Cardiovascular Research Manager, Yale University Department of Internal Medicine – Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut

When her brother fell while rock-climbing 30 years ago, Dawn Shaddinger was a senior in nursing school. For her brother, the result of the accident was paraplegia. For her, it was the beginning of a heart-felt commitment to patient education that has served her well, including today in her role as an editor of SecondsCount.org.

That’s because her brother’s doctors weren’t that great at helping the family understand and cope with his diagnosis. The doctors often talked over the family’s heads, and they at times appeared to be in a rush and had little time to answer the family’s questions. Ms. Shaddinger’s family soon relied on her as a medical expert.

“I know what it’s like to be on the other side,” says Ms. Shaddinger. And that’s why she got involved with SecondsCount. “Nurses can tone down language so it’s more accessible to patients,” she say