A long-standing believer in consumer education; she knows it does make a difference. Her thesis for lay education is that “we physicians need to come down to the consumer’s knowledge level to bring them up towards ours”. She preaches ‘medical common sense’ and is well understood, as she uses simple yet accurate examples in non-medical terms. Her ability to explain medical concepts makes her a popular choice whenever the media requests a physician’s expertise. 

Dr. Handal’s first book, “The American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook”, (Little, Brown & Co.) was written for the lay audience. The launch for this book included an impressive multi-media publicity tour of 10 major cities. Popularity and visibility with non-medical persons has resulted in her hosting and co-hosting talk-radio health shows. She has also made numerous TV appearances including  CNN and the Today Show. In addition, Dr. Handal has written numerous articles for popular magazines and served as Medical Director of Parentzone.com for three years. Dr. Handal has been contributing editor to numerous professional medical books, as well as the lay press, starting with Richard Platt’s (ed.), “The People’s Medical Answer Book” (Prentice Hall). She has recently completed “Sensible ECG” (Delmar) a three book series written for the professional medical audience. Dr. Handal served as a Senior Examiner for The American Board of Emergency Medicine and a Site Reviewer for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.She is an active instructor for the American Heart Association. 

A practicing board-certified emergency physician with over 26 years of patient care experience, she continues activities in medical education and with national professional involvements. She has lectured internationally from Australia to China and Russia. Dr. Handal is a Senior Consultant for Associated Systems for Search Education Research & Training for Academic Medicine (ASSERT). Presently she is an educator, consultant and an active member of the National Association of Medical Communicators. 

Dr. Handal won an International Cindy Competition (Bronze Medal) and Telly Award (Finalist) for medical videos focused for workplace emergencies. As part of her dedication to public education, she wrote, directed and produced “Trauma Run”, a nationally distributed video for grades K2-6. The video was produced in Spanish and English and is designed to teach children how to respond and what to expect from emergency medical personnel when no adults are available. Dr. Handal enjoys sharing her medical insights in many ways with the newest outlet being live stand-up comedic performances.