About Me

I am a patient advocate, blogger, and health policy professional living in Washington, D.C. I’ve been living with chronic migraine for the last 8 years since the age of 15. I started writing about my life as a student and young adult living with migraine on my blog, Chronic Migraine Ellie, over 4 years ago. I write about topics like understanding migraine and learning how to be a patient advocate, reducing stigma around migraine, mental health and invisible disabilities, and navigating personal and professional relationships while living with chronic illness.

In addition to my blog, I am also a patient advocate for migraine and has attended Headache on the Hill for the past 4. I currently also consult on healthcare policy and advocacy for migraine organizations.

I graduated from Wesleyan University in 2019 with a BA in History and the Science in Society Program, with a focus in the history of science, technology and medicine. I wrote my senior thesis on the development of pain management as a medical specialty and how physician advocacy organizations influenced state and federal pain policies in the decades leading up to the opioid crisis.

I am available for guest posts, collaborations, and patient advocacy or health policy consulting services.

Email: e.donnerklein@icloud.com