Enjoy the journey. It’s important to slow down and truly appreciate each stage of life. Not knowing what the future holds can be hard, but that’s okay. Fulfillment comes from embracing where you are now. I spent much of my early adult life rushing to the next milestone–getting through college, then medical school, then residency, then military service, and finally to private practice. Looking back, each stage had incredible moments, and real fulfillment lies in enjoying them all.
Books have the power to shape, influence, and change our lives. Why is that so? What goes into a book that can shape lives? To address this we are interviewing people who can share a story about a book that changed their life, and why. As a part of our series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Gosnell, MD.
Dr. Heather Gosnell is a board-certified pediatrician and certified plant-based health coach with over 24 years of experience dedicated to empowering moms to embrace plant-based living for better health and family wellness. She combines her medical expertise and coaching skills with a strong media presence, collaborating with health brands and creating impactful content across multiple platforms. Passionate about supporting women in prioritizing their own health, Dr. Gosnell advocates for sustainable, plant-based lifestyle changes that benefit both individuals and their families.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory” and how you grew up?
I grew up in Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC. From the age of 12, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. I excelled in math and science and had a strong compassion for helping others. While I worked hard in school to maintain my grades, I also enjoyed fun extracurriculars like Pom Squad. I attended the University of Maryland Honors College for my undergraduate degree before going on to medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. I joined the Air Force upon entering medical school and proudly served for 14 years. After completing my military service, I transitioned to private practice pediatrics where I continue to serve patients to this day.
Let’s talk about what you are doing now, and how you achieved the success that you currently enjoy. Can you tell our readers a bit about the work you are doing?
I currently work part-time in my pediatrics private practice, where I enjoy connecting with children and their families to discuss their health and wellness. Outside of clinical care, I focus on coaching people to adopt a more plant-based lifestyle aimed at preventing or reversing chronic diseases. I also engage in media work–contributing to articles, creating social media content, and partnering with brands that align with my mission to promote healthier living.
The success I currently enjoy comes from a combination of clinical experience, ongoing education, and a passion for empowering people to make sustainable lifestyle changes. I have seen firsthand through my coaching how knowledge combined with practical, achievable guidance can lead to significant, lasting improvements in health. This integrated approach shapes my current work and continues to motivate me every day.
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 character traits that were most instrumental to my success are achiever, consistency, and responsibility. I have always been a high achiever, always believing I will succeed in meeting my goals and expectations. I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a doctor. I planned out the path that I thought would lead to my success–doing well in high school, college, MCATs, and ultimately being accepted into medical school. Once in medical school I had no doubt that I would do well and meet my goal of becoming a physician. If there were any setbacks along the way, I figured out what I needed to do to ensure I turned it around and persevered. It didn’t stop there. Once I neared graduation from medical school, I knew I wanted a top residency and made sure I connected with the people in that program during my sub internship. Once I got that residency, I excelled by meeting all the goals I set for myself in being a top performer. This set me up for future success in my attending career, being the medical director of my clinic in the Air Force, then going on to become an owner/partner in my private practice. My consistency in how I treat people equally has served me well in patient, workplace, and personal relationships. Stable routines and clear rules and procedures that everyone can follow have allowed me to successfully navigate interactions. My consistency has helped me develop patient information packets that have improved outcomes like lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels. My responsibility in how I take ownership and follow through on what I say I will do has been key for my success. My patients, coworkers, friends, and family know they can count on me to get things done. My responsibility means not only following through with medical treatment but advocating for preventive care, such as teaching patients about the role of nutrition in chronic diseases. As part of my commitment to responsibility and consistency, I founded a coaching business, developed a website, newsletter, and blog, and regularly share educational social media content. These platforms allow me to reach a wider audience with evidence-based nutrition guidance, furthering my mission to make preventive health accessible to all. My next goal is to collaborate with brands whose values align with mine to further my mission to educate, inspire, and empower more people to make healthier choices.
What’s the WHY behind the work that you do? Please share a story about this if you can.
I deeply enjoy connecting with people and families to educate them and promote healthy living. Many are not aware that animal products contribute significantly to disease in the human body. Research shows that plant-based eating can reduce the risk of numerous chronic diseases including leading killers like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke. While most people understand the importance of healthy eating, few realize just how profoundly it can affect our long-term health trajectories. We can prevent the vast majority of chronic disease by changing the food we eat and living a healthy lifestyle. Hearing from families whose children reversed prediabetes or elevated cholesterol through my guidance inspires my work. One particular story that stands out is a 13-year-old girl I worked with who, in 2020, had elevated insulin and triglyceride levels–early warning signs of metabolic health issues. Over the next couple of years, through adopting more plant-based nutrition and lifestyle changes guided by my expertise, she was able to fully reverse these abnormal lab results. Five years later, her mother shared that the transformation was not only profound but also sustainable–the entire family has maintained healthier habits and continued to experience improved overall health. This story exemplifies how impactful dietary and lifestyle guidance can be not only for an individual but for their loved ones as well.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I am deeply grateful to my friends from medical school who helped keep me grounded during one of the most demanding times of my life. I attended the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the military medical school where we were on active duty throughout our training. Balancing the rigors of military service and medical school simultaneously was incredibly challenging, and there were moments when I seriously considered quitting. Their encouragement and reassurance reminded me that I could persevere and continue pursuing my military medical career. I will always be thankful for their support in helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Awesome! Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. I’m an author and I believe that books have the power to change lives. Can you please tell our readers about “The Book That Changed Your Life”? Can you share a story about how it impacted you?
