My Mission

Autoimmune 411™ is the culmination of over two decades of patient advocacy — countless hours poured into helping others simply because it mattered. What began as full-time volunteerism has transitioned into a sustainable mission, much like practitioners or health coaches serving patients and clients, but with a different focus: creating the ultimate patient knowledge base.

Long before founding Hashimoto’s 411®, I was working to spread a vital message: that 9 out of 10 cases of hypothyroidism are autoimmune in nature. That patient-first education and persistence eventually led me to create Hashimoto’s 411®, which has since grown into the world’s largest autoimmune thyroid community.

As Hashimoto’s 411® grew, my role evolved from direct, in-the-trenches advocacy to overseeing the the multi-tiered hierarchy of  moderator groups, where bigger-picture management and decision-making for all groups take place. This transition mirrored my own life season, as my daughters grew older and I returned to full-time work.

Balancing family, career, and leadership in the groups made it impossible to be on the front lines of every conversation, but my advocacy never stopped. Instead, it transitioned into executive level moderator discussions while also focusing more locally — mentoring friends, family, and acquaintances one-on-one, and fueling my never-ending quest for answers through ongoing research. I was never far removed from the group I founded, or from the advocacy I feel called to carry forward.

To the Hashimoto’s 411 moderators who pushed me beyond the support group: thank you for sparking the fire that led me to create a greater resource — for myself, my daughters, and patients who need broader knowledge and strategic guidance than social media or group discussions alone can provide. While I may not have been as visible in the Hashimoto's 411® community over the last several years, for me they have been devoted to advocacy through continued research,  and to building and organizing the foundation of Autoimmune 411 Academy™ — a resource I designed to carry my advocacy into the future. 

What began as a grassroots effort to giving Hashimoto's  patients the answers they never received at diagnosis has evolved into a larger mission: supporting all autoimmune patients through education, strategic guidance, and real-world experience.

I built my 411 Academy™ with accessibility at its core — providing resources and strategies for every financial level, not just those who can afford costly interventions. Thoughtfully designed merchandise and carefully chosen affiliate links help fund this work, while scholarships and course access are regularly gifted to those in hardship. This ensures the heart of my advocacy remains unchanged.

This is advocacy that’s personal, purposeful, and patient-first.