At Optimum Wellness Coaching, Inc., our philosophy is that there are many paths to your goals.  The important thing is not which path you travel, but that you get moving and find happiness and satisfaction along the way. Dayna is a "retired" Family Medicine Physician with Multiple Sclerosis who currently practices as a Health and Wellness Coach,  and Chronic Illness Coach.  She realized at a young age that her vocation would include service to others.  Her experiences, skills, and education make coaching a natural extension of her career as a physician.  As a family practitioner, she used coaching on a daily basis as a tool to help patients implement change and lead healthier lives.  Dayna's strength as a physician and coach lies in her pragmatic approach to life, which is balanced by kindness, compassion, and a gracious spirit.  As a Chronic Illness Coach, she is able to blend personal experience with medical expertise to help clients deal with their situation and live happier, healthier lives. Dayna grew up in the suburbs of Metro-Detroit.  She was an overweight teenager and young adult and tried many diets and weight management programs.  It was not until she finally learned to like herself the way she was that she was able to give up the disheartening struggle with weight.  Once she became comfortable with her outer and inner self and discarded her negative self-image, Dayna was able to make practical lifestyle modifications and lost 45 pounds in about two years. Dayna received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1995 and her D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) from Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999.  She then went on to complete a residency in Family Medicine at Botsford General Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  She will graduate from the Certified Professional Coach Program (CPCP) at the International Coach Academy (ICA) in June, 2007.  Dayna completed the Wellcoaches® Wellness Coach Training Program in March, 2006 and is certified as a Health and Wellness Coach by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Dayna was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis just after her first year of medical residency.  Despite the initial fear and sadness that accompanied her new concept of herself, she persevered and managed to finish her medical training in the usual time-frame.  She practiced as a Family Physician successfully until late 2004 when several relapses severely limited her ability to function efficiently as a doctor.  Having a chronic illness has taught Dayna to appreciate the many opportunities that she has been given and to see the importance of helping others learn this lesson. As a volunteer for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dayna is one of about 80 Research Advocates in the country, she facilitates a program for them called “Gateway to Wellness” which teaches MS patients about fitness, nutrition, goal setting, and other health issues, and she leads a local MS support group.   Dayna lives in the Detroit area, with her husband.  Her interests include travel, surfing (the internet), reading, writing, beading, and Yoga.  She loves long walks or bicycle rides on sunny days, her mom’s cooking, chocolate, a good sale, her cats, and her dog, Lola. To learn more about the coach or to schedule a complimentary trial session, contact her at dr.dayna@optimumwellnesscoaching.com.