Sally Karioth

Some public speakers make you laugh. Some speakers make you cry. Some speakers make you look at life differently. Sally Karioth is a very special public speaker, because she makes you do all three. It is a gift she has acquired from her varied experiences as a nurse, teacher, writer, talk-show hostess and nationally renowned grief therapist. If one sentence characterizes the message of her speeches, it is her slogan: "Life is not a dress rehearsal."

"Everyday," she tells audiences, "you should have at least one exquisite moment."

Sally Karioth is an Assistant Dean and professor at Florida State University. She holds degrees from the Wisconsin-Green Bay Bellin School of Nursing, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Florida State University and the University of Florida. She also has done post graduate work in genetics at University College London. Dr. Karioth is a longtime faculty member of the Florida State University College of Nursing, where she teaches one of the university's most popular courses, called "Death, the Individual and the Family." To date she has taught over 25,000 students at FSU and has won every teaching award the University awards. She takes students to London both over spring break and in the summer. She continues to say that every year she is allowed to teach she remains the luckiest woman at FSU. 2016 begins her 46th year on the faculty. She is widely published and her book: “If you want to know if you’re dying ask the cleaning lady” has sold over 80,000 copies.

For more than 40 years, Karioth also has been in private practice, helping people cope with the death of loved ones. Her particular concern is parents who have lost a child to death.

Karioth, a Certified Traumatologist (CT) has been active in trauma work, and is called frequently to events nationwide to speak to tragedy survivors and mental health officials suffering compassion fatigue. An oft sought after television and media personality including having given a TED talk she has been in two award winning films and continues to be utilized as a frequent commentator and expert in traumatic worldwide events.

Dr. Karioth Logs over 50,000 miles a year talking to healthcare and business groups, carrying the message : “Life is what you Make it Make the Best of it”