Dr. Natasha Copelin Of Vibrant Rejuvenation On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry
Resilience — Push through obstacles and setbacks without giving up.
Willingness to Learn — Educate yourself as you go. There’s no perfect time to start.
Empathy — Listen to your clients, really see them.
Honesty — Say what you know, and admit when you don’t.
Purpose — Know your why, and let it guide everything you do.
The global health and wellness market is worth more than 1.5 trillion dollars. So many people are looking to improve their physical, mental, and emotional wellness. At the same time, so many people are needed to help provide these services. What does it take to create a highly successful career in the health and wellness industry?
In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry” we are talking to health and wellness professionals who can share insights and stories from their experiences.
In this particular interview, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Natasha L. Copelin.
Natasha L. Copelin, NP, in Adult Health, is the visionary behind Vibrant Rejuvenation, a leading medical health and wellness practice in North Babylon, NY. With a deep passion for helping individuals feel confident and vibrant, Dr. Copelin combines years of expertise in adult health, aesthetics, and wellness to provide personalized, science-backed treatments that nourish both the body and mind. Dedicated to inclusivity, Dr. Copelin proudly serves a diverse clientele, ensuring that every treatment is safe, effective, and tailored to individual skin tones and body types — especially for African American and Latino communities.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you grew up?
I’m the oldest of 11 siblings, and there’s quite a large gap between us — about 10 years between me and the next in line. So even though they’re my brothers and sisters, I often felt more like a second or third parent. I grew up on Eastern Long Island with both of my parents. My father passed away at 56 from complications related to diabetes, but my mother is still here with us today. I had a good childhood, even though being the firstborn came with its own challenges. You know how they say the first child is the test run? That was definitely me. My mother learned a lot with me, and I had to tough it out — but those early experiences helped shape who I am.
Was there a particular person or event that inspired you to live a wellness-focused lifestyle? Can you tell us about your main motivation to go all in?
My father passed away at just 56 years old due to complications from diabetes, and that loss has had a lasting impact on me. It pushed me to be more mindful about my own health and wellness. I’m not perfect — I have my own struggles, like anyone — but I try to take care of myself the best I can. I recently turned 54, and as I get closer to the age my father was when he passed, I can’t help but reflect on that. It’s something I carry with me every day, and it drives me to stay focused on living well — not just for myself, but for the legacy I want to build and leave behind.
Most people with a wellbeing centered lifestyle have a “go-to” activity, exercise, beverage, or food that is part of their routine. What is yours and can you tell us how it helps you?
I’ll be honest — I don’t have a traditional wellness routine with gym workouts, Pilates, or a favorite health drink. That’s just not me. But what truly centers me is music. Music is my therapy. When I’m feeling upset, overwhelmed, or just can’t focus, I turn on music and it grounds me. It gives me clarity, calms my mind, and helps me reconnect with myself.
While I don’t “exercise” in the conventional sense, I definitely stay active — I just can’t sit still! My brother is always teasing me, saying, “Sit down, Natasha!” But I’m always moving, whether I’m in the yard planting flowers, building something, painting, or just keeping busy. I might not be in a gym, but trust me — I get my steps in every single day.
To live a wellness-focused life is one thing, but how did it become your career? How did it all start?
Honestly, I didn’t plan for this to become my career — it just unfolded that way. I started as a surgical technologist because I needed something stable to support my kids. From there, I became a registered nurse, then advanced to nurse practitioner, and eventually earned my doctoral degree. It was a gradual evolution, not a mapped-out plan.
I still remember being in high school and seeing a young woman walk into the cafeteria wearing a white uniform. She was in a BOCES program studying to be an LPN. I looked at her and thought, “A nurse? Not me.” Funny how life works — here I am, over 30 years later, a nurse practitioner with a doctorate, doing exactly what I said I’d never do.
And I love it. I truly love what I do. I love the holistic side of care, the empathy, the listening, the problem-solving. I love helping people feel better — physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. I love guiding them to rediscover their inner beauty. It may not have been the path I expected, but I believe it was always written for me. I’m grateful for that.
Can you share a story about the biggest challenges you faced when you were first starting? How did you resolve that? What are the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
One of my biggest challenges in the beginning was simply figuring out how to do it. I didn’t have a mentor, and no one showed me the way — I had to navigate it all on my own. Starting my practice wasn’t something I planned for; it was an opportunity that presented itself. I ran into someone who mentioned there was a shared office space available. I’d have two and a half rooms, and everything was already set up — beds, equipment, the basics. All I had to bring was me — my knowledge.
