Betty Kuffel, MD, is an honors graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, an internal medicine physician and former nurse practitioner. Her healthcare experience stretches from remote Alaskan communities, to large city emergency rooms.
Since retirement, she uses her medical knowledge to help people through educational non-fiction books on aspects of health and safety. Her writing has expanded to fictional works across genres.
Interest in storytelling began as a child. Between exploring the forest, climbing trees, and bicycling around a small Minnesota town, she read extensively about living around the world. A spirit of adventure led her to Washington state, hiking, climbing Mt. Rainier and sailing. In Alaska, she flew to remote areas, hiked in the wilderness, developed an interest in gold mining, and began dog sled racing. Later, while directing an emergency department in Nevada, she explored the desert and became a pilot.
Her first three books stemmed from needs she saw in her work. Caring for child and adult victims of sexual assault stimulated her true crime book, Eyes of a Pedophile. Extensive research, interviews with the violent pedophile Nathanael Bar-Jonah and some of his victims, provided a framework for information to help people identify pedophile behavior and keep children safer.
Dr. Kuffel treated many people with heart disease in crisis who had little understanding of the number one killer of women and men. She wrote Your Heart – Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease in Women, Men & Children to give people a science-based overview of the disease process, medical evaluation, and how to improve health.
In Modern Birth Control, Dr. Kuffel includes the basic biology of reproduction and information on contraception options, sexually transmitted infections, and how to avoid sexual assault. She has fought for equality throughout her life, becoming an advocate for human and women’s rights.
Flying small planes, sailplanes, and aerobatic lessons are meshed in adventures appearing in some of her fiction. She is a photographer, marksman, knitter, and feather-artist, arising each morning to write and watch sunrise over the Rocky Mountains from her home in Montana.
Her most important achievements are raising a loving successful son with her husband, Tom, and surviving a plane crash in the mountains of Idaho to experience the joy of knowing her granddaughter.
Eyes of a Pedophile – Detecting Child Predators
This true crime is based on the life and crimes of Nathanael Bar-Jonah. I hope you will read Eyes of a Pedophile on Kindle, identify pedophile characteristics and intervene to save innocent children from victimization.
Your Heart – Prevent & Reverse Heart Disease in Women, Men & Children. A science-based health reference.
Modern Birth Control – Contraception, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Sexual Assault
Fiction in process are: a medical thriller series, a romantic intrigue, a bio-thriller and a mystery co-authored with her sister Bev.
For years they wrote a column in Montana Women magazine on women’s health issues but now Betty and her sister Bev write the Lipstick
Logic blog at http://lipsticklogic.com Their novel Undercurrents of Loon Lake, a mystery set in Northern Minnesota resort country in 1960, is in final edits.
Author Betty Kuffel, MD 
Dear Dr Kuffel,
I’d like to thank you for reawakening my love for Alaska. I’ve been an Iditarod volunteer for more than 15 years, have learned to run dogs, have learned to fly – all because I fell in love with Alaska during my first visit. “Deadly Spin” gave back memories of so many places I’d forgotten (Rainy Pass, where I was once snowed in; Talkeetna, Fairbanks…) as well as the thrills (and fears) of flying the Alaskan bush – and all the wonderful people (and dogs!) I met there. I’m 73 now, and living in metro Chicago where there are few sled dogs, and even fewer people who love and/or understand them, and where I am quite frankly afraid to fly alone because of the incredible traffic around our big airport. I had pretty much decided that this past winter’s trip would have to be my last, but the book – which I read in one sitting (and stayed up past 5 AM to do so!) – convinced me that I have to go back; I seem incapable of staying away, even though I know I should.
So, with all my heart, thank you. I look forward to reading more from you.
Blessings for a wonderful 2019,
Joy Harrison
Des Plaines, IL
Good morning Joy, I am happy you enjoyed a trip to Alaska with me in Deadly Spin. We lived in AK for years and my husband flew support as an Iditarod radioman at checkpoints. I loved AK, too. We had a small sled dog team and sprint-raced (3 miles) near Anchorage and spent time in Talkeetna. You might enjoy Alaska Flight, too. It’s another Alaskan experience. I’m working on a third in the medical thriller series, this one in MT where we ended up living near Glacier Park because the area reminded us so much of AK. Happy Holidays. B
Sorry your book was not selected on Kindle scout but I would like a copy when it is published. Thank you Jeff
Betty-
Perhaps you remember me from North Valley ER. I was commuting from CO and working part time. I have followed you in bits and pieces since. You are a great inspiration. I myself am not a writer but I just started taking a writing course and am mostly intimidated! I have had a list of health care issues that I’ve wanted to write about for years and thought it was time to get going. Please let me know if your Flathead group schedules a conference that a newbie might attend.
Cheers and happy 2013,
Lauren Grossman
Hello Betty, You write so well, it is an inspiration. I won’t be able to attend the conference this year – children, grand children and greats call from southern California. I am very involved in my businesses, writing for my business blog and once in awhile for my personal blog. Thank you for keeping your pen moving.
Dear Dr. Betty,
It is with great anticipation that Blue Heron Loft awaits the availability of Eyes of a Pedophile from Amazon Kindle. Due to the prevalence of news coverage about criminal acts against innocent children, the timing and release of your book is sagacious! Thank you for your perseverance to research and write about this very difficult subject. Education is key to aid in identifying and incarcerating pedophiles (for life!).
It was a pleasure working with you to create a book cover that is certain to attract readers.
Wishing you a best seller!