"My greatest challenge is resisting the urge to become
a hypochondriac," says NY1 health reporter Cheryl Wills. "I've learned
that New York City is home to nearly every disease, virus and ailment known
to mankind (old and new), which makes me a very busy and sometimes paranoid
journalist."
As the Health Reporter for New York City's TV news station
New York 1, Cheryl is committed to giving viewers the "lay" version of
medicine. "Half of my job is spent interpreting medical jargon into an
easy to understand version for viewers," says Cheryl. The one-woman news
crew also provides a popular weekly roundup of the top health stories called
"The Medical Wrap."
Cheryl graduated from the Newhouse School of Public Communications
at Syracuse University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast
journalism. She also holds an Associates of Arts degree from Nassau Community
College. Cheryl says she planned to enter the field of journalism as far
back as the sixth grade. "I simply couldn't imagine doing anything else.
It's really an art. It's serious business, and the facts painted on the
right canvas at the right time can change lives."
Cheryl is a charter member of the NY1 News team. She
joined in 1992 during the start-up as a news writer. Six months later she
was promoted to producer, and two years after that she signed on
as a full time health reporter. Prior to that, Cheryl worked at Fox News
in New York as a production assistant.
Cheryl grew up in New York City and moved to Long Island
in her teens, where she now lives with her husband, John. She is also a
member of the National Association of Black Journalists.
