Tori Whitacre Martonicz
Tori Whitacre Martonicz is an accomplished author, journalist, and content strategist specializing in healthcare topics, currently serving as Lead Editor at MJH Life Sciences®. With over 35 years of experience in writing, editing, and publishing, she has built a distinguished career shaping content for both print and digital media. At MJH Life Sciences, Tori manages all print production, oversees online articles, conducts and edits interviews with key opinion leaders, and represents the brand at major conferences, ensuring that every piece of content is accurate, engaging, and impactful for the healthcare community.
Her professional expertise spans writing, editing, journalism, healthcare publishing, and interviewing. Tori’s work emphasizes precision, storytelling, and audience engagement, from crafting in-depth articles on infection prevention and control to producing multimedia content for diverse platforms. She also operates her own communications firm, Little Bird Wordsmiths, where she provides ghostwriting, copyediting, and content strategy for clients ranging from corporate executives to educational institutions. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her meticulous attention to detail, mastery of grammar and style, and proficiency in SEO and digital publishing tools.
Tori holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English from The University of Akron, with her graduate studies emphasizing technical writing, linguistics, and British literature. She has complemented her formal education with over 30 professional certifications in leadership, communication, and team management. Beyond her editorial work, she has taught college courses in speech and effective communications, and has a long history of mentoring students and professionals alike. Tori’s career is guided by her core values of integrity, honesty, and empathy, which she brings to every project and interaction in her personal and professional life.
• Leading Productive One-on-One Meetings
• Learning to Say No with Confidence and Grace
• Communicating to Drive People to Take Action
• Onboarding New Hires as a Manager (2019)
• Managing Teams (2018)
• How to Lead and Inspire Change
• Leadership Foundations: Leadership Styles and Models
• Managing in Difficult Times
• Coaching Employees through Difficult Situations
• How to Work Smarter, Not Harder: Save Time and Money and Increase Productivity
• Leading with Innovation
• +20 Additional Certificates
• The University of Akron - MA
• Full Scholarship - The University of Akron
• Professional Writers' Alliance
What do you attribute your success to?
The real answer is that I had to prove it to people who said I couldn't do it. But more than that, I really wasn't going to be happy unless I did something with writing - I had to do what I wanted to do, and I had to be successful at it. So I didn't have a choice. And that wasn't negative in any way - it's simply that I had to. That was my motivation. I didn't want to do something I didn't want to do. I'm too stubborn for that. My mom was also my biggest inspiration. She was a writer and taught me how to read when I was very little, at 4 years old. When she died when I was young, that was the kick in the pants I needed to finish my degree and get my master's. So my success comes from that stubbornness, that drive to do what I love, and my mom's inspiration.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always reach higher than you think you can go. Because if I hadn't, I wouldn't be here. And ironically, that came from my husband. I mean, I've gotten a lot of good advice over the years, but that's the biggest one. It really is the best one, because he looked at me and he said, why are you stopping here? Go. Don't stop. So I did, I applied, and, well, here I am, you know? 30-plus years later, just writing.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's not gonna be easy. Because journalism as a whole is a dying art - well, it's not a dying art, it's just not needed anymore in the same way. AI's gonna take over a lot of it. If it's something you truly want to do, then expect that it's not going to be easy. Very rewarding, but it's not going to be easy. So really make sure that this is what you want to do. It's gotta be your passion. Because there's gonna be fewer and fewer jobs. You can't just sit behind a computer anymore. In order to be successful, you have to be able to have your face out there. People need to see you. Some people can't do it - some people are really nervous about that. But if you want to succeed in this field, you have to be comfortable being visible and speaking in front of people.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is that there are fewer and fewer positions in journalism. The opportunities, though, are that the traditional rules are changing. It's not that the writing is gone - you still have to have a human read it before it goes out, to edit it, to change it. Even if you have AI write it, you still have to have a human look at it. But there's that possibility that it may not happen for long. The possibilities are that it opens you up for different kinds of journalism - more video and audio interviews, different forms of media. You can't just sit behind a computer anymore. In order to be successful, you have to be able to have your face out there where people can see you.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity, honesty, and empathy. Those are the values that matter most to me, both in my work and in my personal life. They're the foundation of everything I do.
Locations
MJH Life Sciences®
Creston, OH 44217