Joe & Terry Graedon

In 1976, when The People's Pharmacy® was originally published, it was one of the first books providing drug and health information to consumers. It went on to become a number one bestseller. Since then, Joe and Terry Graedon have gone on to write 18 additional books, one of which was a medical thriller co-authored with Tom Ferguson, MD (No Deadly Drug, Pocket Books, 1992). In addition, they write The People's Pharmacy® syndicated newspaper column, distributed by King Features®, co-host an award-winning health talk show on public radio, and speak frequently on health issues.

Here's how they got started. Joe Graedon received his BS from Pennsylvania State University in 1967 and then did research on mental illness, sleep, and basic brain physiology at the New Jersey Neuropsychiatric Institute in Princeton. In 1971 he earned his MS in pharmacology from the University of Michigan.

In 1972 in a small village in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, Terry was doing research in nutrition and health for her doctoral dissertation in anthropology. Joe began writing a book to explain medications in an easy-to-understand, friendly style. His master's degree in pharmacology from the University of Michigan and his teaching experience with medical students prepared him for this undertaking.

Terry graduated magna cum laude with an AB from Bryn Mawr College in 1969, majoring in anthropology. She completed her doctoral degree from the University of Michigan and the Graedons moved to Durham, NC. Terry taught at the School of Nursing and the Department of Anthropology at Duke University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in medical anthropology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 1983. She is a Fellow of the Society for Applied Anthropology.

Joe has taught at Duke University School of Nursing and the UCSF School of Pharmacy and is an adjunct assistant professor at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. From 1971 to 1974 he taught pharmacology at the School of Medicine of the Universidad Autonoma "Benito Juarez" of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Joe served as a consultant to the Federal Trade Commission on over-the-counter drug issues from 1978 to 1983 and was on the Advisory Board for the Drug Studies Unit at UCSF from 1983 to 1989. He received the Medical Self-Care award for The People's Pharmacy in 1976. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and was elected to the rank of AAAS Fellow for "exceptional contribution to the communication of the rational use of pharmaceutical products and an understanding of health issues to the public" in 2005. Joe was conferred the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters honoris causa from Long Island University in 2006 as one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.

Joe served as an editorial advisor to Men's Health Newsletter and to Prevention Magazine. Joe is an advisory board member of the American Botanical Council (Herbalgram) and he has served as a member of the Board of Visitors, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, since 1989.

The Graedons served on the Patient Safety and Clinical Quality Committee of the Duke University Health System for several years, and were founding members of the Patient Advisory Council for Duke Medicine.

The Graedons are frequent guests on television news and information programs to discuss issues relating to drugs, herbs, home remedies, vitamins and related health topics. Appearances include public television, "Dateline NBC," "20/20," "Extra," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America," "CBS Morning News," "Today" and "NBC Evening News."

The Graedons were awarded the Silver Award for public affairs from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They also received the "Health Headliner of 1998" Award from America Talks Health for "superior contribution to the advancement of medicine and public health education." Joe and Terry were named Ambassadors of the City of Medicine in 1999 and were the 1999 Harriet Cook Carter Distinguished Lecturers for the Duke University School of Nursing. In 2003 Joe and Terry received the Alvarez Award at the 63rd annual conference of the American Medical Writers Association for "Excellence in Medical Communications." They were named "Hometown Heroes" through the WCHL Village Pride Award in 2009.

Joe And Terry's Core Values And Beliefs

Joe and Terry are guided by these values in all their work:

• Respect for people's ability to make informed decisions about their health
• Honesty and integrity in communication and actions
• Care, compassion and fairness as the guiding principles for all institutions serving people