We are all, in a sense, a product of our environment. Yet that doesn’t mean a person raised in a broken home cannot reach for the stars and aim high.
The circumstances which conspire to shape our early days shouldn’t dictate our life’s path, nor should it define us. Humble beginnings cannot limit our potential for individual greatness. Only a negative mindset and lack of self-belief can do that.
Dr. Ari Bernstein, MD, knows from personal experience that from tiny acorns grow mighty oaks. He believes that with hard work, will-power and perseverance, you can break out of any box other people choose to shut you in.
“I’m a firm believer that each and every one of us is a Captain of our own destiny,” explained the 42-year-old from Long Island, New York.
“My parents divorced when I was six months old, and there was a lot of negativity in my early life. People would forever tell me what I wouldn’t be able to do in life, and what I should settle for. That never sat well with me, and so from an early age, I made it my life-goal to prove to the naysayers exactly what I could do, and help others do the same.”
Positive people often act as a beacon in the darkness, and it’s no surprise that Dr. Ari showed an early interest in the field of medicine.
“I wanted to become a doctor because, as a child, I always viewed healthcare specialists as superheroes,” revealed Dr. Ari. “Becoming a doctor was the best way I knew to make a true impact on the world and the people who live in it. To me, it was a way of improving myself and giving something back.”
As a young child who showed exceptional promise, his journey to becoming an award-winning physician began with programs at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and science summer camp.
He went on to study pre-med and psychology at Long Island University and graduated magna cum laude with a 3.9 GPA in his psychology major. Ari finished his medical training at St. George’s University School of Medicine and his Internal Medicine residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens.
He has experience in a diverse range of medical fields, and he is particularly interested in leading healthcare teams to deliver outstanding patient care. He serves on the advisory board of Fruit Street Health, which is a telemedicine diabetes prevention startup and, more recently, CovidMD, which is on the frontline in its response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Alongside author Jack Canfield, Dr. Ari Bernstein co-authored the bestselling book, ‘The Success Formula,’ and in 2015 was listed as a leading physician in ‘Find A Top Doc.’
It’s been a long road for the boy from Long Island, mainly because along the way, he couldn’t work for five years due to severe back problems, which were only fixed after four separate surgical procedures and the implantation of a spinal cord stimulator.
“Despite the odds heavily stacked against me, and many people writing me off due to my back issues, I hung in there and made something of a miracle recovery,” said Dr. Ari Bernstein. “One of the lessons I learned early in life was to never give up. Throughout my recovery, I never once allowed any negativity or doubt to creep in. The passion I have for self-development and to help others learn and grow is burning brighter than ever before, and I remain truly thankful that I’m in a position to help others realize their true potential.”