Exploring Life & Business with Colin Zhu of TheChefDoc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colin Zhu.

Hi Colin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

My world has always been health and wellness-oriented. Originally, my first inkling into healthcare was wanting to be a chiropractor. I had a really nice family chiropractor growing up. He not only physically helped his patients, but he would sing to them and was very charismatic. These early interactions with him made me want to be of service within the realm of healthcare. My mother is a Chinese medical doctor. She’s been training in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and herbs. She’s going on four and a half decades of practicing and is a powerhouse in her field. Growing up under her wings consisted of her conveying the concepts and values of authenticity, integrity, and compassion. Her lessons were my first iteration of looking at a person and patient in a very holistic manner. Fast forward to around college time, around junior year, and that’s when I discovered osteopathic medicine. I ended up really resonating with the tenets, philosophies, and principles of the osteopathic profession. I applied only to DO schools and completed my training and schooling at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, which has pretty deep roots in osteopathy and has been around since the early 1970s.

My company and brand “TheChefDoc” started in 2017, and up until that time, I was working as an outpatient family physician and primary care specialist. I really enjoyed the rapport relationship with my patients under the constructs of the healthcare system. I feel the standard healthcare system didn’t give me a lot of quality and quantity of time to be able to educate patients sufficiently and thoroughly. I needed to find a different way to be able to hit more people and reach more people broadly and as far and wide as possible. This caused me to create the brand with the intention of establishing a platform resource that people can tap into without me being there. I leverage social media and the kind of virtualness that comes with it, encompassing audio content, video content, on-demand content, and live webinar content. I’ve pretty much run the gamut in terms of different ways of being able to create content that is concise. My objective was to give informative pieces that people can consume without feeling overwhelmed and without giving them medical jargon. The fundamentals are about hitting that foundation for people because it’s the foundation that’s missing for people to make informed decisions about their lives. At the end of the day, whether you’re telling people to eat, move, or sleep, it comes down to the core of someone’s behavior and lifestyle, as well as routines and habits. It’s using different types of creative expressions and different ways of teaching someone to be able to hit home for people in many different ways since we all consume information differently. Since then, I’ve written a book, started a podcast, developed the “The THR5 Formula”, and the latest iteration is the app.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey into the dual roles of physician and chef wasn’t a path I initially set out on; it was born out of necessity. This combination felt like the right fit for me. However, pursuing this unique path came with its share of challenges. The educational route was filled with detours and time-consuming commitments. I encountered numerous struggles along the way, primarily centered around the puzzle of aligning my skills to provide the best possible care for patients or the community while staying true to my authentic self and the type of service I wanted to deliver.

One of the significant challenges was the need for extra time dedicated to studying, attending classes, and taking certification exams. Additionally, working in various kitchens and healthcare settings while gaining diverse patient experience and coaching expertise demanded unwavering dedication. The journey has indeed been marked by sweat and tears, but it has been worth every struggle to become the professional I am today.

We’ve been impressed with TheChefDoc, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’m Dr. Colin Zhu, a Board-Certified Family Practitioner and Lifestyle Medicine specialist, and my journey has been shaped by my passion for the intersection of medicine, food, and nutrition. I trained as a chef at the Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts and as a health coach at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In 2017, I launched TheChefDoc, which is an online wellness and lifestyle education platform that has gained recognition in various publications. One of my proudest achievements is the publication of my book, “Thrive Medicine: How To Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life,” and started my own podcast, “Thrive Bites Podcast”. These resources allow me to delve into important topics related to plant-powered lifestyles, emotional wellness, and building a thriving mindset. I’ve also created “The THR5 Formula” , a self-educational masterclass series that empowers individuals to thrive. It combines inspiration, education, and practical tools, focusing on the five pillars of thriving: Food As Medicine, Functional Fitness, Relationships, Community, & Emotional Resilience.

Now, everything I’ve mentioned, from my book to the podcast to the masterclass series, is available through TheChefDoc App. This app offers on-demand video content, audio content, quizzes, PDFs, and more. You can access it on your smartphone, tablet or desktop, making it convenient for anyone looking to enhance their knowledge and well-being on the go.

And for those who want more personalized guidance, I also offer coaching services. Whether you prefer one-on-one sessions or group coaching, we can work together to help you achieve your wellness goals. Currently, I’m based in Southern California, but thanks to the power of technology, I can see patients worldwide through my virtual lifestyle medical practice, TheChefDoc Lifestyle Medicine. This means you don’t have to be in my physical location to benefit from my expertise.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
To those embarking on the path of merging medicine and culinary arts, I offer this advice: before you commence your professional journey, invest time in thorough research. Understand that your experiences will shape you, and there’s no need to replicate my exact pathway. What’s crucial is comprehending the profound connection between food and health, learning about disease prevention, and taking personal responsibility for your health practices.

It’s imperative that you genuinely live and breathe the principles you intend to promote professionally. If you don’t embody this commitment, pursuing a career in this field may not make sense. Therefore, delve into the core foundations of food and health, encompassing physical, mental, and emotional aspects, before embarking on a career similar to mine. This deep understanding will serve as a solid foundation as you navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Pricing:

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thechefdoc.app/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechefdoc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChefDoc/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-zhu-do-dipablm-chef-3905ba60/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thechefdoc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeVW6o9F8V5BmCfkkLHUDTw
• Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thrive-bites/id1459413825