Vanessa Calderón

About Vanessa Calderón

Hola, I’m Dr. Vanessa Calderón, a first-generation Latina-American, mom of two amazing kids, and happily married to the best Italian chef I know (his name is Justin - not Chef Boyardee).I’m a board-certified ER doc and lifelong healer, trained in Western medicine but deeply rooted in the Indigenous healing traditions of my Mexican and Salvadoran ancestry. Healing isn’t just my profession, it’s my heritage. Today, I weave together science, psychology, and ancestral wisdom to help leaders and entrepreneurs create meaningful, sustainable impact without burning out - so together, we can leave our world a little better than we found it. Along the way, I’ve worn a lot of hats - grass roots activist, department chief, wellness director, educator, trauma-informed master coach, speaker, podcaster. I\'ve led wellness retreats that have helped physicians reconnect with their original joy in medicine, and I’ve designed professional development programs that uplift and empower women of color. I also host the podcast \"The Authentic Path,\" where I explore how we can lead and grow businesses with more humanity, while staying grounded in what really matters (you can listen on iTunes, Spotify, Youtube, or wherever you get your podcasts).But, I didn’t get here without my own lessons. Like so many high-achievers, I pushed too hard early in my career and hit burnout. That experience changed me. And in my healing, I made a promise: no one should have to sacrifice their well-being to succeed. That led me to create an evidence-based burnout prevention program that I used to help hundreds of professionals heal and thrive. The efficacy of my work was published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.Now, I bring together 20 years of leadership and business development experience, a deep foundation in psychology and neuroplasticity, and a fierce belief in human potential to help my clients master themselves, elevate their impact, and lead with heart and clarity.This work isn’t just what I do, it’s who I am.My values: IntegrityAuthenticity Self-compassion Passionate about: Self-Mastery Diversity in LeadershipWellness and Burnout Prevention Conscious Leadership and Business DevelopmentFavorite Karaoke Song: Any 90\'s and early hip hop + SelenaLet\'s The Authentic Path(iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, etc)The Authentic Path explores the intersection of leadership, performance science, and ancient wisdom to help you create meaningful impact and lasting success, without losing yourself along the way.

Experience

1. National Director, Wellness

   Vituity

   Jan 2013 — Present

   As Vituity’s National Wellness and Resiliency Director, I lead system-wide strategies designed to reduce burnout and reconnect healthcare professionals with their original joy in medicine. My work blends evidence-based frameworks, neuroscience, and practical leadership tools to support physicians, advanced providers, and staff across the organization.In this role, I design and implement programs that not only improve individual well-being but also strengthen team culture and organizational resilience. From creating scalable burnout prevention initiatives to leading leadership development workshops, my focus is always on helping healthcare professionals feel safe, seen, and supported - because when providers thrive, patient care and outcomes thrive as well.I’ve had the privilege of spearheading physician wellness retreats, developing coaching, peer-support and resiliency programs. I also advise senior leaders on integrating well-being into organizational strategy, aligning clinical operations with human-centered leadership.The efficacy of my work has been published in peer-reviewed medical journals. But what matters most to me is the impact on the ground: seeing colleagues rediscover purpose, fulfillment, and joy in their calling.At its core, my mission at Vituity is simple: to help ensure that no one has to sacrifice their well-being to succeed in medicine.

Education

• UCLA

  M.D., Medicine

  2004 — 2010

• David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

  Doctor of Medicine - MD, Medicine

  2004 — 2010

• Harvard Kennedy School

  M.P.P., Health Care Policy and Management

  2008 — 2010