Gail, a retired Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology and Geriatrics at the UA College of Medicine (1974-1995), came back to the Arizona Arthritis Center (AAC) in 2004 as a grants writer and Research Specialist, Principal. One of the original creators of the AAC and Arizona Center on Aging, she taught, did research, assessed and counseled patients/families, set up professional and patient educational programs, and was principal investigator of many grants. A guest lecturer throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe, she has written numerous journal articles, chapters and two books on arthritis for professionals. A Past-President of the Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals (ARHP) and Vice-Chair of the National Arthritis Foundation (AF) Board of Trustees, she also served 20 years and chaired the local AF chapter, YWCA, and AAC Friends. On the founding board of the American Juvenile Arthritis Organization, she served seven years on NIH-NIAMS Grants Review Committee, and chaired its Arthritis Information Clearinghouse.

Gail has received many professional and civic awards including Arizona's Health Educator of the Year, Tucson's Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year, the Addie Thomas Service Award (ARHP), YWCA Woman on the Move, UA's Order of Omega, Star Award (ARHP), and was one of 50 "Heroes chosen for the National Arthritis Foundation's 50th Anniversary. More recently she was awarded the American College of Rheumatology REF's Daltroy Fellowship (2006-07) to develop the course, How to Improve Patient Communication with a Clinician (HIPCC), formatted as an interactive 12-hour course or a condensed two-hour version. Pilot-tested at Canyon Ranch, OASIS, Lupus Foundation, RA Support Group, Myasthenia Gravis Support Group, it is under review by the National Arthritis Foundation for further dissemination. For more information on the course, or to become an instructor, click here.

Born in Pennsylvania, Gail graduated from Mansfeld, Tucson High School, U. of A. (biology), Arizona State University (counseling/psychology), completed many doctoral courses in Rehabilitation Psychology, and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. A "bionic" woman, she has bilateral hip and knee replacements, hand and foot implants necessitated by over six decades with arthritis.