20 Under 40: Suzannah Bozzone

photo Suzannah Bozzone

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SUZANNAH BOZZONE, 39

American Board of Lifestyle medicine certification - inaugural class (using evidence based medical practice that shifts the focus away from pharmaceuticals and procedures and toward the root cause of our top health crisis, which is our lifestyle); mother to 3 gorgeous kids - the best incentive for mindfulness; yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest (2009); worked with refugees from all over during residency in Denver and in a Spanish speaking clinic in Nashville, which taught me that most of primary care is about communication and meeting the patients where they are, rather than imposing one's own ideas or medications; fluent Spanish speaker; chief resident at U of Colorado Denver Family Medicine Residency.

What's your anthem or theme song?

"The Best is yet to Come," the Frank Sinatra version.

If you were a musician, what would your stage or band name be?

To the Roots.

If you were starting a band, who from your life would you pick to be in it and why?

Husband George on piano because we are the perfect duo; sister Daniella on double bass and harmony vocals because she sets my tempo and we complement each other; mom Laurie on clarinet because she's the life-giving flair; brother Mike as bouncer and on kazoo, for obvious reasons; kids (ages 7, 5 and 2) on horns because they're loud and wiggly; cousin Cameron Albergo because he could make a vacuum cleaner sound fantastic; and dad Ric (RIP) as the manager.

Which member of the band would you be?

Lead singer.

If you achieved rock star status, what would you hope it would be for?

Empowering people to optimize their own health, and bridging the unfortunate gap that exists between the medical system and health-promoting communities.

Random green room demand?

Yoga mats for everyone!

Who are your top influencers (not necessarily musically)?

Dean Ornish, MD; Joel Fuhrman, MD; Ana Forrest, yoga teacher; my family; my "moai," besties near and far.

Which musical style best describes your personality?

Big band. It's flexible, comfortable with chaos, but gets the point across.

Who would write the soundtrack to your life and why?

Elton John, because he sees the world through rose colored glasses.

First album you bought for yourself?

Steve Miller Band.

If you could change one thing about Chattanooga, what would it be?

To make Chattanooga a leading example of a health-promoting community in the heart of the South - local agriculture supporting a plant-based diet; active communities; mindful workplaces; etc.

To what cause would you donate the proceeds from your first benefit concert?

The support of sustainable local and community agriculture that provides health-optimizing plant-based foods and education to the underserved and food deserts of Chattanooga.

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