“Grow into your ideals so that life will not rob you of them.” – Albert Schweitzer

(Pressed for time? Very Short Bio Here! Wanna know more, scroll below!)

Seeker. Mother. Idealist. Humanitarian. Musician. Coach. Writer. Physician. Author. Activist.

British-born, raised in Nigeria and the United States, Yvonne Ator is the quintessential idealistic, eclectic, third-cultured Renaissance woman. A wife and mother seeking balance in a driven profession with training as a physician and a master of public health, she soon found herself burned out and disillusioned with a life that was not aligned with her ideals.

Self-described as the “imaginary love-child of Schweitzer and Oprah”, she embarked on a quest to discover what it would take to thrive while living her ideals and making a positive impact in the world. As a Certified Daring Way Facilitator and Certified Personal, Leadership and Executive coach in Positive Psychology, Trained in Unbeatable Mind Coaching, she is passionate about using writing, music, speaking, coaching and facilitation to inspire a global tribe of Thriving Idealists to “live your ideals, thrive in your calling and change the world.”

Longer more updated Bio! 

Fondly called “The Helper For Helpers and Sheepdog for Sheepdogs”, Dr. Yvonne Ator is deeply passionate about serving those who serve and lead. 

As the Founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealist, she has spent the past several years coaching mission-driven professionals who desire to serve and lead sustainably and thrive in their personal and professional lives while making their positive impact in the world without succumbing to disillusionment, moral injury, compassion fatigue or burnout. As a sheepdog for sheepdogs, she equips helpers and leaders struggling with overwhelm, overwork or feeling stuck with tools and resources to master themselves so they can live authentically and serve to their fullest potential. Yvonne is also passionate about creating daring  leadership and courage cultures in the workplace. 

Born in England, raised in several states in Nigeria and the United States, Yvonne was the quintessential idealist who wanted to change the world through medical mission. However, after finding herself at a crossroads, overwhelmed and compassion-fatigued as a new mom having to choose between her mental health and burnout in the medical profession she had sacrificed everything for, Yvonne became an avid advocate for physician wellness, courageous service and leadership,  suicide prevention and a more wholehearted culture in the workplace. 

After losing her comatose dad during a physician strike and finding herself homeless, divorced and financially destitute, Yvonne realized the pitfalls of burnout and quitting medicine without a safety net. She now empowers helping professionals to step back from the tunnel of overwhelm and burnout, rediscover their values and strengths with a new lens and mindset to see the options before them and make more aligned and empowered decisions.

She has attained several certifications in resilience, wellness, personal, leadership and organizational development. She is a certified Personal and Executive Coach in positive psychology, Certified Daring Way Facilitator, Certified Dare to Lead Facilitator (Brene Brown’s work) and a certified Unbeatable Mind Coach (Integrated Training in Mental Toughness and Emotional resilience with Retired Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine!).  

 A physician, musician, coach, writer, author, speaker, advocate  and serial-quester, Yvonne is tireless in her mission  to empower, equip and inspire those who have sacrificed to serve. She co-created the Veterans Integrated Program with the Courage Foundation to help veterans with post-traumatic stress cultivate the tools and practices to thrive. She has internationally published several articles including laughter as medicine, caring for caregivers, mindfulness meditation, grief, crisis intervention, trauma resilience and cultivating values. She is a co- author of the book “Thinking About Quitting Medicine?”  

When she isn’t being chased around by her two unbeatable warrior-princesses, she is either playing guitar, meditating, latin dancing, wanderlusting, helping Courage Foundation’s mission to help veterans with Post-traumatic stress, hosting Respite sessions for Frontline workers, dreaming up her next quest or geeking out on values, antifragility and Oprah! .

Features and Interviews include:

Chris Guillebeau – Art of Non-Conformity

Barbara Ferrier  – Courageous Women Project

Jonathan Fields – Good Life Project Podcast – “The Hug – Part 2”

Dr. Jurica        –Physician NonClinical Careers Podcast – How This Survivor is Helping the Helpers Thrive

William Brown – One Word Conversations – “HEART”

Danny Joe’s Treehouse – Emotional Guidance after a Tragic Event using Dramatic Play