Dr. Suzie Carmack - Biography

With credits as a best-selling author; award-winning coach; peer-reviewed scholar; edupreneur (online course developer); keynote speaker; and performing artist, Dr. Suzie Carmack is dedicated to empowering leaders, teams, and organizations to thrive through the art and science of communication. 

Executive Presence and Performance Coach

Certified in both executive (ICF PCC) and wellness (NBC-HWC) coaching, Dr. Suzie Carmack helps leaders reconnect with presence as the often-overlooked catalyst for personal performance, team cohesion, and organizational effectiveness.

Communication and Well-Being Scholar

As a Senior Scholar for the Center for the Advancement of Well-being at George Mason University, and as the Human Dimensions Team Lead at NewBridge Partners, Dr. Carmack conducts applied (real-world) research with leaders and teams to advance understanding of the role communication plays in the co-creation of well-being. 

• Carmack, S., Dhillon, K., Courchaine, L., Mullins, J. and Conger, C. (2025*). Evaluation of the Well-Being Ultimatum Leadership Training Intervention for the U.S. Air Force 37th Training Wing. *In press; due for Release Fall 2025
• Carmack, S., Wilcox, L., Vunuum, S., Shah, Z., Goldberg, D.(2025*). Co-Creating a Community of Practice: Enhancing Health Worker Well-being at the Systems Level *In press; due for Release Fall 2025
• Schmidt, K, Schultz, C., Carmack, S., Cline, T., and Wolever, R. (2025*). Evaluation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program for the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Diabetes Translation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Preventative Medicine. *In press; due for Release Fall 2025. 
• Kennedy, S., Carmack, S., Li, L., Lin, F. C., Hatch, J. E., Chan, K., ... & Noah, T. L. (2024). Coaching Pediatricians for Wellbeing: A Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Study. Journal of Academic Pediatrics.
• 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), 392.
• Ahmadian, M., Carmack, S., Samah, A. A., Kreps, G., & Saidu, M. B. (2016). Psychosocial predictors of breast self-examination among female students in Malaysia: A study to assess the roles of body image, self-efficacy and perceived barriers. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 17(3), 1277-1284.
• Carmack, S. (2014). Making Sense of Well-being: A mixed-methods study applying sense-making theory to explore the role of interpersonal communication competence and social support in physical, mental, emotional and comprehensive well-being. Doctoral dissertation. (George Mason University).

Best-Selling Author 

Dr. Carmack is the author of three books and two book chapters sharing strategies for promoting well-being. 

• Carmack, S. (2024). Yoga for One: How to Co-Create an Inclusive and Evidence-Informed Practice On and Off the Mat. London: Singing Dragon Publishers.
• Carmack, S. (2017). Genius Breaks: Optimize Your Workday Performance and Well-being. Fairfax, VA: 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. Fairfax, VA: Body Doctrine.
• Carmack, S. (2022) Stress Management. In Cheskin, L., et. al. (2022). Weight Loss for Life. Johns Hopkins University Press. 
• Carmack, S. (April 2019). U.S. Physicians’ Burnout: A Systems-level problem in need of a socio-ecological solution. In Sturmberg, J., ed. (2018) Embracing Complexity in Health: the Transformation of science, practice and policy. Springer.

Educator and Mentor of Solopreneurs

Dr. Carmack has trained 1000's of coaches and teachers across 5 continents as a coach trainer and continuing education provider for the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaching; the American Council on Exercise; the National Academy of Sports Medicine; the International Association of Yoga Therapists; the Yoga Alliance; and the Athletics and Fitness Association of America. She continues to host her most popular training events, retreats, and on demand (Self-paced) courses on her YogaMedCo platform:

• Yoga Coach Training - her 14 hour on demand (self-paced) online course sharing her method for combining yoga and lifestyle medicine into empowering programs on and off the mat (an expansion of her book Yoga for One).
• Prosper with Purpose - her 36 hour on demand (self-paced) course teaching coaches, creatives, and consultants how to become thought leaders by developing a purpose-driven and profitable brand without burning out
• Yoga for Stress Relief - her 12 week program guiding anyone (including those new to yoga) through a journey of transforming self-criticism into self-compassion
• Genius Brand Retreat - her 2-day live intensive teaching anyone who wants to create a Genius Presence Signal (GPS) for their personal brand

Speaker and MC

Dr. Carmack has delivered over 100 keynote talks internationally in retreat, conference, and summit settings. To learn more about how you can book Dr. Carmack for your next event as a speaker or MC please go HERE.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Carmack has been recognized for her excellence in teaching, coaching, and thought leadership:

• Professor Emerita, Yoga Therapy and Ayurveda  Maryland University of Integrative Health (2024)

• Executive Well-Being Coach of the Year, Finance Monthly (2023)

• Excellence in Teaching – Core Curriculum, George Mason University (2019 & 2020)

• Alumnae of the Year, George Mason University Department of Communication (2018) 

Academic Degrees

• PhD, Health Communication – George Mason University

• MEd, Kinesiology and Health Education – University of Texas at Tyler

• MFA, Theatre – University of Alabama and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival

• BA, Communication Arts (Theatre Major and Writing Minor) – Allegheny College

Professional Certifications

• PCC – Professional Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation (ICF)

• NBC-HWC – Nationally Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Continuing Education Provider, National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC)

• C-IAYT – Certified Yoga Therapist and Continuing Education Provider, International Association of Yoga Therapy (IAYT)

• ERYT 500 and YACEP - Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher and Trainer of Yoga Teachers, Yoga Alliance

• ACE-CPT – Certified Personal Trainer and Continuing Education Provider, American Council on Exercise 

• Leadership Development Training Facilitator, Myers-Briggs MBTI Type 2, Emotional Intelligence, MyHardwired Behavioral Profile, and Decision Style Profile