Speaking
Physician. Author. TEDx Speaker. Mental Wellness Advocate.
Helping people live brighter, dream boldly, and pursue purpose without losing their mental wellness along the way.
Dr. Candicee Childs is a physician, author, TEDx speaker, and advocate for mental wellness and personal growth. As a psychiatry physician at Massachusetts General Hospital with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry, she brings a unique perspective at the intersection of medicine, mental health, resilience, purpose, and storytelling.
Her message is rooted in one simple belief:
You can pursue your purpose while caring for the person you are becoming along the way.
Dr. Childs has spoken on the TEDx stage, delivered the 2024 Georgia Southern University Spring Commencement address for the Waters College of Health Professions and Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health, and speaks to audiences about empathy, mental wellness, resilience, purpose, personal growth, education, and the journey toward becoming who you are called to be.
Signature Keynotes
01: The Art of Becoming
Protecting Your Humanity While Pursuing Your Purpose
Success can be exciting—but the journey toward it can also be exhausting.
Drawing from her experiences as a physician, author, student, mentor, and lifelong learner, Dr. Childs explores what it means to grow into the person we are becoming without losing ourselves in the process.
Audiences will learn how to:
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Navigate seasons of growth and uncertainty
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Protect their mental and emotional wellness
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Embrace empathy without abandoning themselves
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Reframe setbacks as part of the becoming process
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Pursue meaningful goals while creating sustainable lives
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Ideal for: Healthcare organizations, universities, professional organizations, leadership programs, and conferences.
02: Brighter Minds
Mental Wellness, Resilience & the Pursuit of Purpose
What happens when we become so focused on achieving our goals that we forget to take care of our minds?
As a physician with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry, Dr. Childs brings mental wellness into conversations about achievement, resilience, relationships, and purpose.
This engaging keynote helps audiences move beyond simply “pushing through” and toward developing healthier ways to navigate stress, adversity, and change.
Ideal for: Schools, universities, healthcare organizations, corporations, youth organizations, and community events.
03: From Dreams to White Coats
Helping the Next Generation Believe What's Possible
Dr. Childs understands what it means to have a dream before you know exactly how you're going to accomplish it.
From studying chemistry to earning a Master of Health Administration and Doctor of Medicine degree, her journey is a story of persistence, mentorship, faith, education, and purpose.
Through storytelling and practical encouragement, she challenges young people to think beyond their current circumstances and begin building the future they envision.
Ideal for: K–12 schools, colleges and universities, STEM programs, pre-med organizations, youth organizations, mentorship programs, and commencement events.
04: Lemons, Lemonade & the Journey
Turning Adversity Into Purpose
Life does not always give us the circumstances we planned for.
Sometimes, the journey includes disappointment, grief, uncertainty, unexpected detours, and moments when we have to decide whether we will allow our circumstances to define us.
Inspired by her memoir Lemons, Lemonade, and the Lemonade Stand: My Bittersweet Journey to Medical School, Dr. Childs shares a vulnerable and encouraging message about perseverance, purpose, faith, and continuing to move forward.
Ideal for: Faith-based organizations, women's events, community organizations, universities, leadership programs, and inspirational gatherings.
Topics
Dr. Childs speaks on the following topics:
Mental Wellness
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Protecting your mental wellness
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Resilience and emotional well-being
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Empathy and boundaries
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Stress, pressure, and achievement
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Mental wellness in children and adolescents
Purpose & Personal Growth
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Finding purpose
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Navigating seasons of change
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Resilience after adversity
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Growth mindset
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Becoming the person you are called to be
Medicine & Healthcare
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The humanity of medicine
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Empathy in healthcare
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Professional identity formation
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Physician wellness
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The journey through medical education and training
Faith & Community
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Faith and purpose
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Hope during difficult seasons
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Serving others
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Strengthening communities
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Living with intention
Youth & Education
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Dreaming beyond your circumstances
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STEM and medicine
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Mentorship
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Perseverance
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Building confidence and self-belief
More Than a Keynote
Dr. Childs can tailor an experience to your audience, including:
Keynote Address
A dynamic, story-driven presentation designed to inspire, challenge, and equip your audience.
Keynote + Q&A
A keynote followed by an interactive conversation with the audience.
Workshop
A deeper, interactive experience that gives participants practical tools they can apply beyond the event.
Panel / Fireside Chat
An engaging conversation focused on mental wellness, medicine, personal growth, leadership, youth development, or purpose.
Student & Youth Programs
Interactive talks designed to encourage young people to dream boldly while developing resilience and healthy approaches to achievement.
Why Dr. Childs?
Dr. Childs brings together experiences that rarely exist in one speaker:
Physician + Author + TEDx Speaker + Educator + Storyteller
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with a minor in Spanish, a Master of Health Administration, and a Doctor of Medicine degree. She is currently completing psychiatry training at Massachusetts General Hospital with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry. Her professional journey has been accompanied by numerous academic and leadership honors, including the 2024 Valdosta State University College of Science and Mathematics Distinguished Alumna Award.
Her work through Brighter with Dr. Childs reflects her broader mission:
Empowering individuals. Strengthening communities.
Bring Dr. Childs to Your Event
Whether you're planning a conference, university program, healthcare event, youth initiative, women's gathering, faith-based event, corporate program, or community experience, Dr. Childs will work with your organization to create a message that is meaningful, memorable, and relevant to your audience.
REQUEST DR. CHILDS AS A SPEAKER
Let's create an experience that leaves your audience brighter than when they arrived.
Speaking Fees
Speaking engagements are customized based on audience, event type, location, presentation format, preparation, and program requirements.
Keynote engagements begin at $3,500.
Customized keynotes, workshops, multi-session programs, travel, and additional event requirements are quoted individually.
Nonprofit, student, community, and faith-based organizations are encouraged to inquire about available community rates.
Speaking engagements, workshops, presentations, interviews, and other educational content provided by Dr. Candicee Childs are intended for general educational and informational purposes only. Information shared does not constitute individualized medical, psychiatric, psychological, legal, financial, or other professional advice and should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a qualified professional. Audience members should consider their individual circumstances and seek appropriate professional guidance when needed.
Views and perspectives expressed during speaking engagements are for educational purposes and may reflect Dr. Childs’ personal experiences and professional perspectives. Participation in a presentation or workshop does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
