About Melissa Kennedy, MD, CPCC

My fascination with how people work began with a genetics class, which I took as a freshman at the University of Michigan. After doing research for a few semesters, I decided the lab life was not for me, and I began applying to medical schools.

I graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1993. I chose to do a residency in Emergency Medicine, because I enjoyed working with a wide variety of people with a wide variety of concerns. I completed my board certification in Emergency Medicine and practiced for about 9 years in several different Emergency Departments, from a small rural hospital to a large urban trauma center.

During that time, a common theme emerged: many of my patients experienced health problems that could potentially be prevented or improved by simple lifestyle changes. In our illness-oriented medical system, they were getting neither the education nor the support they needed to make these changes.

At the same time, working 12-hour shifts (frequently overnight and on weekends) was taking its toll on me personally. I slept poorly and not enough, I had trouble finding the time and energy to exercise, and I ate far too many meals in hospital cafeterias, often choosing less healthy muffins, burgers, and fries for the quick energy boost I craved (and I was drinking way too much coffee!).

Doctors learn surprisingly little about healthy nutrition, physical activity, and how to get a good night’s sleep in medical school, and the demands of our training virtually guarantee that we will fall short in these areas ourselves!

As I began to make changes in my own life, I encountered lots of conflicting information. I began to research questions like these:

• Should I be taking vitamins? If so, which ones and how much?
• How much exercise do I need?
• Is there any truth in the low-carb diet trend, or should I stay with low-fat? Or is it really about “good fats” rather than “low fat”?

I thought, “If I, as a physician, am doing this much work to figure out how to stay healthy, it’s no wonder that people without this training are having a hard time!”

Having always been a voracious reader, I began to haunt the self-help, nutrition, and health aisles at the local bookstore and library. The more I educated myself, the more I wanted to learn. I wanted to continue making healthy choices for myself and my family, and I wanted to use what I had learned to support others.

In order to deepen my learning, I completed a 2-year Associate Fellowship program in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona’s Program in Integrative Medicine. This program, founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, defines integrative medicine as “healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.” The approach taught in this program is science-based yet open-minded to new approaches, and it resonated strongly with me.

In the Fellowship, I learned about techniques to support patients in making lifestyle changes, and I wanted to learn more. To increase my skills further, I completed training in personal and life coaching through The Coaches Training Institute and received certification as a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach. During this time, I also had a clinical practice in Integrative Medicine and was Clinical Assistant Professor at the Center for Life of the University of New Mexico.

Now, I bring all of my skills and experience together into a multifaceted approach to Wellness Coaching. My clients benefit from my comprehensive body of medical knowledge, my passion for helping people attain wellness, my ability to educate people in clear and understandable terms, and my commitment to identifying practical, realistic approaches.

As a busy professional and parent, I continue to relate to the challenges that come with maintaining a healthy lifestyle while juggling other priorities. Some of my passions outside of work include spending time with my husband and daughter, mountain biking, yoga, and playing the violin.

If you’d like to learn more about working with me, please click here to schedule a free consultation!