Michelle Stewart, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Connecting the dots: "I’ve been a nurse since 2011 and a nurse practitioner since 2015. My career has taken me through home health, a federally qualified health center in West Virginia, internal medicine in Santa Barbara, psychiatry, and urgent care in North Carolina. Starting in home health taught me to look beyond symptoms and consider the whole person, including the social factors that shape health. Working in underserved communities and collaborating closely with specialists in a multispecialty clinic strengthened my ability to connect complex pieces of a patient’s story and develop thoughtful, individualized care plans."

Finding the root cause: "Throughout my work in internal medicine, I developed a deep interest in both women’s health and mental health. I often saw women who had spent years seeking answers for insomnia, anxiety, depression, brain fog, or weight changes without realizing that perimenopause could be the underlying cause. I was troubled by how often midlife symptoms went unrecognized, leaving women feeling frustrated and unheard. Helping patients connect the dots and understand what’s happening in their bodies has become one of the most rewarding parts of my work."

The ripple effect: "One patient had been misdiagnosed for years before we finally identified perimenopause as the root cause of her symptoms. She became emotional during our visit because she finally felt seen and validated. After starting treatment, she returned feeling like herself again and shared that her family and coworkers had noticed the difference as well. Seeing how helping one woman can positively impact her relationships, work, and overall quality of life reminds me why this work matters so much."

Changing the future of women’s health: "I joined Midi because women’s health has historically been under-treated and misunderstood. We have an incredible opportunity to change that. My goal is for every patient to leave feeling seen, heard, validated, and optimistic, with a clear plan for moving forward and the confidence that she has a partner in her care."