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Our Story
Maybe it's not for any of us to know what forces converged to bring the three co-founders of the IIWII
Foundation together, but all who know the trio would agree that from the beginning, something synergistic
and powerful was bound to come of the meeting. Although Michele Bennett, Gianna Muir-Robinson, and Natalie
Bradley each hail from different parts of the country, and have different educational and professional
backgrounds, they recognized a need and shared a sense of urgency for better treatment options and resources
for patients, families, and treatment providers battling eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, ...). Through their shared vision
and cooperative effort the IIWII Foundation was born. We invite you to meet the founders.
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Michele Bennett
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Co-Founder and Program Director,
BS in Biology/Chemistry, MS in Genetic Counseling
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Michele brings over 10 years of professional skills to the IIWII Foundation, including extensive experience
counseling women newly diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer. Through her previous work as a genetics
counselor in the Scripps Healthcare System, she has facilitated support groups, and provided bereavement,
family, and cancer prevention counseling. In addition to her patient care responsibilities, Michele focused
her attention on underrepresented sectors of her community by writing and obtaining funding for educational
and outreach-oriented programming. When she's not trekking across Africa working in HIV-ravaged villages, or
mentoring high school girls from La Jolla, CA, Michele divides her time between the IIWII Foundation and the
Y Africa Project that orchestrates relief and health promotion mission trips to Malawi, Africa. Michele loves
her fashion, her decaf, and most of all her pug, Francis Floyd Davis.
"Now it is my turn to use my pain, my experiences, my professional skills and insight to give back to
the mental health profession and to those individuals and families that still suffer."
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Gianna Muir-Robinson
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Co-Founder and Program Director,
BA Neurobiology
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Gianna brings five years of professional experience and skills in the field of scientific research to the IIWII
Foundation. She has designed, written and published NIH-funded studies in the field of developmental neurobiology.
She has volunteered as an eating disorder counselor and mentor, and is an accomplished artist and musician. When
she is not in the lab or being creative, look for her to lead a campaign to improve San Diego's substandard
recycling program.
"My experience and journey recovering from a serious eating disorder has taught me to value my life highly,
as it is the only one that I will ever know".
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