I’m Diane Atwood. I began writing the Catching Health blog in 2011 as a means to an end. I was just starting a new business as a freelance health and wellness writer and decided a blog would be a great way to market my services.
Diane Atwood
The strategy worked, but something unexpected also happened. I spent more and more time working on the blog simply because I enjoyed it so much. Soon people began contacting me with story ideas or to say thank you for writing about a particular topic. Catching Health took on a life of its own and I decided to let it grow.
For many years, I was the health reporter on WCSH6 in Portland, Maine. Toward the end of my career, I received this letter from a viewer:
Dear Mrs. Atwood,
This letter is long overdue, but somehow appropriate to be written on my tenth anniversary. It is a thank you note to you.
Ten years ago you did a news special encouraging women to check their breasts for lumps. I decided to check. To my horror, I found something. I was only 31 years old. It turned out to be cancer.
I have been cancer-free ever since.
I owe you my life, Mrs. Atwood. The doctors and hospital did a wonderful job, too. But if it wasn’t for your news show, I never would have checked for lumps.
That letter sums up why I do what I do. I love interviewing people, researching all things related to health and wellness and sharing information that might make a difference in someone’s life.
Before I became a reporter I spent ten years as a radiation therapist treating cancer patients at Maine Medical Center. It was a profound experience that gave me an appreciation for things I might have otherwise overlooked. The work also revealed the geek in me — as an assistant to the radiation physicist, I learned to calculate doses of radiation and calibrate the treatment machines. And, I discovered that I understand and enjoyed the language of medicine, which is a huge help when that’s what you write about.
Calculating a radiation therapy treatment dose
I left the hospital to attend St. Joseph’s College in Standish. After I got my BA, I lived and worked for a few months in France and then backpacked throughout Italy, Greece, and Israel. That experience taught me I could do anything I put my mind to.
When I returned to Maine, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and landed a reporting job at WMTW-TV.
With the late Joe Novick, a camera man at WMTW
A year later another opportunity presented itself when WCSH-TV had an opening for a reporter. I thought it would be great fun, so auditioned and got the job. It was beyond great fun, as well as fulfilling.
Interviewing former MaineHealth/Maine Medical Center president Don McDowell in 1986. (Yes, I’m pregnant.)
After more than 20 years as a health reporter, another intriguing opportunity presented itself, and I became the marketing/public relations manager for Mercy Hospital in Portland. I thought Mercy had wonderful stories to share with the community and I wanted to help tell them, which I had the privilege of doing for nine years.
And now, here I am, old enough to retire but not the least bit interested. Instead, I’m writing a health and wellness blog that is growing by leaps and bounds and I couldn’t be happier!
Catching Health has become a trustworthy resource for people who want to live fuller, healthier lives. The blog has something for everyone, from fitness tips to recipes and nutrition information to in-depth stories about the latest breakthroughs in medical science.
Catching Health Podcast
In 2016, the Catching Health podcast was launched. I interviewed interesting and inspiring people on a wide variety of health and wellness related topics.
In 2019, I began the Conversations About Aging project. I’m traveling the state of Maine interviewing people 60+ about their perspectives on Aging.
Awards
2018
- Golden Arrow, Maine Public Relations Council
2017
- Honorable Mention, Digital Health Awards
2016
- Media Award, Home Care & Hospice Alliance of Maine
2015
- 3rd place, Feature Blogging, Maine Press Association
2014
- Web Health Award
2013
- Gold eHealthcare Leadership Award
- Gold Lamplighter, New England Society for Healthcare Communications
2011
- Golden Arrow, Maine Public Relations Council
Personal stuff
I live in Maine with my husband Barry and our two cats. We have two daughters, a son-in-law, and two granddaughters.
Catching Health is everywhere
- In addition to being part of the Bangor Daily News team of bloggers, I also self-host Catching Health at CatchingHealth.com.
- Turner Publishing runs Catching Health articles in its community newspapers.
- You’ll also find articles in Maine Boomers, which is a quarterly Turner Publishing magazine.
The Catching Health podcast (Conversations About Aging) can be found here on the blog and also on:
Last, but not least, Catching Health is quite social! Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, and my private Facebook Group Conversations About Aging.
I hope you’ll take the time to browse through all that Catching Health has to offer.
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please send me an email. I’d love to hear from you!