A Conversation with Dr. Susan Biali
After almost 20 years spent studying health, wellness and life, Dr. Biali can speak on a wide variety of topics, including: nutrition, preventive medicine, mental health, general health and wellness, anti-aging, mind-body medicine, research studies, heart health, codependence, addictions and alcoholism, finding your path in life, life balance, success principles, spirituality and health, and so on.
The following is a list of sample questions for interviewing Dr. Biali (some with answers); she can also provide a list of suggested questions for discussion for almost any wellness or life-related topic of interest.
Q. What kind of doctor are you, and how is it that you ended up also becoming a life coach?
A. I’m a medical doctor, I have a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. After medical school, I completed two years of a five year Emergency Medicine residency (specialty training) program. This brought me to a pivotal point in my life, as the profound depression and frustration I experienced during residency finally inspired me to make the dramatically different life and career choices that I’ve made since, including becoming a dancer. In retrospect I carefully examined and systematized the process that I went through to arrive at this dramatically more fulfilling life, began to write a book about it (now Live a Life You Love), and began coaching other people along their journey. I also have a license to practice medicine as a general practitioner, which I practice on a limited basis in clinics in Vancouver, as well as a Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics, which is the study of human nutrition.
Q. You're quite different from other doctors in the media - tell us more about that, and why you do what you do.
A. Other than the obvious (that being that I'm a professional dancer!), I think what distinguishes me is that in addition to being able to discuss specific health problems and issues, I like to look at the bigger picture of people's lives. When I was practicing medicine full time, I felt frustrated by the fact that I was forced by the situation and time constraints to focus on a patient’s specific medical problem, without being able to spend much time talking about other highly relevant areas of their life. In my work as an author, speaker, and life coach, I’m finally able to effectively help people with both their lives and their health, on a large scale.
Q. Where are you based these days - and is it true that you used to commute regularly from Mexico?
A. I'm currently based in Vancouver, Canada, and regularly fly to speaking engagements and other events across North America. For the past few years, I commuted between Mexico and Canada, and expect to do so again in the future. While based in Mexico, Los Cabos was my haven for writing, reflecting, and dancing and I had my own flamenco dance company there. I travel to Spain to study flamenco as often as I can.
Q. How does your particular brand of medicine (your "Prescription for Life") help people?
A. Beyond handing someone a prescription for an antibiotic, I’m far more passionate about improving the quality of a person's total experience of life - this is why my book, Live a Life You Love, is about how to create and enjoy more health and happiness in multiple areas of your life. I apply a blend of: preventative medicine, stress management, mind-body medicine, positive psychology, motivation/success principles, balance principles, creative expression, and nutrition (I have a degree in Dietetics), as well as the fundamental spiritual principles and practices which create a healthy, joyful, meaningful life.
MORE QUESTIONS:
Q. What’s the single most important thing a person can do for their health and quality of life?
Q. What do you mean when you talk about “Body Language”?
Q. As an award-winning physician, you were already very successful by traditional standards, but unfortunately discovered that you were miserable - how do you define success today? How can that definition help others also enjoy a healthier, more satisfying life?
Q. How did you become a professional dancer in your 30's, and where has that experience taken you?
Q. You talk a lot about how depressed you were at certain times of your life. Did you actually have real, clinical depression? How did you pull yourself out of it? What advice would you give to people struggling with depression today?
Q. Depression and other forms of mental illness are at an all-time high: what are some simple steps that people can take to immediately begin to enjoy a better, more stable mood and outlook on life?
Q. You often talk about how important relationships are to total health and happiness: Why are relationships so important to our health? What happens to us and our bodies if our closest relationships are stressful or full of conflict? What are some of your secrets for helping people enjoy more fulfilling, positive relationships (even if - or especially if - the people they love the most are driving them crazy)?
Q. What would you advise someone who is feeling totally overwhelmed by their life and responsibilities, and worried about the effect of the pace of their life on their health and personal life? What is the fastest way that they can take back control of their life and health?
Q. How can the average person eat in order to slow down their aging process, without spending tons of money on supplements and other expensive gimmicks?
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