How One Doctor Turned Personal Struggles into a Life of Purpose, Helping Others Navigate Stress, Resilience, and Living Intentionally
Dr. Leonaura Rhodes is a UK-trained physician turned life coach specializing in brain health and stress management. After years as a developmental pediatrician and public health expert, she faced personal struggles, including nearly losing both of her children and battling COVID-19. These challenges ignited her passion for helping others thrive. Now based in Connecticut, Leonaura works with physicians, executives, and parents, guiding them through life transitions and burnout recovery. Through coaching, writing, and her Influent Network podcast Mindful Medics she empowers individuals to lead healthier, more intentional lives.
Can you share a bit about your personal background and where life has taken you so far?
I live in Connecticut with my family—my husband and two young adult sons. We moved four years ago to live on the water, in a harbor in Norwalk. Fun fact: whenever I have a gap in my schedule, I love getting out on my kayak and visiting a little nature sanctuary island to photograph birds. This hobby became my therapy after I nearly died of COVID in 2020. For five months, I struggled with brain fog, breathing problems, and fatigue, but nature—bird photography in particular—helped me heal. I even created a separate Instagram channel called Nature Photography for Fun. I’m not a professional by any means, but I love sharing the joy it brings me. It’s heartwarming to know that my pictures bring others happiness too, like my friend’s mom in England who comments on every photo I post.
What sparked your passion for medicine?
It all started when I was about 12 years old. My mom and I would watch medical TV shows, and she always said, “There’s no better job than saving lives for a living.” That idea really resonated with me. Then, at school, I worked on a project about health inequalities—specifically how women in Africa were forced to feed their babies bottled milk, even though the water wasn’t clean, leading to many infant deaths. I was absolutely incensed. That moment, combined with my love for science and fascination with the human body, solidified my decision to become a doctor. I got into medical school in Manchester, England, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Were you always naturally inclined toward science, or did it take hard work?
I’ve always been a bright student, but more than anything, I worked hard and genuinely loved studying. Interestingly, my husband has an incredible memory—something I’ve never had. For me, hard work was my way of compensating, and I’ve always been okay with that.
Why did you choose your specific medical specialty?
In the UK, you start making career decisions at a young age. I was only 18 when I got into medical school, and I always knew I wanted to be a general practitioner. The path involves doing three years of hospital medicine before specializing, which was an incredibly rough experience. The long hours—up to 100 hours a week—took a huge toll on my health. My turning point was during my fourth rotation, where I had what I now call my “linen closet moment.” After being bullied by a senior doctor and being forced to perform a surgery beyond my experience, I had a breakdown. I locked myself in a linen closet for three hours, gave my pager to a nurse, and cried. That moment was pivotal and shaped my passion for helping people with stress. Looking back, I had no tools to manage my stress, and it breaks my heart to think of others in the same situation without support.
How did you develop the tools to manage stress and build resilience?
I started learning through reading. One book that truly changed my perspective was The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama. It was in that book that I discovered the concept that suffering is optional. That idea completely floored me. Why had no one ever taught me this? From then on, I became obsessed with finding tools to manage stress and improve resilience. I believe everyone should have a toolkit—a variety of tools to choose from depending on what works for them. Meditation, exercise, eating well, and, more recently, getting out in nature have all become key parts of my personal toolkit.
Was resilience something you had to build, or did it come naturally?
It definitely didn’t come naturally—it was hard work. Like many people, I have a natural tendency towards negativity. Being a junior doctor, you see so many things go wrong, and it starts to shape your view of the world. Then, having both of my kids nearly die in infancy added to my belief that the world was a scary place. I had to actively train my brain to shift away from that mindset, just like you’d train a dog. Now, I can pause, assess situations more calmly, and avoid jumping into that immediate “fight or flight” mode.
What advice would you give to young women entering or completing their medical training?
The most important thing is to listen to your body. As doctors, we know the body is remarkable and works hard to stay healthy. But we’re often so busy that we ignore the signs it gives us. Pain, anxiety, or discomfort are signals that something’s off, but we tend to push through instead of addressing the root cause. Meditation is such a valuable tool for this—both as a way to pause and listen to your body and as a solution for calming the nervous system. I used to work in neurofeedback and saw firsthand how just a few minutes of mindfulness could transform brain activity. It was like watching magic happen.
Looking back, what have been the major milestones in your life?
My “linen closet moment” was the first major milestone. It was a really dark time—I was struggling with thoughts of self-harm and suicide. But I got through it and kept going. Another big moment came when I finally landed what I thought was my dream job, only to discover I hated it. I realized I needed quality interactions with patients, not just volume. I switched to public health medicine, focusing on health promotion, and found a new passion in preventative care. Then, life threw another curveball when we moved to the U.S. for my husband’s job, and I had to reinvent myself since I couldn’t practice medicine without retraining. That’s when I transitioned into coaching, combining my medical knowledge with my love for helping people.
You’ve reinvented yourself multiple times. Do you feel like you’ve become the coach you needed in your past?
Absolutely. I became the coach I needed both as a medical student and as a parent of two sick children. When my second son would stop breathing as an infant, I couldn’t even leave him with anyone except a medical professional. That forced me to make difficult choices between my career and my family, but I have no regrets. Life is full of moments that push you to adapt, and I’m grateful I was able to turn those challenges into something meaningful.
