in the 2^nd Annual Rising Sun Poetry Competition (sponsored by Rising Sun Magazine).

“September Bloom” was awarded 1^st Place in the 2002 Summer Solstice Contest (sponsored by the OPA).

“Shrapnel” (originally titled “Sunday Morning, Nine AM”) was awarded 1^st Place in the 2002 Vernal Equinox Contest (sponsored by the OPA).

“Equality” was awarded 1^st Place in the “Free Verse Award” 2005

“The Poem I Would Write” was awarded 1^st Place in the “Lottie Kent Ruhl Spirit of Creativity Award” 2005

“Valediction” was awarded 2^nd Place in the "Edna Groff Diehl Memorial Award”

“Hangin’ With Grandma” awarded 2^nd Place in the 2004 Nevada Poetry Society Award of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies 45^th Annual Contest; read at the NFSPS Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio.

Honorable Mentions: “Good Friday at the Art Museum” in the Pennsylvania Poetry Society Contest 2005, “Great Lakes Gusts” in The Ohio Award, “Bedside” in The Indiana State Poetry Award, “Monsters and Ghosts” in the Odes of March (Utmost Christian Poetry 2004 Contest), and “Worship" (originally titled "Sundays With Grandma”) in The Power of Woman Award

Awarded a 2008 Helen McCloy Scholarship for Mystery Writing by the Mystery Writers of America for my novel-in-progress, DEROS.

2nd Place in Poetry at the 2007 Writers in Paradise Conference at Eckerd College.

Awarded a 2007 Artist Enhancement Grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Arts Council

Cleveland Clinic Connection (Volume 27, No. 1, 2006) feature article on my writing career. “The Poem I Would Write” was reprinted with the article.

Invited by the Pennsylvania Poetry Society to judge the Dorman John Grace Memorial Award in the 53^rd Annual Poetry Contest in 2005

Invited by the Firelands Writing Center of Firelands College (BGSU) to read my poetry (featured reader) at Stillwater’s Cafe, Sandusky, Ohio in 2006

Article featuring my writing career entitled “Oberlin Doctor’s Prize-winning Poem” in the October 13, 2002 issue of The Morning Journal newspaper (Lorain, Ohio)

Featured front page article about my writing career entitled “From Medicine To Writing Book” in the September 10, 2002 issue of the Oberlin News - Tribune newspaper (Oberlin, Ohio)