Exclusive Interview: Danielle DonDiego on Redefining Success, Overcoming Adversity, and Creating Change Beyond the Clinical Office

Danielle DonDiego is a force to be reckoned with. A physician, entrepreneur, author, and advocate, she has dedicated her career to breaking down barriers and redefining what it means to thrive—both professionally and personally. From revolutionizing obesity management with her project Thrive Beyond Stigma to penning her deeply personal book Self-Care RX, Danielle has turned her own challenges into a platform for change. In this interview, she opens up about trusting her instincts, building a life that aligns with her values, and empowering others to discover their own paths, proving that success is about more than a title—it’s about authenticity and impact.

PC: You’ve always been driven to take the path less traveled. How did that approach ultimately shape your multifaceted career and lead you to where you are today?
Danielle: The short answer is that I’ve always had something in me that goes against the grain, or at least sees a path that does. I’ve always taken a bigger-picture approach to everything I’ve pursued, including medicine. I enjoy that zoomed-out perspective—it allows me to identify gaps and problems. While some people prefer to focus on the minutiae and details, I’ve always gravitated toward the broader, global view. That perspective has served me well.

Early on in my career, I knew I was going to do more than just practice medicine. I always had this feeling that something bigger was waiting for me. I didn’t know exactly what it was, but I was certain it was out there. Looking back, it’s easier to connect the dots and see the steps I took, but none of those steps were clear at the time. So much of my journey was about following my intuition—responding to opportunities as they arose and making tough choices, whether it was tackling a challenge head-on or taking a different path. Some of those decisions, like leaving jobs or diving into entrepreneurship, were difficult but transformative.

I even attended business school alongside medical school, which prompted people to ask, “Why are you doing that?” But I just knew there was more I wanted to achieve, and I needed the tools to get there. Although my vision has evolved over time, that initial instinct has always guided me. As I’ve grown older and more seasoned in my career, I’ve learned to trust those feelings. When I sense something stirring inside me, I know it’s leading me somewhere, and I follow it.

PC: I love how your story is about betting on yourself. In life, we all face adversities, but you’ve turned those challenges and traumas into purpose, building a community and resources where others can find strength together. How did you go from facing your own struggles to building this supportive space, and what’s been the most rewarding part of this journey for you?
Danielle: Reflecting on this journey, it really started with losing myself completely during some of the struggles I faced. I didn’t know who I was anymore. But through healing and growth, I found myself again and reemerged stronger. Now, I feel very clear about who I am, what I stand for, and what I want to accomplish in life. That clarity didn’t come easily—it’s been shaped by the transformation that came from facing those traumas and doing the healing work to solidify who I am and who I aspire to be.

Most of us, especially in our early years, are unsure of our values and let society dictate who we’re supposed to be. I experienced this acutely in healthcare and medicine, where I felt like I had to adopt a certain “professional” persona. Choosing that path seemed to mean letting go of my fun, free-spirited side—it felt like there was no space for it anymore. I held onto that belief for a long time, thinking, “This is the path I chose, so I have to be this serious person for the rest of my career.” Over time, though, that mindset became suffocating.

I don’t think this is something people in healthcare talk about often because it feels like speaking against the profession. We’re told to follow the rules, look up to seasoned professionals, and conform if we want to succeed. But eventually, I threw the rules out the window. I realized my patients responded better when I was my authentic self, I was more creative when I was true to myself, and my life felt more fulfilling.

On top of that, I was in a long-term abusive relationship while I was training. Between my career and my home life, I was constantly being told who I was supposed to be. I was younger and unsure of myself, so I listened. When that relationship ended at the same time I graduated from residency, it felt like a cannon event—it shattered everything I thought I knew about myself. I realized I didn’t even know basic things, like what kind of music I liked. I had to completely rediscover myself.

Therapy was a huge part of that process, along with other forms of self-work. Over time, I got to know myself on a much deeper level. Now, I trust myself. I trust my intuition. Back then, I didn’t. I constantly felt like my instincts were wrong or that I needed to conform to others’ expectations. But the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you’re never bound to any path or commitment. You can always evolve as long as you stay true to yourself and aren’t harming others. That belief has been central to building this community and creating a space where others can find their strength.

PC: That’s such a powerful message—both that we are not defined by our careers and the openness to continue discovering who we are. Medically, you specialize in obesity management, and you started Thrive Beyond Stigma to support often overlooked components of this journey. When did you first notice these gaps, and how does Thrive Beyond Stigma address the mental and emotional needs of those on this path?
Danielle: Thrive Beyond Stigma is my newest project, and I’m so excited about it. It’s been in my mind for a couple of years, and it recently launched for everyone. I became board-certified in obesity medicine back in 2016, and it’s been a medical passion of mine ever since.

I first started noticing these gaps early on as a physician. Almost every time a patient came to me about their weight or health, they would share deeply personal stories: “I got divorced,” “Someone close to me died,” or “I was assaulted as a teenager and turned to food to cope.” These stories came unprompted—patients would voluntarily divulge these experiences, often pointing to a defining moment or a long-term stressful situation that contributed to their struggles with weight. For many, their weight issues were tied to their coping mechanisms, and those struggles became more pronounced over time.

