Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Danielle DonDiego.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dr. DonDiego. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I knew at a young age, I wanted to be a Doctor. I put the work in, scarified my 20’s, and made it through to become a board-certified Family Physician with a specialty in Obesity Medicine. I have a background in personal training, was an athlete and bodybuilder growing up. Exercise has always been an outlet for me and satisfied my desire to challenge myself. I’ve always had a passion for a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle, that is most importantly fun. I treat patients online as a concierge doctor with mostly lifestyle changes and medication when necessary.
During my training certain events hit me like a ton of bricks. Many physicians around me were noticeably struggling with increased amounts of stress, and some resulted in either mental health decline or suicide. In addition to my own experience of experiencing burnout in a broken health care system, I started my own mentorship company to help physicians revamp their lifestyle to prevent deterioration. I now coach medical professionals on how to feel human again while maintaining their professional careers. I consider my job to advocate for and heal the healers.
My life experience has shaped my career into more than I could have imagined as a young student.
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not! But worth it nonetheless.
I strongly feel our struggles bring out the powerful human we have inside us. Some of my struggles were watching people close to me fold under multiple pressures without proper outlets for help. I myself found my health declining due to long work hours and the pressure to constantly perform with little rest. My lifestyle now has drastically changed for the better, as I can make my own schedule and see patients from my computer! A happy, healthy doctor makes for great patient care.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Self-Care Rx. and SteadyMD story. Tell us more about the business.
I have two main focuses.
Self-Care Rx, my mentorship company, is focused on helping medical professionals navigate burnout through lifestyle changes. We have to remember we are in control of our lives when we work in a system that doesn’t give much power to the professional. I have an upcoming book titled Self-Care Rx as well, that will be all about my personal experience! I host workshops, mentor online, in person, and speak about this issue to various groups.
SteadyMD is a concierge medical company I work for that provides long term primary care online to patients all over the country. Patients can call, video or text me when they are having problems and we can treat right from our phones! Obviously, it is not meant for acutely sick people, but long term lifestyle changes is where my passion lies. I love to see transformations, especially if it means someone needing less medication!
I’d say I’m known for being strong, speaking out about the hard topics, being open about my experience, and most importantly giving someone the confidence that they really can change their situation. I’m also known for my obsession with coffee 🙂
What sets me apart is I have a unique experience that has enhanced my academic training in a proportion I don’t think I could have predicted. I feel everything has accumulated to bring me to this place in life to keep pushing forward for medical professional’s wellbeing.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Currently, doctors have the highest suicide rate of any profession. I see my company as more of a movement and a genuine community. It’s more than going to conferences or obtaining learning credits. This is about bringing connection back to medicine among its professionals, which will transcend to their patient care. It’s not an overnight project, but we have to start somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Website: drdondiego.com
- Instagram: @drdondiego
- Facebook: Dr. Danielle DonDiego
Image Credit:
Steven Watson of Facen Photography
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