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About Mary Margaret Burch

Mary Margaret Burch is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with advanced training in integrative and functional medicine, specializing in complex pediatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder and PANS/PANDAS. But more importantly, she's a parent who has walked the same path you're on.
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She raised two children with autism and complex health challenges—children who are now thriving. That journey taught her what no textbook could: how isolating it feels when answers are hard to find, how frustrating it is when providers don't connect the dots, and how desperately parents need clear, actionable information to advocate effectively for their children.
Mary Margaret Burch

This website exists because of that experience. Mary Margaret created it as the resource she wishes she'd had—a place where parents can learn about the biomedical approaches to autism,PANS/PANDAS, and related conditions, understand what tests and treatments to ask about, and gain the knowledge needed to be true partners in their child's care.

With over a decade of clinical experience in integrative medicine, plus years in social services and acute care nursing, Mary Margaret has spent her career translating complex medical information into practical guidance families can actually use. She understands advanced diagnostics, functional medicine testing, and how to identify underlying contributors to chronic illness. While informed by personal perspective, the information shared here is grounded in professional experience treating thousands of patients. Her goal here is to share that knowledge with you—so you can show up to appointments informed, ask the right questions, and know what options exist beyond what you might be hearing.

Whether you're just beginning to explore biomedical interventions or have been navigating this world for years, this site offers both foundational education and deeper training to help you better understand your child's condition and treatment options. You'll find free resources to get started, along with more comprehensive coursework for parents ready to go further. Mary Margaret's hope is simple: that you feel less alone, more equipped, and more confident as you advocate for your child's health and healing.

Who this site is for

This site is for you if:
Your child has autism, PANS/PANDAS, or related neuroimmune or developmental challenges—and you suspect there is "more going on" underneath the surface.
You feel like you've been given labels, but not real explanations, and you want to understand the why behind your child's symptoms.
You're curious about biomedical or integrative approaches but don't want hype, false promises, or miracle‑cure language—you want grounded, realistic, parent‑friendly education.
You're ready to be an active partner in your child's care, not a passive bystander.
Whether you're brand new to these ideas or you've been reading and trying things for years, you're welcome here.

1. Start here: Foundations (Free Resources)

  Begin with the "Get Started" page to build a clear, big‑picture understanding of biomedical approaches.
Get Started Today
 You'll find simple explainers on concepts like gut‑brain connection, immune dysregulation, inflammation, mitochondrial function, and common lab tests—written in everyday language.
Use these resources to get oriented, learn key terms, and understand what kinds of questions you might bring to your child's current or future providers.

2. Deep dive: Condition‑specific guides

  Next, explore guides focused on autism, PANS, and PANDAS. These sections explain:
  • Typical medical and functional work‑ups parents often explore.
  • Categories of interventions families may hear about (for example, nutrition and special diets, supplements, antimicrobial or anti‑inflammatory strategies, detox/environmental changes, nervous system support).
  • How different pieces—like infections, immune function, and the gut—can interact to shape behavior, mood, and development.
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  These guides do NOT tell you what to do for your child; instead, they help you understand what might be discussed in appointments and how to think through options.

3. Go further: Courses and trainings (Premium)

For parents who want structured learning, Mary offers more in‑depth, stepwise educational courses and workshops. These cover topics like:
  • Gain a deeper understanding of child’s diagnosis and practical solutions with real world results.
  • Gain hope and a clear path forward towards whole body healing.
  • Gain insight from fellow families and expertise from a trained medical practitioner.
Explore Courses & More
Premium content is designed to save you time, shorten your learning curve, and help you move from scattered information to a clearer plan of what to ask, what to watch, and how to prioritize discussions      with your child's care team.

On this site, you will consistently see:

Educational, not prescriptive language

1. You will read explanations, not instructions.
2. You will see examples of what other families discuss with their doctors, but not "do this, then that" treatment orders.

Root‑cause‑oriented thinking

1. Instead of focusing only on managing behaviors, Mary looks at what might be driving those behaviors under the surface—such as inflammation, infections, nutrient issues, or environmental triggers.
2. This doesn't mean every child will have the same contributors or outcomes; it means you'll learn how to ask whether these pieces have been explored for your child.

Realistic, grounded hope

1. Mary's own children are proof that meaningful progress is possible, even when things look very hard at the beginning.​
2. You will never be promised cures or guarantees, but you will be reminded that kids can change, that biology is not fixed, and that your efforts as a parent matter.
Get Started Today