Mary Shomon
Encyclopedia
Mary Shomon, born 1961, is an American
health activist and author whose primary focus is thyroid
disease.
, and fibromyalgia
. Shomon is also the original Guide for the About.com (formerly the Mining Co.) site on thyroid disease. She has also maintained other patient-oriented websites and email newsletters on thyroid disease since 1997.
It should be noted that Shomon is not trained in any aspect of health care, and the information that she presents on thyroid conditions are her opinion only.
in Washington, DC, where she earned a Bachelor's degree
in International Finance from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
. She worked in advertising and marketing for a number of advertising agencies and grassroots outreach companies, developing advertising and outreach campaigns for commercial and non-profit clients. Shomon was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis
, an auto-immune thyroid condition, in 1995, and this became the impetus for her involvement with online thyroid support groups, and ultimately, the creation of her thyroid-related web sites and her work as a patient advocate. In 1997, she joined with the Mining Co., (now, About.com
) to create the Thyroid Disease web site, and her site went live when the company was launched in April 1997. She continues as Thyroid Guide for About.com as of February 2007. Recently in June 2008, she led a workshop called Living With Thyroid Disease: Creating Your Wellness Plan at the New York Open Center http://www.opencenter.org. She also writes, edits and maintains a number of other thyroid and health-related web sites.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
health activist and author whose primary focus is thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
disease.
Published work
She is the author of one New York Times best-selling book, The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, published by Harper Collins in 2004, along with a number of other consumer health books on thyroid disease, weight loss, auto-immune disease, chronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
, and fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure. It is an example of a diagnosis of exclusion...
. Shomon is also the original Guide for the About.com (formerly the Mining Co.) site on thyroid disease. She has also maintained other patient-oriented websites and email newsletters on thyroid disease since 1997.
Advocacy
In her work, Shomon advocates education, information, and knowledge of alternative and holistic approaches to health. She is critical of some of the practices of mainstream medicine, and especially endocrinology, in diagnosing and treating thyroid disease, and has been particularly outspoken about various issues concerning the leading drug in the field, Synthroid.It should be noted that Shomon is not trained in any aspect of health care, and the information that she presents on thyroid conditions are her opinion only.
Education & Diagnosis
Shomon is a 1983 graduate of Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, DC, where she earned a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in International Finance from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
. She worked in advertising and marketing for a number of advertising agencies and grassroots outreach companies, developing advertising and outreach campaigns for commercial and non-profit clients. Shomon was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Hashimoto's thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed by a variety of cell- and antibody-mediated immune processes. It was the first disease to be recognized as an autoimmune disease...
, an auto-immune thyroid condition, in 1995, and this became the impetus for her involvement with online thyroid support groups, and ultimately, the creation of her thyroid-related web sites and her work as a patient advocate. In 1997, she joined with the Mining Co., (now, About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
) to create the Thyroid Disease web site, and her site went live when the company was launched in April 1997. She continues as Thyroid Guide for About.com as of February 2007. Recently in June 2008, she led a workshop called Living With Thyroid Disease: Creating Your Wellness Plan at the New York Open Center http://www.opencenter.org. She also writes, edits and maintains a number of other thyroid and health-related web sites.
Publications
Shomon has authored eight health books and has published many alternative medicine related articles on her web sites. Her books include:- The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age, 2006, Collins/HarperCollins; 1st edition, ISBN 006079865-3
- The Thyroid Diet: Manage Your Metabolism for Lasting Weight Loss, 2004, HarperResource; ISBN 006052444-8
- Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know, Second Edition, 2005, HarperResource, ISBN 0060740957
- Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism:What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know, 2005, HarperCollins, ISBN 0060740957
- What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Parkinson's Disease: A Holistic Program for Optimal Wellness, co-authored with Jill Marjama-Lyons, 2003, Time Warner, ISBN 0446678902
- Living Well With Autoimmune Disease: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know, 2003, HarperCollins, ISBN 0060938196
- Living Well With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know, 2004, ISBN 0060521252
- Living Well With Hypothyroidism: What Your Doctor Doesn't Tell You...That You Need to Know, 2000, Avon/Morrow/HarperResource