A Foundation Built on Journalism
Lisa Faye Crites established her professional identity in journalism, where credibility, precision, and responsibility are essential. She worked as a health and medical reporter and anchor for respected media outlets, including Central Florida News 13 in Orlando, America’s Health Network, PBS, WKMG Local 6, CNTV, NADA TV, and the Travel Channel. Her reporting focused on medical and business topics that required both technical understanding and clear communication. Through years in broadcast journalism, Crites developed the ability to translate complex information into accessible language while maintaining accuracy and public trust.
Alongside her reporting work, she served as a media coach with Gannett. In this role, she helped professionals strengthen their communication skills and present information with confidence. This experience deepened her understanding of how audiences absorb information and reinforced the value of clarity and structure, principles that later shaped her approach to invention.
A Personal Experience That Changed Direction
In 2009, Crites underwent a double mastectomy, an experience that marked a turning point in her career. During recovery, she encountered a challenge familiar to many surgical patients. Managing surgical drains during daily activities, particularly showering, proved difficult and uncomfortable. At the time, few practical solutions existed to address this issue safely.
Rather than accepting the limitation, Crites applied the same investigative mindset she had developed as a journalist. She studied the problem, examined existing options, and began thinking through a better approach. Her goal was simple but meaningful: allow patients to shower safely while protecting surgical drains and maintaining dignity during recovery.
Creating a Practical Medical Solution
That process led to the creation of The SHOWER SHIRT™, a water-resistant garment designed specifically for post-surgical care. Crites focused on functionality, comfort, and ease of use, prioritizing patients’ real needs over unnecessary complexity. She secured U.S. Patent No. 8,516,613 for the design and method of use, officially establishing herself as an inventor.
The SHOWER SHIRT™ is classified by the Food and Drug Administration as a Class I medical device, recognizing its low risk and practical value. The product is now available through medical supply providers and retail platforms, offering patients and caregivers a simple solution during recovery.
Applying Journalistic Discipline to Innovation
Crites approached invention with the same discipline she applied to reporting. She consulted medical professionals, gathered patient feedback, and refined the garment based on real-world use. Her background in health journalism allowed her to understand both clinical requirements and patient experience.
The success of The SHOWER SHIRT™ lies in its thoughtful simplicity. It addresses a specific need with empathy and precision, reflecting Crites’s belief that effective innovation begins with careful observation and listening.
Recognition on National and Global Stages
Her work received significant recognition. In 2015, Crites was named a winner of the national InnovateHER Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Washington Post, and Microsoft. The competition highlights products that empower women and improve quality of life. That same year, she received the Patient Innovation Award from the University of Portugal, affirming the international relevance of her work.
The SHOWER SHIRT™ was later featured in the London Science Museum’s innovation exhibit, which toured several European countries. Crites was also invited to present her work at the World Government Summit in Dubai, where leaders explore solutions that combine healthcare, technology, and social impact.
She received a Silver Award at the Silicon Valley International Invention Festival and an ARCA award from the Croatian Union of Innovators. In 2024, she was nominated for induction into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame, recognizing her lasting contributions to patient-centered healthcare innovation.
From Innovation to Public Policy
Crites’s work extended beyond product development into healthcare advocacy. She was responsible for the bipartisan legislative filing of the Post Mastectomy Infection Reduction Act, sponsored by Congressman Bill Posey and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida. The legislation addressed gaps in post-surgical care and demonstrated her ability to transform personal experience into actionable policy.
Education and Knowledge Sharing
Education has remained central to Crites’s professional growth. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Murray State University in Kentucky. She later completed an MBA and a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing and e-commerce from the European Business School in Barcelona.
Crites regularly delivers guest lectures at colleges and universities across the United States on patient innovation, social entrepreneurship, and scaling lived experience into sustainable solutions. Her work has been examined in academic theses and featured in the book Patient Innovation, where she appears on pages 37 through 41 in discussions of global patient driven innovation models.
Commitment Beyond Professional Work
Crites has also demonstrated a long standing commitment to community service. She has served on nonprofit boards including the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, Digital Arts for Autism, National Breast Friends Advisory Member, Driven By Heart, Space Coast Early Steps, and the weVENTURE Women’s Business Center Advisory Board at the Florida Institute of Technology. She has volunteered with the Central Florida Second Harvest Food Bank and the Central Florida Homeless Coalition, reinforcing her dedication to service.
A Career Defined by Purpose
Lisa Faye Crites’s career reflects the power of combining professional skill with personal insight. From journalism to invention, policy advocacy, and global recognition, her work has remained focused on improving recovery care through practical design. Through The SHOWER SHIRT™ and her continued efforts, she has shown that meaningful innovation begins with attention, empathy, and the decision to act.