In 2017, I read the book How Not To Die by Dr. Michael Greger, and it completely transformed how I think about food, health, and nutrition. I was shocked to realize that such evidence-based nutritional information was not part of my medical school education–and unfortunately, it still isn’t taught in most medical schools today. It felt like discovering a powerful secret that many people were unaware of. This book inspired me to dive deeper into the science of lifestyle medicine and learn how diet profoundly influences the prevention and management of chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
One of the most liberating lessons I learned is that genetics only accounts for about 25% of our health outcomes–meaning that our lifestyle choices have the greatest impact on determining our health destiny. Given my genetic predisposition to early-onset dementia, this was especially encouraging news, as it showed me that there are things I can actively do to reduce my risk. Even partway through reading the book, I knew I had to make a drastic change and fully embrace a plant-based lifestyle. Adopting a whole food, plant-based lifestyle has not only transformed my own health but has also became my mission to share this knowledge with my family, patients, and community helping them live longer, healthier lives.
What was the moment or series of events that made you decide that you wanted to take a specific course of action based on the inspiration from the book? Can you share a story about that?
As I was reading the book, I was overwhelmed by the vast amount of scientific evidence showing that animal products are harmful to health. I had no idea how much nutrition plays a role in preventing and even reversing chronic disease. Life many, I believed that everything in moderation was acceptable–I thought it was fine to have some junk as long as I ate other healthy foods and exercised regularly. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Once I saw the science behind why animal products contribute to chronic disease, that was the turning point. I knew I had to take massive action and completely change my diet. Since then, I have continued to seek out evidence-based nutrition research, which is constantly evolving, and I love continuing this lifelong journey.
Can you articulate why you think books in particular have the power to create movements, revolutions, and true change?
Books hold the power to spark movements because of their unique ability to educate and tell compelling stories. They encompass vast amounts of knowledge and research that can reach and influence large audiences. Readers have the opportunity to deeply immerse themselves, learning and evolving along the way. Personally, I love learning from books and continuously growing various aspects of my life through what I read. Storytelling is one of the most effective ways to connect with people on a meaningful level. Books allow authors to explore topics in depth, offering thorough insights that other mediums often cannot. Their permanence also makes them timeless, allowing readers to revisit and reflect on their messages many times over. This deep engagement inspires critical thinking and personal reflection, which often motivates readers to take meaningful action, leading to true and lasting change.
A book has many aspects, of course. For example, you have the writing style, the narrative tense, the topic, the genre, the design, the cover, the size, etc. In your opinion, what are the main, essential ingredients needed to create a book that can change lives?
In my opinion, the essential ingredients needed to create a book that can change lives are the topic, the information, and the writing. The topic must be compelling and deeply resonate with readers, addressing real needs or inspiring new perspectives. The information should be credible, well-researched, and presented in a way that empowers readers to take meaningful action. Writing style is critical for accessibility–using clear, engaging language that connects with the reader’s experience helps the message stick. Additionally, storytelling, authenticity, relatability, and emotional connection make the content memorable and transformative. A readable layout and appropriate length also contribute to attracting and retaining readers.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started My Career” and why?
- Enjoy the journey. It’s important to slow down and truly appreciate each stage of life. Not knowing what the future holds can be hard, but that’s okay. Fulfillment comes from embracing where you are now. I spent much of my early adult life rushing to the next milestone–getting through college, then medical school, then residency, then military service, and finally to private practice. Looking back, each stage had incredible moments, and real fulfillment lies in enjoying them all.
- Don’t expect the next step along the path to be better. Many people fall into the “arrival fallacy,” believing that happiness awaits at the next stage. But the truth is, the next step isn’t always better. If we keep waiting for that perfect moment, we miss the joy of the present. Finding happiness where you are now is the true goal.
- Live in alignment with what makes you happy. Don’t delay doing things that bring you joy because you think you don’t have time. Life is meant to be enjoyed. For years I overworked myself and neglected the things that truly mattered to me. Even now, I struggle to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures, like curling up with tea and a book.
- Think outside the box. Just because something has always been done a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s the best or only way. In medicine and business, we often do things out of tradition rather than effectiveness. Embracing new approaches benefits both organizations and individuals. For example, in my practice, offering flexible work schedules has improved employee satisfaction and productivity and reduced turnover.
- There are many paths to get where you are going. It’s important to realize that there’s no single way to achieve your goals. Be open to options and alternative routes. If one path doesn’t work out, choose another. Try things and course correct as needed. When I decided to become a doctor, I hadn’t considered a military medicine career. After learning about it and researching, I realized it was the right path for me. It allowed me to achieve my ultimate goal: running a private practice where I build long-term relationships with my patients and their families.
The world, of course, needs progress in many areas. What movement do you hope someone (or you!) starts next? Can you explain why that is so important?
I would love to inspire a movement encouraging people to adopt a whole food, plant-based lifestyle. This way of eating has the potential to prevent many chronic diseases that people often think are a normal part of aging. Research shows that this lifestyle is appropriate for all ages and stages of life, and it not only helps people live longer but also enables them to live more healthfully along the way. My hope is to empower people to take control of their health through simple, sustainable choices that transform their well-being now and for years to come.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
People can follow my work online at eatplantsmdcoach.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok @eatplantsmdcoach. I am also on LinkedIn at Heather Gosnell, MD.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share with us and our readers. We know that it will make a tremendous difference and impact thousands of lives. We are excited to connect further and we wish you so much joy in your next success.
Heather Gosnell Of Eat Plants MD Coach On The Book That Changed Her Life was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.