Author: Melissa Finley

Melissa Finley

After more than two decades working in the journalism industry, I have certainly come to realize just how valuable, and sadly rare, fair and unbiased information truly is. There may be no more crucial of a field than that of health in which that is even more necessary. From rapidly losing my mother to colon cancer at a young age, to my own lifelong illnesses requiring daily medication, to the medical needs of my teen children, I know first-hand how important the dissemination of this information is. As a single mother, I also carry the burden of making medical choices for two unique individuals, as I have since their premature entrances into this world, both being directly whisked to NICU for care at birth. I have long been a purist when it comes to journalism. Show me facts. Show me science. Tell me the truth. Cite your sources. Yet, this honest, truthful form of media is hard to come by these days. I am blessed to have found a non-profit that does just that in MedShadow. I am honored to share my talents in the editorial field for such a worthy cause: to educate the public about medical conditions, forms of treatments, and health and wellness topics with honest and unbiased information, not paid for nor influenced by major pharmaceutical companies. Everyone is impacted by health concerns. Each human being has medical needs, from simply sustaining a healthy lifestyle, to seeking the best, individualized treatments. All people have a need for information about the medical field. Knowing that the articles and stories shared on MedShadow can help people better understand the facts fills me with a dutiful purpose and passion to deliver the very best! I obtained my Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism from Pennsylvania State University (WE ARE!). I have previously worked with the Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as AOL. After many years in a freelance role, working for myself, I am honored to join the MedShadow team to deliver fair, unbiased medical news to the world! I currently reside in Warren, Pa. (in the Allegheny National Forest) with my two amazing children, my loving chi, “The Mighty Quinn,” and my children’s two cats: Stinky and Archimedes. I am a member of and passionate supporter of the LGBTQ community. I enjoy reading, writing, the beach, and spending time with the two amazing young people I’m honored to have shared my genetics with, as imperfect as they may be.

This month, we celebrate what makes Hispanic heritage wonderful and unique. We’d like to bring up another way to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month: learning how to manage the  Hispanic health and healthcare challenges unique to your genetic background.   As Americans strive to remember that “all men are created equal,” no matter our age, skin color, religion, sexuality, gender, or socio-economic status, but research shows different ethnic backgrounds face higher or lower risks of experiencing certain health conditions. s Knowing the risks associated with your ethnicity can help you make educated decisions about your health. Let’s break down some of the…

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