Meet Dr. Suzie Carmack

Named Executive Well-Being Coach of the Year by Finance Monthly (2024) and Alumnae of the Year by the Department of Communication of George Mason University (2018), Dr. Carmack has dedicated her 32-year career to the promotion of work/life well-being. Her current appointments include:

• CEO of YogaMedCo, her private practice studio, training and consulting company
• Department Chair of Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda at the Maryland University of Integrative Health, where she directs the only Master of Science degree program in Yoga Therapy
• Senior Scholar with the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University, where she serves as a Co-Principal Investigator on the Health and Safety Workforce Resilience Program sponsored by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and as a Trainer in the Leading Thriving Organizations certificate program

Yoga and Health Communication Scholar/Practitioner

Authored Books

• Carmack, S. (2024).Yoga for One: How to Co-Create an Inclusive and Evidence-Informed Practice On and Off of the Mat. Singing Dragon / Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London.
• Carmack, S. (2017). Genius Breaks: How to Optimize Your Workday Performance and Well-Being. Body Doctrine.
• Carmack, S. (2015). Well-Being Ultimatum: A Self-Care Guide for Strategic Healers - Those Who Live in the Service, Leadership and Healing of Others. Body Doctrine.

Authored Book Chapters

• Carmack, S. (2021). Strategic Stress Management. In Cheskin, L.J. and Gudzune, K.A. Weight Loss for Life: The Proven Plan for Success (pp.103-170). Johns Hopkins University Press. 
• Carmack, S. (2019). Physician Burnout: A U.S. public health crisis in need of a socio-ecological solution. In Sturmberg, J. (Ed.), Embracing Complexity in Health (pp. 237-256). Springer.

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (Sample) 

• Wolever, R. Q., Cline, T. R., Weiss, J. M., Carmack, S., Schultz, C., Arloski, M., & Lawson, K. (2024). Group Health & Wellness Coaching: development and validation of the required competencies. BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 1-12.
• Constantino, R.E., Reyes, A.T., Petrie-Wyman, J., Carmack, S., Ramos, M.D.,...Allen, L.D. (2021). Life Course In HEARTS: Enhancing Telehealth Resilience and Mindfulness Intervention in Older Adults Experiencing Abuse and Trauma-A Conceptualization. Open Access Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine, 3(1), 303.

Trainer of Yoga Coaches, Yoga Teachers, and Yoga Therapists 

With 32 years of experience teaching in higher education and 22 years of concurrent experience training movement professionals, Dr. Carmack has trained fitness instructors since 1997; Pilates teachers since 2002; yoga teachers since 2006; and yoga therapists since 2022. Today, you can find over 1000 of her former students and trainees supporting clients on 5 continents. Her current certification program offerings include:

• Yoga Coach Certification 
• Yoga Teacher (RYT 200)
• Yoga Trainer (RYT 500)
• MedFit Yoga Specialist
• Yoga Therapist (M.S. Degree)
• Ayurveda Wellness Consultant (Post-Baccalaureate Certificate)
• Yoga Therapeutics for Licensed Healthcare Professionals 

Executive Well-Being Coach, Program Designer and Consultant

With training in both well-being practice and scholarship, Dr. Carmack has personally coached over 1000 executives, entrepreneurs and servant leaders and designed customized evidence-informed programs for organizations and agencies in the public and private sectors, including:

• The Pan American / World Health Organization (From 2013- 2015)
• The U.S. Parks Service (2016)
• The Senior Leadership Team of the Air Combat Command of the United States Air Force (2018)
• Women in Medicine and Science Forum, University of Pittsburgh (2018)
• The Academy for Communication in Healthcare (2018)
• Valley Health, Winchester Medical Center (2019)
• The U.S. Treasury Department Executive Institute, a shared leadership training hub for all 45 U.S. government agencies (2020)
• The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Network of Research Professionals (2021)
• The U.S. Department of Education (2021 - 2022)
• Womens' Initiative Team, Air Education and Training Command, USAF (2022)
• The 37th Training Wing of the USAF (2022 - 2023)
• The 517th Training Group of the USAF (2023)
• International Coalition of Girls' Schools (2023)

Education and Expertise

Formal Education

• PhD in Health Communication from George Mason University (2014)
• MEd in Kinesiology from the University of Texas at Tyler (2009)
• MFA in Theatre from the University of Alabama and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival (1991)
• BA in Communication Arts/Theatre from Allegheny College (1989)

Professional Education

• Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT)
• Yoga Teacher Trainer (ERYT 500)
• Coach (ICF PCC and NBC-HWC)

Dr. Carmack is based in Summerville, South Carolina, a suburb of Charleston, SC and presents lectures, retreats, and certifications internationally. As a burnout and cancer survivor, she is committed to taking care of her own spiritual, mental and physical well-being daily through the practices of yoga, Pilates and lifestyle medicine. She and her husband Bob Shircliff love visiting their five adult children and grandchildren, traveling, and exploring new restaurants.