I also found that I got into the TikTok community for obesity. The obesity community is something that really helps. Community is a safe space that helps. I have a friend named Julissa Edwards. She’s a licensed therapist. I’m an obesity doctor. I was like, “I would love to do something together.” We’re two professionals. We bring people together. We go over the most common topics and themes that we see as professionals and really give people the floor and space to talk about those things. Obesity, itself, can be very traumatic for people. Society views them differently. There are biases.

We now know obesity is a complex biological condition with a strong genetic component—up to 70% is determined by genetics. Even if someone does everything “right,” their body might not respond as expected. Add life’s challenges into the mix, and it becomes clear how layered this issue is. As a physician, I could recommend therapy and other resources, but barriers like cost, insurance coverage, and time often made those options inaccessible for many people.

That’s where Thrive Beyond Stigma comes in. I had already noticed the power of community when I became part of the obesity support community on TikTok—it’s a safe, supportive space for many. I teamed up with my friend Julissa Edwards, who is a licensed therapist, to create something more comprehensive. Together, as professionals from different fields, we bring people together to address the mental and emotional aspects of obesity. We focus on common themes and issues we see in our practices while giving participants the space to share their experiences and feel heard.

Obesity itself can be traumatic. Society imposes biases, and people with obesity often feel judged or dismissed. For example, whenever a celebrity loses weight, the conversation immediately shifts to, “They must be on Ozempic” or “They’re taking medication and not being honest about it.” This creates a harmful narrative. It not only violates privacy but also discourages people from seeking medical help for a legitimate condition. These stigmas are damaging, and they perpetuate the barriers people face when trying to manage their health. Thrive Beyond Stigma is about breaking down those barriers and creating a space where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to navigate their journey.

PC: You were talking about entrepreneurship earlier. You’ve always paid it forward by helping other doctors and professionals build careers beyond their medical practices. What’s the biggest piece of advice you give them? Who held space for you in a similar way?
Danielle: One of the most significant influences in my life recently has been Melissa Ruiz, a spiritual and business coach. She’s been instrumental in guiding me through the leaps I’ve taken with ideas that I might have been too nervous to pursue on my own. Melissa’s story resonates deeply with me—she used to be a TV producer in New York, working in a high-pressure environment, and eventually left it all to become a yoga instructor. She rebuilt her identity from the ground up and went through her own transformation, discovering who she truly is and stepping into that authenticity.

Having someone like her—someone who understands the experience of being in a high-powered career, feeling like you’ve lost yourself, and then making the decision to transform—has been invaluable. I’ve been friends with her and working with her for a few years now. She’s been a rock for me in the business realm, and I thrive when I’m surrounded by people like her who have been through similar journeys.

The biggest piece of advice I give to others is that your career doesn’t define you. I mentioned this earlier, but it’s especially true for professions like medicine, law, or engineering, where people are told that choosing such a career “sets” them up for life. Those careers can make you feel like you have to suppress your humanity to fit a mold.

In the medical community, this pressure has become even more apparent in recent years. Many of us have started questioning where we want to put our energy, how we want to practice, and whether we want to remain in corporate medical settings. The reality is that physician suicide rates are among the highest for any profession—we lose one physician per day, on average. That’s staggering, especially given how small the medical community is. I’ve personally lost several colleagues to suicide over the years, and it’s heartbreaking.

That’s the core reason I started helping others build careers outside of their clinical roles. I want to show them that it’s okay to want something different. There’s no shame in stepping away from the traditional path or in wanting to practice in a new way. So many of us sit in shame because we’re expected to be superhuman, perfect, and incapable of mistakes. That pressure takes a toll.

This is my way of telling people, “You have other options. You’re allowed to be creative, to explore your passions, to embrace what makes you feel alive.” Whether that’s starting a business, dancing, or something entirely different, it doesn’t make you less of a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. At the end of the day, you’re human first, and that’s what truly matters.

PC: Outside of all of that, you’re also an author who wrote Self-Care RX. What can audiences expect when they pick up a copy of your book?
Danielle: My book is deeply personal and draws from my own experiences, as well as the stories of other women who’ve gone through similar situations. To give you some context, when I graduated residency, I also ended an eight-year relationship and canceled a wedding. It was an abusive relationship, and that experience became the foundation for Self-Care RX.

Being in a career where I learned to master compartmentalization was both a strength and a weakness. On the one hand, it allowed me to show up for work even during the most chaotic times. On the other hand, it enabled me to compartmentalize to the point where I wasn’t addressing the issues I was facing at home. That almost cost me my life. I decided to write the book because I nearly didn’t make it to 30 at the hands of someone else. After leaving that relationship, I spent another year in a very unsafe situation—dealing with court battles, stalking, and harassment.

One of the first thoughts I had was, I need to share my story. I wanted someone who might be silently going through something similar to read it and know they’re not alone. I remember feeling like I couldn’t tell anyone—wondering what people would think of me, doubting if they would even believe me. Those thoughts kept me in that relationship far longer than I should have stayed.

Writing this book was incredibly cathartic. It was my way of helping others without being a therapist, because I’m not one. But I believe that sharing my story might give others permission to share theirs, whether it’s with a trusted friend, family member, or professional.

The themes of the book focus on narcissism and domestic violence, and they shed light on just how scary and dangerous these dynamics can be. Many of us pride ourselves on being strong, but there are moments when we need to set that aside and reach out for help. My hope is that this book creates space for people to feel less alone, to feel seen, and to know that asking for help is a powerful step in reclaiming your life.

To keep up with Danielle, follow her on Instagram.