Mark Harmel is a seasoned health and public health consultant with a background in social sciences, health communications, and photography. He is passionate about preventing and improving chronic disease treatment in adult populations through research and interventions. With a Bachelor of Arts from Grand Valley State University and a Master of Public Health from Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Mark has worked in various roles, including as a research coordinator, grants writer, and communication and marketing consultant for organizations such as the University of Southern California, the Pasadena Public Health Department, the American Diabetes Association, and RAND Corporation.

Mark's expertise also extends to social media, mobile health, and telehealth technologies' use to prevent and treat chronic conditions. Along with contributing to Medscape, he has also worked as a social media manager for Taking Control of Your Diabetes and taught photography classes at the Julia Dean Photo Workshop. Additionally, he has professional photography experience, including making photos in research labs and clinical care settings at UCLA, Cedars-Sinai, and USC.