Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Colin Zhu
Hi Dr. Colin , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Health and wellness have always been a big part of my life. At first, I wanted to be a chiropractor, inspired by a family chiropractor who left a strong impression on me during my childhood. My parents also played key roles in shaping my journey. My mom focused on emotional sensitivity, while my dad encouraged me to figure things out on my own. These two influences have had a deep impact on my path.
My mother is a Chinese medical doctor with over 40 years of experience. She specializes in traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and herbs. Growing up under her care, I learned the importance of being authentic, having integrity, and showing compassion. These lessons helped me see patient care in a more holistic way.
From a young age, my mother taught me to be empathetic and to understand other people’s feelings. This helped me build stronger connections with people, especially in my work with patients. On the other hand, my dad pushed me to solve problems and be self-reliant. Instead of giving me all the answers, he encouraged me to explore and find solutions on my own. This taught me the importance of perseverance, critical thinking, and resilience.
The combination of these influences has shaped the way I practice today. During my junior year of college, I discovered osteopathic medicine, and its principles really resonated with me. Since 2013, I’ve been involved with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and I see it as my professional home. Lifestyle medicine has given me the tools to better serve my patients.
Growing up with both my parents cooking, I also developed a deep interest in the idea of food as medicine. In medical school, I noticed that the curriculum focused a lot on pathophysiology and pharmacology but didn’t spend much time on prevention through things like nutrition, diet, and lifestyle.
After medical school, I deepened my knowledge of health and wellness by attending a plant-based culinary school, the Natural Gourmet Institute, which was founded by Annemarie Colbin, PhD, in the 1970s. I also earned a health coaching certification to improve my communication and relationship-building skills. I was able to do all of this during a gap year after medical school while serving as a teaching assistant in Osteopathic Principles & Practice.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been anything but smooth, and like many, I’ve faced my share of obstacles along the way. Transitioning from conventional medicine to lifestyle medicine presented some significant challenges. The lack of emphasis on preventive care during my medical training. While I understood the importance of nutrition, exercise, and holistic approaches from a personal perspective, it was difficult to find a space in the medical world that valued these aspects as much as I did. This disconnect made it harder to bridge the gap between my passion for lifestyle medicine and the traditional medical practices I was taught.
Financial hurdles were also part of the journey, especially during the transition from full-time clinical work to building TheChefDoc brand. Starting a wellness platform, writing a book, and developing course work and coaching programs require significant investments of time and resources. Balancing these efforts with the responsibilities of patient care was no easy feat, often leading to long hours and moments of doubt.
But perhaps one of the greatest challenges has been advocating for lifestyle medicine in a world that still heavily relies on reactive healthcare. Convincing people—both colleagues and patients—that small, sustainable lifestyle changes can have a profound impact on health outcomes has required persistence and resilience.
Despite these obstacles, each challenge has taught me valuable lessons in perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of staying true to my vision of empowering people to take control of their health.
We’ve been impressed with TheChefDoc, LLC, 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?
TheChefDoc began in 2017 while I was working as an outpatient family physician. Although I enjoyed interacting with patients, the traditional healthcare system limited the time I could spend teaching them about their health in detail. To reach more people and provide better education, I created TheChefDoc as a wellness resource platform.
By using social media and virtual tools, I started offering clear, easy-to-understand content in audio, video, and on-demand formats. My goal has always been to share helpful, jargon-free information that empowers people to make informed decisions about their health. Whether it’s about nutrition, exercise, or sleep, addressing key behaviors and habits is essential.
I use different creative methods to meet the needs of various learning styles, knowing that people absorb information in different ways. Since TheChefDoc’s inception, I’ve authored a book, launched two podcasts, created a masterclass program and, most recently, launched a smartphone app.
During the pandemic, the demand for health information surged. I responded by launching “The THR5 Formula,” a virtual masterclass featuring over 50 interviews with doctors, dietitians, coaches, and entrepreneurs. The program offers more than 50 hours of accredited content, focused on five key pillars for thriving: food as medicine, functional fitness, community, resilience, and relationships. These ingredients for thriving have been shaped by my experiences around the world.
Earlier this year, we introduced TheChefDoc app, which brings all of these resources together in one place. The app includes on-demand videos, audio content, quizzes, PDFs, and more, and is available on desktop, tablet, and smartphone. We are continuously expanding our programs and now offer coaching services for those who want more personalized guidance.
Currently, I’m working on an exciting update—integrating the website and the app into a unified platform centered on preventative care and patient education. This will provide a seamless experience for users, making it even easier to access all of our resources in one place. I’m eager to share more as the platform evolves!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe risk is essential for growth. It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone, but real progress happens when you step into the unknown. For me, risk-taking is not about being reckless; it’s about trusting my vision and pushing past the fear of the unknown to pursue what I believe in.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was stepping away from the traditional path of clinical medicine. After years of training and securing a stable role as a physician, I chose to focus on lifestyle medicine and create TheChefDoc. Leaving behind the security of a steady career to build a platform centered on preventive care and patient education felt like diving into uncharted waters. The possibility of failure—both professionally and financially—was very real. But I knew that if I didn’t take that leap, I would always wonder “what if.”
Starting my brand and writing a book, developing a masterclass, and launching an app—all while growing my practice—was overwhelming at times. The financial risks and workload were challenging, but I kept going because I believed in the impact I could have on people’s lives.
Looking back, those risks have paid off. TheChefDoc has grown into a multifaceted wellness platform with a global reach, empowering people to take charge of their health. Risk, I’ve learned, is the bridge between where you are and where you want to go. Without the risks I took, TheChefDoc wouldn’t be what it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thechefdoc.app/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechefdoc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChefDoc/
- Twitter: https://x.com/thechefdoc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeVW6o9F8V5BmCfkkLHUDTw
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/TheChefDocTHR5/
