Elena Genik is an integrative pharmacist, patient advocate, and women’s health educator based between New York City and the New Jersey Shore. Diagnosed with autoimmune and hormonal conditions herself, Elena transformed her personal healing journey into a mission to educate, support, and empower others—especially women navigating chronic illness. Humans of Fuzia is proud to feature Elena because her story deeply resonates with our 5-million-strong global community that believes in She for She and He for She—supporting women through shared experiences, knowledge, and collective strength.
Elena, can you tell us about your journey and what led you to the work you do today?
I’m an integrative pharmacist and patient advocate for Graves’ disease and thyroid eye disease. I was diagnosed in 2022, which was incredibly challenging—especially because I already worked in healthcare. I also have PCOS, which I was diagnosed with about six years ago.
Those experiences pushed me to explore functional medicine. I wanted to understand why these things were happening in my body, not just mask symptoms with medication. Through educating and healing myself, I realized I wanted to share this knowledge with others and build a supportive community.
How did your personal health experiences shape your professional direction?
They changed everything. Even as a pharmacist, I felt frustrated because I wasn’t getting answers about root causes. Functional medicine opened my eyes—it looks at diet, lifestyle, stress, labs, and the whole body.
That approach helped me heal, and I knew I couldn’t keep that information to myself. I wanted other women to feel empowered rather than confused or dismissed.
You’ve built a community called Thyroid Love Club. What inspired that?
Living with chronic illness can feel incredibly isolating. I created Thyroid Love Club to bring people together—especially those with autoimmune thyroid conditions.
I host free monthly group calls where people can connect, share experiences, and feel seen. Community support has been a huge part of my own healing, and I wanted to make that accessible to others.
How do you support women who want guidance but may not be ready for one-on-one coaching?
I’m very mindful that not everyone is ready to commit to personal coaching. So I’ve created educational guides and e-books that explain supplements, lab tests, and practical steps people can take.
For those who want deeper support, I do offer one-on-one coaching and work alongside a team of pharmacists practicing functional medicine. And of course, the free monthly group sessions remain open to everyone.
How do you create awareness around your work and community?
I’m very active on social media—Instagram, TikTok, YouTube—and I also have a mailing list where I share updates, education, and resources. I write blogs when I can and focus on sharing content that’s honest, educational, and grounded in real experiences.
What are your goals and aspirations for 2026?
My number one goal is always my health—feeling strong, vibrant, abundant, and joyful. Personally, I want to travel more and enjoy life.
Professionally, I want to grow my coaching practice and reach more people. Even if someone isn’t ready to fully commit to functional medicine, I want them to have access to education that helps them feel better and more in control of their health.
What challenges have you faced while building your work independently?
It’s definitely a leap of faith. My business is still new, and I’ve stepped away from a traditional job to focus on this full-time.
Social media is another challenge—it takes a lot of time and energy to keep up with trends and content creation. I don’t want to be glued to my phone all day, but visibility is important right now. Still, I remind myself why I started.
What message would you like to share with women living with chronic illness?
You are not alone. There is a huge chronic illness community out there, and finding support can be incredibly healing.
I also encourage everyone to advocate for themselves. Ask questions. Seek second opinions. Learn what optimal health looks like for your body. Functional medicine truly changed my life because it looks at root causes—not just symptoms—and that knowledge can be empowering.
“When you begin to truly understand and advocate for your body, healing becomes a collaborative and empowering journey.” — Elena Genik
Connect with Elena Genik:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenagenik/
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
