Meet Our Writers

Kelly Coloff FNP: Kelly has practiced as a nurse practitioner since 2008 in primary care, urgent care, and dermatology. Kelly started Pulse Medical Writing and Editing in 2016. She effectively applies her clinical knowledge, medical background, and healthcare consumer interaction skills to create varied and in-depth health and medical writing pieces. Kelly focuses primarily on writing for the medical professional audience, but also enjoys creative writing. Kelly also enjoys hiking with her family, reading classic novels, and studying history.

Brenda Montoyua-Medina RN, BSN, C-EFM: Brenda is a freelance health writer who also specializes in labor and delivery nursing. Brenda has her BSN in nursing and is certified in fetal monitoring with the NCC (C-EFM). She is a rare native of the beautiful state of Colorado. When she’s not living her writing passion or catching babies, you can find her playing along with her three sons or catching up on her favorite novel. 

Morganne Skinner BSN, RN: Morganne is a registered nurse, nurse writer, and fertility awareness educator. She has 7 years of nursing experience in the surgical trauma ICU, rehabilitation, communicable disease, and maternal-child health. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years in rural Zambia, where her passion for public health and women’s health grew. Her specialty writing topics include health literacy, cultural communication, fertility, and women’s health.

Dr. Johnaleka Smith-Otis EdD, MSN, RN, CCP: Dr. Smith-Otis has been a registered nurse for 13 years and a nurse educator for 8 years. She received her Bachelors from William Carey University, Masters of Science in Nursing from Liberty University and her Doctorate of Education in Nursing Education from Northcentral University. She has worked in many areas of nursing but her current role is as a clinical care manager. While education is what Dr. Smith-Otis enjoys most, she has decided to take a more non-traditional approach. She enjoys creating content, building curriculum, and incorporating theory to practice through evidence-based practice and process improvements. 

Caitlin Goodwin DNP, CNM, RN: Caitlin has been a nurse writer for five years and a registered nurse for 13 years. She is passionate about patient advocacy and educating nurses. She became a nurse in 2008, after graduating with an MSN in clinical nurse leadership from the University of Toledo. Caitlin obtained her DNP in 2021 from Frontier Nursing University and her MSN in midwifery in 2015. Caitlin Goodwin DNP, CNM, RN.

Allison Shely DNP,  FNP-C: Alison Shely is a nurse practitioner, nurse coach, and nurse content writer who specializes in articles, guest blogger, and healthcare worker wellness. She has been in nursing since 2014, working in intensive care, women’s health, and primary care as a registered nurse and family nurse practitioner. She has written for a variety of publications including Rncareers.org and is also the winner of the 2020 Shift Report writing contest for Next Level Nursing. Her specialty topics include mental health, health and wellness, yoga philosophy and practice, and community health. She also serves as a health coach and mentors to other nurses and healthcare workers concerning healthy lifestyles and mental health.

Alissa Hershberger, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNE: Alissa has worked in the adult critical care setting for many years. Currently, she works full-time as a nursing professor and part-time as a forensic nurse. She is actively pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing with research focused on precision health as it relates to advanced cardiac care. When she’s not teaching or studying, you can find her participating in active outdoor activities like hiking with her husband, son, and 2 black labs.