Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Danielle Metzler.
Hi Dr. Metzler, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story actually began during my childhood. My mother was a nurse and first sparked my interest in the field of medicine. She encouraged me to work hard and see where my dreams could take me. I’ve really known I wanted to be a doctor since about 15 years old, and I’ve worked toward that ever since- in one straight line. But I’ve had many other ideas along the way! I studied at Washington College and then spent several years working 2 full-time jobs- one for a lab at Johns Hopkins, and the other as a medical scribe in an ER in Annapolis, MD, all while studying and applying for medical school. I went to University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and then moved to Charleston with my husband for Family Medicine residency. I went back and forth on what kind of medicine to practice, but I ultimately landed in the field where I felt I could serve the community best- primary care, the foundation of health. After residency, I started my career as a hospitalist and have recently switched to outpatient primary care. This has given me a much better work-life balance!
I’ve always known I wanted something creative to pursue on the side of medicine, and I’ve always wanted to write a children’s book. In 2019 I made this a reality. I wrote a children’s Christmas book called The Big Red Giving Bag, and I asked my sister to illustrate it. We self-published and launched our project in 2020 and have made a splash as the newest holiday tradition! Our book can now be found in small shops up and down the east coast and is gaining traction across the country! We’ve sold over 2,000 copies and are committed to growing this movement for years to come. The best part of our project is that we donate a portion of our proceeds to Compassion International, a children’s charity dedicated to relieving children and families suffering in extreme poverty. So not only do we try to promote kindness and generosity in the lives of our children, we give back on a global scale.
While researching how to grow a following for a small business on social media, I became interested in the power of Instagram. I decided to create a new account from my perspective as a primary care doctor. My account focuses on spreading tips about general health and wellness, nutrition, body positivity, and work-life balance, in a creative and relatable way. My goal with this is to generally inspire more people to live a mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy life that they can be proud of and enjoy to the fullest extent.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Probably the biggest obstacle I’ve had along the way was medical school in general. It was challenging academically for sure, but it really is a mental marathon. I have my husband to thank for supporting me daily during that dark time. I also had a long struggle with infertility. In the midst of trying to train and build my career, I was in an emotional tornado- always waiting, always hoping, always praying, never knowing what loss was next or if we’d ever be able to have a family. In 2016 we were blessed with our first daughter, and in 2020, as the pandemic was well underway, we were blessed with our son.
Writing and self-publishing, not just a book but a brand- a movement, while working full-time and raising 2 kids was also quite challenging to say the least. Luckily with the support of my husband, sister, and mom- the 3rd partner in our business, we released a product I am truly proud of!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I wear three different hats
– full-time traditional primary care doctor
– self-published author and small business owner
– social media influencer
Contact Info:
- Email: santa@thebigredgivingbag.com
- Website: thebigredgivingbag.com
- Instagram: @danileighmd, @thebigredgivingbag
