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Our editorial quality

Your health is important. Complex. And most of all, personal. Generic information simply won’t do. To deliver a quality experience based on your specific health needs, we rely on a just-right combination of intelligent technology and medical expertise.

Read on to learn more about the exceptional measures we take to make sure that the information you’re getting from Buoy is written by medical authorities, vetted by industry experts, and kept up-to-date by our team of award-winning editors.

Expert information
The Buoy experience is anything but generic. We prioritize the time and resources required to recruit world-class doctors and other specialists to share their expertise on the topics they know best. An eye doctor advising on a broken wrist, for example, doesn’t feel quite right to us.
Easy-to-use visuals
Our custom-drawn images are the work of scientific illustrators and vetted by doctors. Because some medical concepts are better understood visually.
No ads, ever
Advertisements of all forms are banned from our website—no exceptions. The Buoy ethos is rooted in doing what’s best for people when they aren’t feeling well. Pushing medical products for financial gain would undermine our commitment to you and your well-being.

The editorial process

When it comes to quality health guidance, shortcuts aren’t an option. That’s why medical articles on Buoy undergo at least four rounds of reviews by our doctors, specialists, illustrators and award-winning editors.

The illustration process

Every scientific illustration you see in our medical articles has been strictly vetted by our doctors and industry experts to ensure quality, accuracy, and clarity. We’re also fortunate enough to have been provided content by Harvard Medical School.

Meet our editors

Meet the award-winning editorial pros who are committed to providing you with the best information. Think: accurate, helpful, and easy to understand.

Darcy Jacobs

Darcy has devoted her entire career to authentically engaging audiences through words. After her first job in advertising, she started her publishing career at Health magazine, followed by Vogue, Glamour, and Seventeen (where she ran its storied Fiction Contest). Darcy helped launch two startups for Hearst Magazines—and later worked for its Health Newsroom—before becoming Executive Editor of Family Circle, once the largest selling women’s magazine in the U.S. As a brand leader there, she oversaw editorial development—and was recognized with multiple industry awards—and played an integral role in developing corporate partnerships. Darcy has also served as a media awards judge for the American Society of Magazine Editors, Books for a Better Life, The James Beard Foundation, and VisitFlorida.org. Darcy joined Buoy in 2019 to build and lead the editorial team. Darcy graduated magna cum laude from Amherst College in Massachusetts with a BA in American Studies and English.

Laurie Tarkan

Laurie is an award-winning health journalist. She has written for The New York Times, numerous national magazines, and leading health websites. She is also the author of several non-fiction health books. Throughout her journalism career, Laurie has been motivated by her desire to advocate for people who are struggling with health issues and to help inspire positive change in healthcare. Her breakthrough articles have shined a light on issues that have been under the radar. Laurie joined Buoy’s editorial team in 2020 and works with our team of doctors to create compelling and accessible content. Laurie earned her BA from Muhlenberg College, and her MA in journalism from New York University.

Buoy's scientific illustrators

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Meet the experts behind our custom-drawn illustrations.

Call for scientific illustrators

We’re looking for experts in scientific and/or medical illustration to help expand our library of custom-drawn images. Interested?
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Buoy does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information available on the Buoy website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The Buoy Services do not replace your relationship with any doctor or other qualified health care provider and may not be appropriate for all medical conditions or concerns. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.