Pubdate: Mon, 30 Nov 2009
Source: Crain's Chicago Business (IL)
Copyright: 2009 Crain Communications, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.chicagobusiness.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/732
Author: Laura Bianchi
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Andrea+Barthwell

INFO JUNKIE: ANDREA BARTHWELL

Andrea Barthwell, 55, provides medical consulting, forensic work and 
lectures for clients as president of Encounter Medical Group P.C. in 
River Forest and founder and CEO of EMGlobal LLC, based in Arlington, 
Va. What she prescribes:

News from alternative sources such as www.projectcensored.org and 
www.reddit.com. "Members post stories from a variety of media; it 
tells you what people are thinking and talking about." Scouts Chicago 
Tribune, New York Times and USA Today for health-related 
human-interest stories; traveling three weeks a month, reads medical 
articles via laptop.

An M.D. and former deputy drug czar under George W. Bush, follows 
A&E's "Intervention." Tweets relevant articles as  "I'm an 
addictionista."

A prominent opponent of legalizing marijuana, she consults for a 
company developing a drug that's a marijuana extract "because drugs 
are tested under the highest scientific standards and subject to FDA 
approval; the crude plant is not." Follows the issue via the 
Marijuana Policy Project, Naperville-based www.educatingvoices.org 
and www.norml.org, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Finds comfort in Alexander McCall Smith's series, "The No. 1 Ladies' 
Detective Agency," based in Botswana. "A smart mystery and no loose 
ends; everyone winds up happy."

Creates iPod playlists for writing, reading and cooking. In the mix: 
"Anything Motown; Ludacris, Andrea Bocelli and Corinne Bailey Ray. 
She can moan like nobody else." Finds new music at www.pandora.com. 
"That's how I discovered Amy Winehouse."

Works crossword puzzles and studies "The Complete Idiot's Guide to 
Playing Guitar." "I got a Martin acoustic guitar last Christmas; I'm 
guarding against Alzheimer's." 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake