Meet the 

founder

Hi, I’m Alice McDonnell — and I’m really glad you’re here. 

 

I’m a wife and mother of two daughters, living in Connecticut with my family. I was adopted at birth and raised in Westchester County, New York — the youngest and only girl with three older brothers — a part of my story that quietly shaped how I’ve always thought about health, genetics, and identity.

 

Being adopted naturally sparked a lifelong curiosity about genetics and epigenetics — questions about what we carry, what we express, and how environment and life experiences influence health over time.

 

That curiosity became deeply personal when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect (ASD) and required open-heart surgery at just two years old. Navigating complex medical systems as a parent — and learning how anatomy, physiology, and early development intersect — was my first real exposure to how much context is often missing in healthcare conversations.

 

Not long after, I received my own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease.

 

Like many autoimmune patients, I was given a diagnosis and a treatment plan, but very little explanation. I was left with unanswered questions about symptoms, lab results, triggers, and why so many aspects of health seemed disconnected. It quickly became clear that managing autoimmune illness required more than symptom control — it required understanding how systems interact.

 

After my diagnosis, I started learning.

 

I researched relentlessly. I asked questions. I studied patterns across immune, hormonal, nervous, metabolic, and environmental systems. I learned that genetics may influence risk, but epigenetics, stress, environment, and regulation shape expression. Most importantly, I learned that autoimmune illness doesn’t mean the body is broken — it means systems are out of balance and asking for support.

 

Hashimoto’s 411 — and later Autoimmune 411 and the Autoimmune 411 Academy — grew out of that understanding. 

 

I created it to bridge the gap between confusing medical information and clear, connected understanding — helping people make sense of labs, symptoms, and patterns without being overwhelmed or dismissed.

 

In 2021, I located my biological parents and formed a close relationship with them. For the first time, I was able to learn about my biological background and genetic predispositions — not as labels or limitations, but as information. That experience reinforced my belief that knowledge empowers informed choices rather than fear.

 

Today, my work is guided by a simple philosophy:

 

• Education over fear 

• Regulation over suppression 

• Understanding systems before chasing symptoms

 

 

Autoimmune 411 — and the Autoimmune 411 Academy — exist to help people reconnect the dots, understand the terrain they’re navigating, and move forward with confidence rather than confusion. 

 

I don’t promise quick fixes.

I focus on understanding why the body responds the way it does — and how thoughtful, informed support can change the course of healing.

 

👣

On the Frontlines with you, 

Alice McDonnell 

Founder, Autoimmune 411