Meet Melissa Schenkman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Schenkman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In my professional life working with hospitals, universities, and nonprofits, I have had the privilege of interviewing many people from around the country. It was this very part of my career that I love so much, interviewing people, that sparked my idea for YMyHealth.

It all started in 2015 in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois, when I interviewed a fellow millennial who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 22 years old. What I learned then and still know to be true today, is that there is not a place where millennials can turn to for reliable and actionable health information that is tailored towards them or comes directly from experts who are the same age as us, facing many of the same generational challenges in daily life that we do.

I wanted to create a place for my own generation, where fellow millennials could come for health information about prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and chronic disease management that provides answers relevant to the very questions our age group is asking.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Forging my own path to pursue the career I had dreamed of in broadcast health and medical journalism has been a journey filled with great challenges but equally great successes. My professional interests have always been in very different fields: journalism, health, science, medicine, and public health research. While my path has not led me to being the broadcast health and medical journalist on daily television that I had envisioned, I am proud of the difference I have been able to make in people’s health. When I look at my career as a whole, it is the epitome of what can happen when you choose to take a nontraditional path because of the numerous lives my work has and continues to positively impact across the United States.

As the landscape of what journalism looks like has continually evolved over the past two decades and public health has faced some of the most immense challenges of its time, I have been able to effectively pivot in my work and embrace the changes in each of these fields to still make an impact in ways that would not have been possible without charting my unique course. My diverse experiences from working in traditional and multimedia journalism to doing my own public health research and spending time in the lab, to working and volunteering in the hospital setting with patients, to being a patient and in the role of caregiver myself, has all provided me with a unique ability when interviewing individuals from all different backgrounds and helping them share their stories with the world.

The creation of YMyHealth is the culmination of much of my life’s work in journalism, health communications, and public health. In January 2025, we launched the YMyHealth Podcast, which within the first month of its existence climbed into the top 50% of all podcasts by downloads—an achievement we never expected so quickly. We explore many aspects of health that are often not talked about, but are in high demand for knowledge from millennials and often even, the many people from older generations who have engaged with our community.

Whether creating content to share the patient experience or providing vital health information in a way people can understand and relate to, I am and at YMyHealth we are able to do things in such a creative way that as an ER doctor has told me, “You make healthcare less scary for patients, especially ones under age 50.” And when taking care of your health is less scary, it means you are far more likely to do so.

To me, this is some of the most important work a person can do. So, what I hope people will take away from my story and our YMyHealth brand is not to count out people who take a nontraditional career path or any other nontraditional path in life to get to where they are. In an ever-changing and complex world, it may be an ‘outside-the-box’ thinker like me who is exactly who you need to partner with to truly make a difference.

Check out our YMyHealth Podcast on any podcast platform and see for yourself!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many exciting places to experience when you are in town. I am a fourth-generation Atlantan who wholeheartedly loves this city and to showcase what makes it so special when I have friends come to visit the area.

To begin with, Atlanta is known as “a city in a forest,” as it has magnificent trees covering a large portion of the city. I always recommend that people visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden. It is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places in the city to visit. Two of my other favorite outdoor spots that I love to take people to get a run or walk in on their trip are the paths around Chastain Park and the Roswell Riverwalk, which runs parallel to the Chattahoochee River with gorgeous views. It is also always fun to take in an Atlanta Braves game at Truist Park and walk around The Battery Atlanta.

If you are a museum goer, we have some fantastic ones! Some of my favorites to tour with people are the Atlanta History Center, the Margaret Mitchell House, and the High Museum of Art. Ponce City Market, Inman Park, and Krog Street Market along the Atlanta Beltline are very cool areas to visit with great vibes and food too.

Atlanta’s restaurant scene has grown tremendously over the past several years in both the types of food and number of dining options throughout the metro area. Places that are my favorites and I highly encourage people to check out are: Murphy’s in Virginia Highland, Baraonda and The Select in Sandy Springs, South City Kitchen, OK Café, Blue Ridge Grill, and C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to several people who have made it possible for me to put in the hard work it has taken to build and to grow YMyHealth – Healthcare Stories for Generation Y into the thriving and highly respected entity that it is today.

First, I would like to recognize, my dear friend and YMyHealth Podcast Co-Host and Content Marketing Strategist, Julie Woon. Julie has made it possible for us to grow YMyHealth and to continually stay cutting edge in the content that we offer. I would not be where I am today with YMyHealth without her expertise, hard work, and support in making it possible for us to produce the highest quality content and keep everything running smoothly 24-7.

My success would equally not be possible without my wonderful parents. I am enormously grateful for their support, love, and words of encouragement that they have given me throughout my life and all of the years I have worked to slowly build YMyHealth while also working other full-time positions simultaneously.

A big shoutout to our awesome social media team, Kendall Hackett and Jasmine Duncan of Kendall Media Co. We would not have been able to make a difference in as many lives as we have without your creativity and expertise.

Also, I want to recognize all of our YMyHealth Contributors from across the United States — 26 states to date — who have inspired me with their stories, expertise, and advocacy work. Your belief in YMyHealth and in me to improve the healthcare experience for our generation has been a daily source of motivation and support. Thank you!!

Finally, a huge thank you to my mentors, relatives, and all of my friends who have continually encouraged me as an entrepreneur and supported Julie and I in building YMyHealth. Your support, enthusiasm and engagement with YMyHealth have been and continue to be deeply appreciated every day.

Website: https://www.ymyhealth.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ymyhealth_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YMyHealth/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGQnsJu0zTBx_pI5lKjiEvA

Other: https://www.ymyhealth.com/podcast

Image Credits
YMyHealth Podcast Cover: Sarah Jane Ponce, Founder, AVCreativity Studio