Mark Traugh

I started writing in my early 20s as a corpsman in the Air Force. I steadily advanced my career and became a PA (Physician Assistant), with several steady advancements along the way. I retired from the Air Force after 20 years and continued practicing medicine in numerous fields, eventually becoming an Emergency Medicine PA.

I hold certifications in PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), and ATLS (Advanced Trauma Life Support), all of which required me to write extensively.

My son gave me some great advice as I transitioned into retirement. He said, “Dad, redefine yourself.” I took his advice and began painting and writing short children’s books for my grandchildren. This changed my outlook on retirement. I was no longer writing about trauma, blood and guts, or other terrible things. I discovered the freedom to be creative, but most of all, to be positive.

We no longer live in the days of “Come home when the streetlights come on,” nor are we in the era of drinking water from the hose or riding in the back of a pickup truck.