At first, I hesitated. But then I thought, Why not? I’ve never liked living with “what ifs.” I didn’t want to be older one day, looking back wondering, What if I had started my own practice? So I said yes.
I started part-time, still working in the hospital, and just tried it out. The biggest challenge was that I had no clue how to start or run a business. Thankfully, I had a great accountant who helped me with the legal side, but the rest? I had to learn on my own. I read everything I could, took classes, went to seminars — I educated myself non-stop. I didn’t wait for someone to hand me a manual. I just did it.
Can you share with us how the work you are doing is helping to make a bigger impact in the world? Can you share a story that illustrates that?
The bigger impact I want to make in the world is helping people feel better within. When a woman — or a man — feels good internally, it has a trickle effect on every part of their life. Their confidence improves, they show up better at work, they’re more present with their kids, and they engage with the world more positively. That energy radiates.
Whether it’s through weight loss support, Botox, body contouring, or just simply helping someone rediscover their self-worth, when my clients feel better about themselves, they treat others better. And that ripple creates a more compassionate, energized world.
What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?
Right now, I’m in a really exciting phase of expanding my brand and broadening my impact. One of the most meaningful projects I’m working on is Vibrant Reentry, a wellness and weight loss support program specifically designed for women who are reintegrating into society after incarceration. As someone who understands what it means to rebuild from the ground up, this initiative is deeply personal.
I’m also working on extending my entire brand under the umbrella @VibrantByDrNatasha. This includes my med spa Vibrant Rejuvenation, a future product line under Vibrant Beauty, the Vibrant Reentry initiative, and a future training hub called Vibrant Academy.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The three traits that have been most instrumental to my success are resilience, empathy, and honesty.
Resilience has carried me through some of the most difficult times in my life — personally and professionally. I’ve faced plenty of setbacks, disappointments, and moments when giving up might’ve seemed easier. But I’ve always kept my head up and kept going.
Empathy is something I carry into every client interaction. I truly take my time with each person. I listen. I ask questions. I make space for them to feel safe and seen.
And honestly — I don’t pretend to know everything. If I don’t have the answer, I’ll tell you I don’t, and then I’ll go find it. Clients trust me because I’m real with them.
OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition of terms so that all of us are on the same page. Wellness is an incredibly broad topic. How would you define the term “Wellness”? Can you explain what you mean?
To me, wellness is everything. It’s your mind, your body, and how you truly feel — not just what you look like on the outside. You can look great but feel terrible inside. Or you might feel emotionally strong but be neglecting your physical health. True wellness is when both come together — when your mind and body are in sync. It affects every part of your daily life and allows you to truly live, not just exist.
As an expert, this might be intuitive to you, but it will be instructive to expressly articulate this. Can you please share a few reasons with our readers about why focusing on our wellness should be a priority in our lives?
You have to ask yourself: Do you want to live, or do you just want to exist? Wellness is everything. Prioritizing your wellness means choosing to live your best life — physically, mentally, and emotionally. You can live a long time, but if you’re not truly well, what kind of life are you living?
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasingly growing understanding of the necessity for companies to be mindful of the wellness of their employees. For the sake of inspiring others, can you share steps or initiatives that companies have taken to help improve or optimize their employees’ mental and physical wellness?
I’m not part of a large corporation, so I can’t speak to what big companies are doing — but I can speak for my own business and the culture I’ve built. At my practice, mental wellness is a priority. We maintain a supportive, understanding environment where team members are encouraged to speak up, take time when they need it, and not feel judged for being human
What are your “5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and Wellness Industry”?
- Resilience — Push through obstacles and setbacks without giving up.
- Willingness to Learn — Educate yourself as you go. There’s no perfect time to start.
- Empathy — Listen to your clients, really see them.
- Honesty — Say what you know, and admit when you don’t.
- Purpose — Know your why, and let it guide everything you do.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would promote the most wellness to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could start a movement, it would be Vibrant Reentry — a national initiative to help women rebuild their lives after incarceration through wellness, weight loss, emotional healing, and self-worth restoration.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Two women come to mind: Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama. Oprah’s reflections on fear and procrastination resonate deeply with me. Michelle Obama’s grace, strength, and authenticity — especially the way she protected her daughters and stayed true to herself — are incredibly inspiring.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can follow my work at www.vibrantrejuvenation.com and on social media under @VibrantByDrNatasha. You can also find me on LinkedIn under the same name.
This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success and good health!
Dr. Natasha Copelin On The 5 Things You Need To Create A Highly Successful Career In The Health and… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.