Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Whittle Aka Dr Cee Nicole.
Hi Courtney Whittle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey to where I am today has been anything but linear — but every step has led me to my purpose. I started out as a pediatrician, and while I loved caring for children and families, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I was helping patients, but I wasn’t changing lives the way I knew I could.
While working at Kaiser, I met a 15-year-old girl who weighed over 450 pounds. I could tell she didn’t fully realize how much she weighed — but what struck me most was how seeing the number on the scale made her shrink into herself, like she wanted to disappear. That moment hit me deeply because I remembered feeling the same way. During a difficult period in my life and a bad marriage, I had gained 100 pounds. I remember avoiding mirrors, photos, and people — wanting to hide until I felt like myself again. I was desperate to reclaim who I was. Seeing that young girl, I realized that I didn’t just want to treat obesity — I wanted to help people reclaim themselves the way I had to. In that moment, I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
That’s what sparked the creation of Weight A Minute Clinic — a telehealth obesity medicine practice that treats both kids and adults with compassion, science, and accessibility at the forefront. I wanted to build something that went beyond “eat less and move more.” My goal was to create a space where people feel seen, supported, and empowered — where we treat the whole person, not just their BMI.
But getting here was far from easy. I’ve faced plenty of challenges along the way — both personally and professionally. I even failed my pediatric board exam three times before finally passing. That experience humbled me and taught me resilience. I learned that your worth isn’t defined by a test or a title; it’s defined by your perseverance and your purpose. Ironically, when I later took the obesity medicine boards, I passed on my first attempt — and now I serve on a committee with the American Board of Obesity Medicine. That’s a full-circle moment I’ll never forget.
Building Weight A Minute Clinic has also meant wearing every hat — from credentialing and marketing to patient care and education. But every obstacle has reinforced why this work matters. Obesity is one of the most misunderstood and undertreated diseases in the country, and I want to change that narrative. Through my clinic, my app, and community events, my mission is to kill obesity quicker than it’s killing us — and to do it with empathy, innovation, and access at the heart of it all.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that passion and persistence will take you places credentials alone never could.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not — it has been anything but smooth! I never had any real desire to be an entrepreneur. My passion has always been caring for patients, not spreadsheets, contracts, or marketing plans. When I started Weight A Minute Clinic, I truly had no idea where to begin. I knew medicine, but business was a completely different language.
I made plenty of mistakes early on. I spent money on marketing campaigns that reached absolutely no one, I hired team members who didn’t share the same vision or move the business forward, and I had to learn through trial and error how to balance growth with sustainability. There were moments when I questioned everything — whether I was cut out for entrepreneurship, whether people would understand my mission, and whether the clinic would survive those early growing pains.
But those challenges taught me more than any textbook ever could. I learned to trust my instincts, to surround myself with people who believe in the vision as much as I do, and to remember that mistakes are just lessons wearing disguises. Each misstep refined my purpose, strengthened my resilience, and reminded me why I started — to create a space where patients feel seen, supported, and empowered.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but it’s been worth every bump. Every obstacle has shaped me into not just a better business owner, but a more compassionate physician and leader.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the founder and CEO of Weight A Minute Clinic, a telehealth obesity-medicine practice that helps children and adults manage weight and reclaim their health in a way that’s realistic, supportive, and empowering. We specialize in treating obesity as the complex, chronic disease that it is — blending medical treatment, nutrition education, behavioral health, and lifestyle coaching into care that actually works for real life.
What truly sets us apart is that we lead with empathy. So many patients have felt judged or dismissed when it comes to their weight; I wanted Weight A Minute Clinic to feel completely different. We focus on helping people feel seen, understood, and hopeful again — without shame or blame. Our approach is science-driven but deeply human, using tools like GLP-1 medications and evidence-based nutrition counseling alongside compassion and cultural understanding.
Beyond the clinic, I’m passionate about taking this mission into the community through initiatives like Whole. Well. & Worthy., our women’s wellness experience happening November 8th in Atlanta. It’s more than just an event — it’s a movement. It creates space for women, especially Black women, to pause, refill their cups, and reconnect with their wholeness through yoga, massages, panel discussions, and open conversations about health topics we often avoid — from stress and burnout to fibroids and incontinence. It represents the heart of what I do: making wellness accessible, relatable, and joyful.
What I’m most proud of is seeing lives truly change — whether it’s a patient who’s lost weight and gained confidence, or a woman who leaves an event feeling seen and re-energized. Weight A Minute Clinic and Whole. Well. & Worthy. are two sides of the same coin — both created to make people feel worthy of care, attention, and wellness again.
What sets me apart is that I don’t just treat obesity — I’ve lived it. I understand the emotional and physical weight that comes with it, and I’ve built my work around compassion, education, and access so that no one else has to feel invisible on their health journey.
How do you think about happiness?
What makes me happiest is knowing that my kids are watching me chase my dreams — not from the sidelines, but in real time. They see me up at 5 a.m. working before the world wakes up, squeezing in patient calls in the car on the way to basketball games, and juggling the chaos of entrepreneurship with family life. It’s not always perfect, but they get to see firsthand what passion, discipline, and purpose look like in action.
I love that they see me trying to maintain balance — showing up for them, for my patients, and for myself — even when it’s hard. I want them to understand that success doesn’t mean having it all figured out; it means showing up every day and giving your best, even when it’s messy.
What makes me happiest isn’t just building a business — it’s showing my children that it’s possible to dream big, to serve others, and to create something meaningful without losing sight of who you are. If they can grow up believing that they can do the same, then I know I’ve done something right.
Pricing:
- We accept most major insurances so that the healthcare system takes care of the cost burden
Contact Info:
- Website: www.weightaminuteclinic.com
- Instagram: @weightaminuteclinic @drceenicole
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drceenicole
