About the Author
Mia McNew is a writer, editor, scholar, and fact-checker with 20 years of professional editorial experience. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in nutrition science and will finish her PhD in nutrition science in less than a year. Her areas of focus include health equity, healthcare access, patient advocacy, public health, and disability. She approaches her research and writing through a lens of empathy, inclusion, and accessibility.
In addition to her professional and academic experience, Mia has an eclectic collection of diagnoses, quirks, and qualifiers. She's lived with chronic illness her entire life. She has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Sjögren's syndrome, and primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). She also has Celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, spinal degeneration, cPTSD, and chronic EBV (or long mono). She's neurodivergent (Autistic/ADHD/OCD), though she didn't become aware of her neurotype until her mid-30s.
She’s been married to her spouse for over a decade and is the parent of three kids, ages 8 and under. She has several pairs of glasses, no jeans, plenty of snark, and a persistent drive to get more books.
While health has often felt elusive or complex, she is neither a victim nor a believer that this 'happened for a reason.' She is passionate about dignity, autonomy, and empathy. She believes that disabled people—like all other humans—deserve a good quality of life and are worthy, dynamic inhabitants of the planet.
Professional Background
Mia has been a writer, editor, and fact-checker for 20 years, serving in various roles and within several industries. She has edited book manuscripts, managed teams of writers, lead content research teams, and developed educational content for nonprofit, for-profit, and academic organizations.
Mia has been a ghostwriter for healthcare professionals, educators, and researchers. She previously worked as a communications manager and copywriter for various healthcare, lifestyle, and wellness companies—which was the catalyst for her academic research and transition to mission-driven, equity-focused work. While behind the scenes in wellness brands, she repeatedly saw science and studies misused to promote specific viewpoints and sell products. In particular, they'd tweak their marketing content to take advantage of vulnerable people, like those concerned with chronic illness, autoimmunity, disability, thyroid conditions, body insecurity, disordered eating, aging, fertility hopes, menopause, brain health, and a general desire for good health. When Mia recommended edits for clarity and accuracy, she was dismissed, ignored, or bluntly told that the CEO felt the facts needed to be translated for better sales. She couldn't continue with that ethical misalignment, and instead, wanted to counteract it.
Even when she worked in a more science-focused primary care environment, she saw healthcare providers dismiss wellness as quackery and snake oil instead of taking the time to consider nuance and the needs of those who were seeking accurate information to navigate complex health needs.
Mia always felt that she fell through the cracks of both medical care and natural health, which is an isolating experience. But she realized that many people actually exist in this gray area that neither industry takes care of.
One size truly doesn't fit all. People know themselves best, and should have the info they need to craft the a la carte approach for health and wellness that works best for them. Mia believes in delivering honest, ethical, nuanced info that's loyal to the people—not industries, sponsors, or CEOs.