Colleen Rivers, MD

Colleen attended New York University School of Medicine and completed her training at the Harvard-affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. There, she served as Chief Resident during her final year and received the Clinical Excellence Award at graduation. She then pursued a fellowship in medical toxicology at New York University and the New York City Poison Control Center before going on to practice emergency medicine.

Initially drawn to medicine during her mother’s battle with breast cancer, Colleen’s commitment was only strengthened when she also lost her father to pancreatic cancer. She has practiced emergency medicine for almost twenty years in a variety of environments, ranging from large academic medical centers to small community hospitals. While Colleen loves the clinical challenges of emergency medicine and the opportunity to connect with patients in their most vulnerable moments, her practice has also opened her eyes to the immense suffering caused by chronic diseases, many of which can be prevented or improved through lifestyle changes. Yet, as a breast cancer survivor herself and the mother of four, Colleen knows firsthand the challenge of making meaningful change in the midst of a full life. Her experiences have only deepened her commitment to helping people live healthier, more meaningful lives, whatever challenges they may face.

Colleen founded Seek to inspire people to take an active role in their health before they find themselves in the emergency room. She believes deeply in the untapped power of individual Purpose to drive meaningful change. As the creator of the Purpose-Driven Health framework, she combines medical science with practical strategies for cultivating meaning and making sustainable changes in five key areas of health: Movement, Nutrition, Sleep, Spirituality, and Connections. Through her speaking and writing, she inspires others to live healthier, happier, and more meaningful lives.

Colleen lives in Southern California with her husband and four children. She spends her free time at the beach, reading, and attending her children’s soccer games.