When Life Changes Course: From Pediatrician & Army Flight Surgeon to Author with Dr. Amanda Zeine Artwork

The Different Ability® Podcast

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The Different Ability® Podcast

When Life Changes Course: From Pediatrician & Army Flight Surgeon to Author with Dr. Amanda Zeine

September 10, 2025 • Katey Fortun • Season 7 • Episode 261

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Dr. Amanda Zeine never planned to join the military — but her path led her from ROTC to becoming a pediatrician and Army flight surgeon, serving two deployments overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq. After sustaining a traumatic brain injury, Amanda faced the devastating reality that she could no longer practice medicine.

In this powerful conversation, she opens up about the struggles of losing her identity, rebuilding her life, and finding purpose in unexpected ways. Today, she’s the author of Hot Mess to Wellness and the middle grade series The Cul-de-sac Kids, creating stories that fill a gap for military children.

Join us as Amanda shares her journey of resilience, reinvention, and the courage to keep moving forward when life doesn’t go as planned.

Amanda's Bio:

Dr. Zeine was born and raised in a small town in Central Illinois. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a doctor and, after high school, attended Illinois State University while participating in the ROTC program. She graduated in 2002 with a B.S. in science. After graduating as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007, she attended her pediatric residency with the United States Army at Tripler Army Medical Center. While in residency, she was blessed with a beautiful daughter. After graduation, she was moved to Ft. Campbell, KY, and has practiced as a pediatrician and Army flight surgeon. While serving as a flight surgeon, she was deployed twice. In December 2018, Dr. Zeine sustained a traumatic brain injury. After an eleven-year career as a physician, she lost her identity when she could no longer practice effectively as a physician. It was then that she wrote her first book Hot Mess to Wellness. Being a pediatrician in the Army, she noted a lack of books for older military brats. She is hoping her new series The Cul-de-sac Kids will fill that void.

Connect with Amanda:

Order Amanda's Books:

Hot Mess to Welness - Order Here

Chloe the "Military Brat" (Cul-de-sac Kids) - Order Here

Comming Soon: Stronger Together (Cul-de-sac Kidss)

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