The Healthy by Reader’s Digest: Meet Our Editorial Team
Kristine Gasbarre
Senior Editor
Krissy is the senior editor leading content and planning for TheHealthy.com and in “The Healthy” section of Reader’s Digest magazine.
With degrees in psychology and cultural media studies, she assisted with a clinical research project at the Cleveland Clinic and for two decades has worked in books, magazines, and digital media and is a #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling ghostwriter.
Krissy has collaborated with nonprofits, brands, and figures such as Susan G. Komen, PBS, Chobani, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), Tide, Kate Hudson, Gordon Ramsay, Dr. Oz’s HealthCorps foundation, and more. Her work has been featured in Reader’s Digest, People, The Dr. Oz Show, Bravo, HBO, the New York Times, Inside Edition, Glamour, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), Sirius/XM Oprah Radio, and more.
She is a certified group fitness instructor, the owner of two irresistible rescued dogs, and the partner of a physician leader in national healthcare quality who is also a stage IV cancer survivor.
As a kid, she used to love pulling pranks on her grandpa after learning them from Reader’s Digest.
Email Krissy at Kristine.Gasbarre [at] tmbi.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Emily Surpless
Editor
Emily has over a decade of experience producing digital content, working on sites focused on health, lifestyle, home, and entertainment. As the editor for The Healthy by Reader’s Digest, she focuses on pitching and optimizing content to satisfy reader curiosity and reach new users.
Prior to her role at The Healthy, Emily was the Sr. SEO Manager for Static Media, optimizing content for 20+ sites. She was also the Lead Editor for The List, a site dedicated to lifestyle, celebrity, and entertainment.
When she’s not working, Emily spends her time with fiancé and two dogs. She’s an avid reader and enjoys trying new crafts in her downtime. She lives in New Jersey, where she was born and raised.
Dr. Patricia Varacallo, DO
Writer
Patricia is a family medicine doctor specializing in preventive care, comprehensive wellness, and health condition management.
With her clinical background, she reports on the latest health and wellness research for The Healthy, writing about the same values she championed as a clinician: routine health maintenance, chronic disease screening, and preventive care.
As the fourth physician in her immediate family (and the first who’s female), Patricia is committed to empowering individuals with the knowledge they need to take control of their health.
Leslie Finlay, MPA
Writer
Leslie is a health, wellness, and sustainability writer with more than a decade of experience. She’s written for The Healthy since 2021, and her work has also appeared in Buzzfeed News, Fodor’s, WebMD, The Atlantic, The Culture Trip, and more.
Leslie holds a master’s degree in public policy, focusing on the intersection of environmental conservation and public health.
She’s based in Thailand, where she founded a marine conservation program, worked as a scientific research diver, and consulted for organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the United Nations Environment Programme.
Lauren Gray
News Writer
Lauren has spent more than 10 years of experience covering health and wellness for SELF Magazine, Popular Mechanics, Yahoo! News, MSN, Best Life, and more. For three years she led the writing center at Woodstock School, one of the oldest international boarding schools in India.
Lauren is young adult breast cancer survivor who now centers her personal life around health and family. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two young daughters, taking long-distance walks around New York City, and decamping to upstate New York whenever possible.
