Good Question!
I'll start by giving you the story of how I got into Wellness Coaching. After spending 15+ years training and working in medicine as an Anatomic Pathologist, I was faced with the fabulous news that I was to become a mother. In my late 30's at the time, I was fairly busy keeping myself healthy with cystic fibrosis and working a stressful job of trying to sort out who did and did not have cancer! I had been very healthy during medical school and training, but when I began working as a Pathologist, my health started to decline. I began to need IV medications and my stress level was off the charts. When I knew that child rearing was to be added to my routine, it became clear that something had to go, and letting my health decline was not an option!
So I retired and immersed myself in kids (two!), baby talk, neighborhood parks and dirty diapers. I exercised like a fiend and my health stabilized. Life was good.
Then two things happened: 1) my youngest started school, and 2) I was told (in a gentle fashion) that I was becoming somewhat "boring."
Well, that did not go over well! I proceeded to begin the journey of my "Second Career". My passion has always been staying fit, so I knew my career had to revolve around health and fitness. With the word "boring" still ringing in my ears, I became a certified personal trainer through two national organizations. I designed my own home fitness studio.I completed a training and licensing program in Wellness Coaching which is endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine. I was a featured speaker at a National Cystic Fibrosis Research (CFRI) Conference. I became a Wellness Columnist for CF Roundtable, a publication of the United States Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults. I volunteered at the local YMCA as an instructor for the Living Well Living Strong exercise program for cancer survivors. And oh, yeah, I founded a tax-exempt 501(3)(c) organization (no small feat) entitled New Day Wellness, with the mission to improve the lives of others with chronic illness.
My Philosophy
Having a chronic illness is a huge challenge, but it can also be life enhancing. A healthy perspective full of gratitude and self-efficacy can be developed as a result of our bodies being less than perfect. It is sort of like the old adage that along with every problem comes an opportunity. The opportunity available when we have a life-long health issue is to learn the difference between what is in our control, and what is not.
I want to help others get very clear on what is in their control. How much and how often we move our bodies, what we feed our bodies, how we deal with our stress, and how we optimize our health is ALL in our control.
Exercise is a huge part of why I am here today, over 10 years past the median age of survival with CF. I currently find time to run and/or walk almost every day, lift weights 3 times a week, do yoga or stretching regularly, and generally keep moving unless I'm asleep (easy to do with 2 young boys and many, many dogs).
My Education
- B.S., Life Sciences, University of Nebraska
- M.D., Stanford Medical School
- Internship, Residency in Anatomic Pathologyl; Stanford University Medical Center
- Fellowships: Surgical Pathology, Autopsy Pathology, Dermatopathology;
Stanford University Medical Center - Certified Personal Trainer (ACE, NSCA)
- Licensed Corporate Wellcoach (Wellcoaches, Inc; ACSM)
- University of Motherhood (ongoing)
