Website: www.gaylezinda.com
Gayle Zinda has a unique and diverse background in the medical community. Gayle began her career as a surgical scrub nurse for a plastic surgeon. She later moved on to become a nurse administrator for an ob/gyn group. During this time she began to feel unfulfilled. Something was missing and after a “chance” encounter with a woman named Rita her life’s path would be forever changed. Also changed were the thousands of patients who would walk through Gayle’s shop Image–In–Sights over the next ten years. Image–In–Sights provided a place for cancer patients to come and be refreshed. Whether they needed a hair or breast prostheses, skin care or make-up products or even just a positive voice to help them through the day, Gayle was there.
During that time, Gayle also served as the volunteer President of the local branch of the American Cancer Society for three years. Through her efforts she managed to save the local branch, which had been on the edge of disbanding due to lack of volunteers, and build it up to include thousands of new volunteers.
If being a female business owner with no prior business experience was not enough she raised two boys on her own. Gayle received the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce “Small Business Success Award” in 1997 and was a “Bazillion Award” winner and graduate of Leadership Northern KY.
Gayle released her first book Pink Lemonade in 2007. This book tells the story that changed Gayle’s life and has since received two national awards for the inspirational/motivational category.
Just prior to releasing her book Gayle heard the words “You have lung cancer.” True to form and drawing on the strength of the thousands of patients she had motivated over the years, Gayle is now a two year survivor of the deadliest cancer! She began to travel and talk about her experiences, realizing that she had a lot to offer those whose lives have been touched by cancer. In November 2007 Gayle was asked by the Lung Cancer Alliance out of Washington D.C. to redesign her RV and do a 10 city tour on their behalf. Gayle and Adam traveled over 5,000 miles in 30 days to bring awareness to Lung Cancer.
In 2008 Gayle received the Professional Business Woman of the Year Award in Madison, WI. Today Gayle travels the country with her oldest son Adam in a 31′ Pink RV called the “Motorvator” raising cancer awareness and “refreshing” groups around the country. When she is not traveling Gayle lives on a sparkling lake in Wisconsin with her husband, Dr. Michael Zinda, who is a radiation oncologist and the medical director of a cancer center. Dr. Zinda provides yet another perspective to add to Gayle’s arsenal on cancer.
