Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Monica Davern. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Monica, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

So many things! I’m the youngest of 4 kids and my parents are both immigrants from Colombia. My dad was always looking for the best opportunities in work and life, to be able to support our family and bring us to the next level. They moved to the states with $100 and a suitcase, and built an incredible life out of it.

He took job opportunities all over the country and overseas. We lived in Paris and Madrid when I was really little, but moved back to the states when my brother, Diego was diagnosed with leukemia.

He received treatment at Johns Hopkins for 2 years and underwent a bone marrow transplant but ultimately developed a complication called “Graft Versus Host Disease” and did not survive. He passed away when he was 10 years old. I was 5 at the time.

Our family was devastated and we moved again to Iowa, mostly to get out of the East Coast, I think.

It was really hard. Our family grieved. We ALL became overweight. I was a chubby kid with glasses and knew no one going into school. I was bullied a lot and it was hard to make friends.

My older sister, Nina, started running on the cross country team at school, mostly because my parents forced her to pick a sport. She had become really withdrawn with everything that had happened, and starting a new life at a new high school was not what she would have chosen at that time. Diego was her best friend in the world. We all felt so lost.

Running became the thing that fixed everyone.

First my mom started running, and would bring me with her every afternoon. We would go for a short loop around a lake by our house. It became the thing that healed everyone in our family. I started to look healthier. I started making friends. I developed a love for distance.

By the time junior high came around we moved one more time, to Colorado, where I still live now. But it was SO much easier to fit in and make friends as someone who looked and felt healthy.

My mom always fostered healthy table dynamics and healthy relationships with food, too.

While Diego was sick my parents were not around a lot for family dinners because they were at the hospital all the time. But once that chapter closed, family meals became a priority in our life, and something that we really anchored to as a family.

Prioritizing health and wellness as a family became something that bonded us together, and continues to bring us together all the time.

Monica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a board certified pediatrician, boy mom x2, wife and vegan endurance athlete (mostly running and triathlon).

I created Mighty Roots, an online parenting resource to help families make sustainable, significant lifestyle changes.

I spent the first 5 years of my career in a busy Pediatric Emergency Department where I saw it ALL! I was there during COVID, the RSV apocolypse that came afterwards, the antibiotic shortages, and everything in between.

I loved the high acuity but I would frequently find myself talking at length with families about how to improve their health and prevent illnesses… there was just never enough time to give them all the information they needed.

So eventually I left the ED and went into primary care where I got to really focus on sharing my insights with a bigger audience.

My online course, Leafy Littles is a transformative 5 week course for families who want to raise thriving plant based kids… and just need someone to show them what to do.

In this course we take a deep dive into WHY plant based nutrition matters for kids. I also show you the scientific evidence behind the health benefits of plant based food. We do a deep dive into pediatric nutrition so people can feel confident that they’re giving their kids everything they need. And then we get into all the practical stuff with recipes, meal planning, social situations, etc. We meet live once a week so that I can support you and answer questions.

It has been a dream come true to create this course and the community that has come with it has been incredible.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

In medicine and in life the best way to succeed is to be yourself, and allow your people to find you.

In my clinical practice and in my business, the most effective way to really connect with people is by speaking to their values. Finding what matters to them and holding it in the highest regard, is key.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I try and make myself as available as possible to those who are investing in my business. As things get started, the referrals I receive are super important to me. I have had the privilege of really getting to know my clients and hearing their stories has been one of the most fulfilling things I have gotten to do in my life. I want these moms to know that they are NOT alone. Sometimes pursuing wellness for your family feels lonely, especially when its not always a popular or mainstream choice. So to be able to create this community has been really special.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mightyroots.org
• Instagram: @mighty.roots
• Facebook: @mightyroots.org
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/monica-davern
• Other: pinterest @mightyrootskids