Our Team
We (Angie and Mickey) aren’t the only ones behind the thriving Autoimmune Wellness community. We’ve got an amazing team of writers, recipe creators and social media gurus working to connect you with the resources that will help you thrive. Meet them!
Rob Abbott, M.D.
Medical Advisor | See Rob's articles >>
Rob Abbott, M.D. is Autoimmune Wellness's resident Medical Advisor. He is medical director and the functional physician for Resilient Roots: Functional and Evolutionary Medicine in Charlottesville, Virginia. He completed his family medicine internship with VCU-Shenandoah Valley in Winchester Virginia and is a graduate of the University of Virginia (U.Va.) School of Medicine where he served as a student ambassador for the U.Va. School of Nursing’s Compassionate Care Initiative, promoting resilience, compassion and self-care. He has completed additional training with the Institute for Functional Medicine, is a Kresser Institute ADAPT Level 1 trained clinician, and is an AIP Certified Coach. Rob approaches medicine from an evolutionary and functional perspective and practices what he calls “spiritually focused and evolutionarily informed functional medicine.” In his free time, Rob enjoys creative expression through writing, sharing blogs, poetry and podcasts through his website amedicinalmind.com.
Three things you might not know about Rob:
1) I have a fraternal twin and I'm not sure what this life would be like without him
2) My nickname growing up was Rabbott. It came from wearing sports jerseys (because of my twin!) that said R. Abbott. It also happened that I was ridiculous quick and could never stop moving, even for a second
3) I've been told by more than one stranger that I look like Will Wheaton or Edward Norton. I'll let you decide.
Grace Heerman
Blog + Social Media Director
Grace Heerman is a writer, content coach and yoga teacher from Seattle. Grace designs websites and creates content that capture how great her clients are so they can effectively and authentically share their expertise with the world. Here are Autoimmune Wellness, Grace writes book reviews, manages blog content, and organizes social media publishing. She splits her time between living Seattle with her friends, Minnesota with her family, and Asia, where she likes to spend the winter months. You can find out where she is now on Instagram and learn more about how she balances work and travel on her website, Said with Grace.
Three things you might not know about Grace:
1) One of her eyes is half brown and half blue.
2) She's lived in Asia for a total of 20 months -- 9 months in college, and 11 months in 2017-18.
3) She's met the Dalai Lama.
Alicia Valeri
Instagram Manager | Follow along >>
Alicia Valeri Green is a creative strategist and owner of the design + brand consultancy LaVie Creative. She works with brands to develop comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that help them effectively connect with their audience. After a Hashimoto’s diagnosis Alicia started AIP immediately and never looked back.
Three things you might not know about Alicia:
1) Alicia and her husband lived in Berlin, Germany for a year.
2) She is an essential oils wellness advocate and currently working on a health coach certification on the side.
3) Her favorite hobbies are photography and book hoarding.
Sarah Kolman
Article Contributor | Read Sarah's articles >>
Sarah Kolman RN, MA, CHPN, INHC is an AIP Certified Coach, Registered Nurse, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, and Contemplative Psychotherapist. Sarah’s unique one-on-one health coaching practice blends her nursing and psychotherapy experience with holistic and nutrition-based health concepts. A passionate student in the field of psychoneuroimmunology, she helps her clients heal by focusing on the brain-body connection and its profound impact on wellness. With Sarah’s support and guidance, clients learn to manage stubborn symptoms that have persisted through countless traditional treatments. Learn more about Sarah’s coaching services by visiting her website, www.this-one-life.com. Her book Full Plate: Nourishing Your Family’s Whole Health in a Busy World is available on Amazon. You can follow Sarah on Facebook.
Three things you might not know about Sarah:
1) At one point, she had three kids under the age of three. They remain close in age, but are a bit older now.
2) She ate lunch with Desmond Tutu in her 20s -- a highlight of her life.
3) She grew up on a ranch in Wyoming. She has also lived in Wisconsin, Colorado, and even India for a short stint.
Christina Feindel
Recipe Contributor | See Christina's recipes >>
Christina Feindel came to the AIP in her early twenties when she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, Celiac, Interstitial Cystitis, and connective tissue disease after more than a decade of declining health. As her debilitating symptoms began to disappear, Christina started sharing recipes at A Clean Plate and is now the author of several healthy e-books. She believes that good, healthy food should be accessible and appealing to anyone on any budget, with any amount of time, and with the bare minimum of ingredients. She also believes that any illness can be improved or even eliminated by starting with a clean plate! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter.
Three things you might not know about Christina:
1) She had her first website when she was 13. She taught herself to code so she could showcase her poetry and art.
2) She still writes fiction and freelances as an editor and designer.
3) The hobbies she enjoys most are acting (which she's okay at) and singing (which she's not). (<< Her words, not ours!)
Kate Jay
Recipe Contributor | See Kate's recipes >>
Kate Jay, NTP, CGP has been using the AIP since 2014 when she noticed symmetrical swelling in her joints, consistent with rheumatoid arthritis. Her children were already on the GAPS diet for their own gut issues so now the family eat a largely low starch diet along with the AIP. Kate no longer has joint pain and swelling and is currently working on healing her hypothyroidism. She set up her blog, Healing Family Eats as motivation for making the restricted diet as exciting as possible for her children and is now the author of the eBook, Healing Eats: 25 Recipes to Heal the Gut while Soothing the Soul. Originally from London, Kate now lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband, two teens and Alfie the tabby cat. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.
Three things you might not know about Kate:
1) She used to save up her work holidays and backpack around the world. Despite seeing some amazing places, she’s now just as happy to spend a couple of weeks back in England visiting family.
2) She’s always been a “maker”. In England she had an online shop selling dresses and purses made with vintage fabrics, and jewellery from antique beads. But shortly after having her work featured in UK magazines, she sold her house, put all her equipment in storage and left the country.
3) She finished her chef diploma in 1997 and exactly 20 years later qualified as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She believes that learning is the best thing you can do to keep your brain young -- although she's in no hurry to find out what course she’ll be graduating in 2037!
Kelsey McReynolds
Recipe Contributor | See Kelsey's recipes >>
Kelsey McReyonlds is the owner of www.ElsiMae.com and was introduced to the AIP community after years of antibiotic and birth control use; eating disorders, extreme exercising and excessive alcohol use that lead to intense digestive issues, candida overgrowth and leaky gut syndrome. Only through the therapeutic use of foods was she healed and has now made it her goal to educate those around her on how easy and fun it can be to nourish our bodies and souls. If you were to go to her house she would most likely be whipping up some delicious treat that you just HAVE to try!
Three things you might not know about Kelsey:
1) She is the lead female singer in a local Americana/Blues band called "Hopkins Switch" in the Pacific Northwest.
2) She once was featured in the local newspaper for a coloring contest submission.
3) She is Icelandic which makes sense of her obsession with Hangikjöt (smoked lamb) and fish.
