Athena Newell, FNP

05/15/2026

Motherhood doesn’t always begin the way we imagined.

In this conversation with Abigail Burle from Love your story, we talk about infertility, a high-risk pregnancy, premature triplets, caregiving, survival mode, and the identity shifts that can come with motherhood.

We also talk about something I think many women quietly carry: the tension between loving your family deeply while grieving the version of life, health, or motherhood you expected.

If you’re a mom who has ever felt like you were just trying to make it through the season in front of you—this conversation is for you.

Watch the full conversation here ↓

What happens when motherhood becomes survival mode?In this conversation, I sit down with Abigail Burle, founder of Love Your Story and Molly’s House, to talk...

04/22/2026

03/27/2026

Still smiling about this one 🥹
Carrie, Cassidee, and Audrey surprised me with a birthday celebration at the office today—and it meant more than they probably know.

If you know STAT, you know we celebrate people well—especially birthdays. It’s part of who we are event as we grow to new locutions. And getting to watch that culture take root here in Charleston… It’s my favorite kind of full circle moment.

So grateful for this team 🥹

03/17/2026

Met her at 19—nervous, frustrated, and trying to navigate PCOS and Hashimoto’s but hadn’t felt supported.

Through a personalized, functional medicine, root-cause approach, we focused on hormone balance, thyroid health, and her overall metabolic wellness.

Now? She’s thriving, in maintenance, and stepping into her first nursing job.

Getting to be a small part of someone’s healing and growth like this is easily the best part of my job. 💛

03/12/2026

Many women with autoimmune disease experience symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis.

Not because the symptoms aren’t real—but because they’re often mild, vague, or easy to dismiss individually.

Symptoms like:

• chronic fatigue despite adequate sleep
• brain fog and trouble concentrating
• muscle and joint pain
• hair loss
• skin rashes
• unexplained weight gain or weight loss

None of these symptoms clearly scream autoimmune disease on their own.

Instead, women are often told:
“It’s stress.”
“It’s your hormones.”
“You’re just busy.”
“This is part of aging.”

But persistent dysfunction is not normal.

Autoimmune disease in women often overlaps with hormone imbalance, fertility challenges, perimenopause, and menopause, which can make symptoms even more confusing.

Understanding patterns of autoimmune symptoms, chronic inflammation, immune system dysfunction, and hormonal shifts can help connect the dots sooner.

Your body isn’t broken. It’s communicating.

Save this post so you can recognize patterns in your symptoms sooner.

03/10/2026

Part 2 for Autoimmune awareness month!

Autoimmune disease in women often overlaps with hormone imbalance, fertility challenges, perimenopause, and menopause, which can make the picture confusing.

Hormonal shifts can influence the immune system, and the immune system can influence hormones. So what looks like “just hormones” can sometimes be underlying immune dysfunction or chronic inflammation.

This is why symptoms like chronic fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, hair loss, and unexplained weight changes often get dismissed or misattributed for years.

But persistent symptoms are not just part of being busy, stressed, or getting older.

Looking deeper at inflammation, immune health, gut health, and hormone balance is often where we begin to connect the dots.

Your body isn’t broken — it’s signaling that something deserves attention.

03/06/2026

VO₂ max is one of the strongest predictors of lifespan and cardiovascular health we can measure.

Improving your cardiorespiratory fitness lowers heart disease risk, improves metabolic health, and increases long-term resilience.

And it doesn’t require extreme workouts.

Walk consistently to build your aerobic base.
Add controlled interval training to improve VO₂ max.
Lift weights to increase muscle mass and improve insulin sensitivity.
Measure progress so you know your training is working.

This is preventive medicine.
This is heart health strategy.
This is where functional medicine goes beyond a standard annual physical.

If you want personalized guidance from a medical provider on improving your VO₂ max, strength training, and cardiovascular risk, schedule a free 15-minute consult and let’s build a plan that fits your life.

03/03/2026

March is autoimmune awareness month, and we’re starting with the foundational facts.

Autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s healthy cells—there are over 80 distinct types, ranging from rheumatoid arthritis to lupus to Hashimoto’s, and disproportionately affect women.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you or someone you love should be tested for an autoimmune condition, we offer free 15-minute consults to walk through your questions and help you decide if testing is the right next step.

Tap the link in my bio to book your spot or check out the full video on YouTube

02/24/2026

CYCLE 101: Part 2
The luteal phase — this is where I see most women struggle.

If progesterone is low or estrogen is relatively dominant, you might notice PMS, anxiety, breast tenderness, spotting, short cycles, or heavy and painful periods.

Your cycle can reflects your hormonal imbalance, stress load, blood sugar balance, thyroid function, inflammation, and gut health. It’s all data.

If you’re noticing consistent luteal phase symptoms and want help interpreting what your body might be signaling, we offer complimentary 15-minute consults at STAT Wellness Charleston to talk through next steps.

You don’t have to guess your way through it.

If you missed part one! Make sure to watch!

02/22/2026

We’re celebrating Medicine + Movement.
Under One Roof

Join us for a morning that celebrates whole-person health:
🏃‍♀️ Community Fun Run at 8:30 AM
☕ Coffee from
🥐 Light snacks
🎁 Swag bags for early guests
🛍️ Local vendors
💚 Meet the local STAT Wellness team
AND our CEO and founder—
🏋️ Tour our new Movement space
🩺 Learn how functional medicine + strength training work together

Whether you’re a current patient, a founding member, or just curious about what we’re building in Park Circle — come see how we’re redefining healthcare in Charleston.

Bring a friend. Bring your kids. Bring your walking shoes.

RSVP to evite in bio.