Tara Parker-Pope

Hi. I’m Tara Parker-Pope, Chief Content Officer for Thrive Global! You may remember me as a national health columnist focusing on wellness. I’m the founding editor of Well at the New York Times and Well+Being at the Washington Post. I also wrote the Health Journal column for the Wall Street Journal. I’m passionate about serving up science-based advice that helps people take easy steps toward a meaningful, compassionate and purpose-driven life. Health and wellness should be easy!

I’m working on updating this website with my latest information and stories.

Awards

Pulitzer Prize
I was part of the New York Times team honored with the Pulitzer Prize in public service for my work covering the pandemic.
Emmy Award
In 2013, I was part of the winning team that won an Emmy award for the Well video series “Life, Interrupted,” which chronicled the challenges of a young cancer patient in her 20s.
GLAAD Media Award - Outstanding Newspaper Article
My 2010 article, “Kept from a Dying Partner’s Bedside,” was cited by President Obama as influencing his decision to issue new rules for hospitals in their treatment of same-sex couples. That article won the 2010 Outstanding Newspaper Article from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation — this is my most-treasured award!
Other Honors:
2011 Front Page Award - News Women’s Club of New York The Well Blog
2004 Front Page Award - News Women’s Club of New York “How to GIve Your Child a Longer Life”
Online News Association
Association of Health Care Journalists
North American Menopause Society
Second Century Award for Excellence in Health Care - Columbia University School of Nursing
2019 Health Transformer Award — Medical Marketing & Media

Before The Times

Prior to joining The Times in August 2007, I was the long-time Health Journal columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and also worked as a correspondent in the paper’s London and Dallas bureaus. My first journalism jobs were in Texas, at the Houston Chronicle and the Austin American Statesman. I’ve written for O Magazine, Reader’s Digest, More Magazine, Ladies Home Journal and American Legion Magazine, and have made appearances on All In with Chris Hayes, The Today Show, Charlie Rose, Anderson Cooper, CNN, Dateline NBC, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America and several NPR, WNYC and other radio programs.

Books

I’m currently working on my forth book — I hope to share news about it soon. I’ve written three books, including “For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage” (Dutton, May 2010), “The Hormone Decision,” (Rodale, 2007), and “Cigarettes: Anatomy of an Industry from Seed to Smoke,” (New Press, 2002). My work is also featured in the 2008 edition of “Best American Science Writing,” “The New York Times Reader: Health and Medicine,” and “The Wall Street Journal Guide to the Business of Life.”

Education

I have a Masters in Public Health from Yale University School of Public Health. I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in sociology. (Hook ‘Em Horns!)

Personal Life

I once ran a very slow marathon — a guy wearing an Eiffel Tower costume beat me! I’m a devoted graduate of the Hoffman Process and a strong believer in the power of meditation to change your life. I currently reside in New York City. I was born in Arizona (Sedona is one of my favorite places), and have lived in Okinawa, Japan, Taiwan, Texas (Austin, Houston, Dallas), Ohio (Beavercreek), London and Pennsylvania (Bucks County). I’m a mom of an amazing Gen Z daughter, and pet mom to Sugar, my bestie shelter lab-mix. She is a very good girl! Adopt don’t shop!

Volunteer work

Ask me about volleyball! I’m a devoted fan of volleyball and helped start the Pennsylvania super-club East Coast Power Volleyball, where I managed programming, website content, college recruiting and communications from 2013 to 2020. Go Power!

I was also an early board member and supporter of Dress for Success, which started in New York City and provided out-of-work women with job interview suits, shoes and makeup. I sorted clothes, counseled women and created the Success Stories newsletter celebrating the women we served and the companies who made it possible.