Karen Blum is a Baltimore-based freelance health and science writer who covers health, medicine and some science for a variety of outlets. Her articles have appeared in The Baltimore Sun, Anesthesiology News, Pharmacy Practice News, Clinical Oncology News, Rheumatology News, Ophthalmology Management, and MedPage Today.com, among others. She also has written newsletter and magazine articles, blog posts and marketing communications pieces for clients including Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, the National Eye Institute, and the American Society for Microbiology. Before hanging her freelance shingle, Blum spent 10 years as a media relations officer for academic medical centers, seven of which were at the world-famous Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Wearing those hats, she interacted with hundreds of journalists from around the world, managed press conferences and wrote many press releases and speeches. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Blum has never yet missed a deadline and prides herself on excellent customer service with assignment editors.