Melissa Sanchez, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

A broad foundation in caring for the whole person: "I've been a registered nurse since 2018, working in progressive care, med-surg, medical telemetry, and the emergency room. In 2021, I began my nurse practitioner career at a community health center, caring for patients ages two and up. Seeing such a diverse range of people taught me to look at the whole person, not just a diagnosis or a single symptom."

Where my passion for midlife care began: "My interest in midlife women's health started during my women's health rotation, where I worked with a physician who focused on hormones and the changes that come with perimenopause and menopause. It opened my eyes to how many women live with symptoms for years without knowing hormones may play a role, or without feeling truly heard."

Why it's personal: "Watching a family member struggle with this stage of life made things personal. Drawing on what I'd learned, I encouraged her to talk with her GYN. When she started hormone replacement therapy, her symptoms and quality of life improved dramatically. That stayed with me, and it's why I want to help women understand what's happening in their bodies, feel validated, and get treatment that fits them."

You don't have to just live with it: "Midlife can be a transformative time, but too often women's concerns are dismissed as something they simply have to put up with. Changes in sleep, mood, energy, weight, or sexual health may all be connected to perimenopause or menopause. I love hearing the whole story and helping connect the dots, because no woman should have to suffer in silence. Your symptoms deserve to be taken seriously."