Barbara Tuerkheimer Paskoff, a founding partner of Envision Productions, Inc., and a former broadcast journalist, has produced and written medical and public affairs programs since 1988 for PBS and cable stations. Her work has been broadcast throughout the United States. She has received four Emmy nominations, as well as awards from the Press Club of Long Island, New York State Broadcasters Association, Long Island Coalition for Fair Broadcasting, the Aurora Award, The Columbus International Film & Video Festival Award, The American Medical Association International Health and Medical Film Competition Award, and the New York Institute of Technology Alumni Recognition Award. She has written, produced and directed medical education videos for pharmaceuticals, doctors, and patients. She has also served as Executive Vice President of the Society of Professional Journalists—Long Island Chapter. She divides her time between writing and competitive dancing. She received her BS from Emerson College in Boston and her MA from New York Institute of Technology. Born in New York, she now resides on Long Island with her husband, Michael, and two fun-loving rescue dogs.
On a personal note, in 2008 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After the rigors of a mastectomy and chemo I knew I needed to get out of my head. I had to stop looking back and begin looking forward. And so I began ballroom dancing at the age of sixty-four. Whoever would have thought at seventy-three I would still be going full steam ahead, traveling to different venues to compete. Dancing makes me feel alive. It gives me a sense of purpose; it challenges me. Dancing gives me balance, not to mention a better figure and stamina. I have learned that mountains are to be climbed, not to walk away from. And once you get to the top of the mountain, whatever your mountain may be, there is an incredible feeling of accomplishment.
