Your presentation was the most celebrated of the keynotes we had. I had more positive comments about your content, style, and delivery than I did for any of the other well-known keynoters involved. You made us think, you challenged us, you made us laugh and cry, and you left us reflecting and inspired to be our better selves. I feel honored to know you. I wish you continued success and happiness.
Dr. Natalie Stavas
Award Winning Harvard Physician, Mentor, Runner, International Humanitarian
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Dr. Natalie Stavas
Biography
Dr. Natalie Stavas is a physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She completed her training at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard University. She specializes in work with teenage mothers, improving the health of vulnerable children and decreasing youth violence. Described as a healer, educator and Boston community leader she received the 2012 Change Maker award from The Boston Foundation.
On April 15, 2013 Dr. Stavas approached the finish line of her fifth Boston marathon. Just blocks away, she heard explosions and ran towards them. Arriving at the scene she went to work administering CPR, applying tourniquets and triaging the wounded.
Following these actions President Barack Obama, Katie Couric, and Anderson Cooper honored her for actions. Improper Bostonian magazine named Dr. Stavas one of "Boston's Best" and The Boston Globe awarded her with "2013 Bostonian of the Year" - an honor bestowed upon those that shape the biggest story of the year in a remarkable way.
After the bombings Dr. Stavas increased her efforts in preventing childhood violence. She became a weekly medical contributor for Boston's Fox 25- discussing issues affecting children and young adults, a mentor for Sole Train- a non-profit guiding inner-city youth on a path towards their full potential through running. In early 2014 she helped partner Prescription for the Outdoors with Boston Medical Center's pediatric team.
Her advocacy goes beyond borders- traveling to Haiti throughout the year Dr. Stavas provides medical care to children and helps strengthen the fragile medical infrastructure. A documentary featuring this work as a medical pioneer premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest film festival.
Dr. Natalie Stavas
Featured Keynote Program
Running Towards Chaos
Natalie Stavas was born on a farm in Nebraska. She was once told that people from Nebraska don’t do well in places like Boston. She proved them wrong.
Natalie was the first person from Nebraska to be accepted into the Harvard Pediatric Training program at Boston Children’s Hospital. One year after moving to Boston she received the Boston Foundation’s Change Maker award and in 2013 she received the Bostonian Of The Year Award. This award is given to Bostonians who impact their community in a remarkable way.
An avid runner, Natalie’s philosophy for success is…. “You Run Toward.” This philosophy was never more apparent than on April 15th 2013. She had just run 26 miles and was about to finish the Boston marathon when the bombs detonated at the finish line. Instead of turning around and running away with the crowd, she ran towards the chaos and saved 4 lives that day.
Natalie has been honored by President Obama, as well as featured on CNN, BBC, CBC, and Fox news. She has also appeared on the cover of Runner’s World Magazine and Sports Illustrated.
Natalie Stavas attacks every obstacle with the same attitude: “You run towards that which you fear, that which challenges you, that which is oppositional.” Natalie speaks to audiences about her experience as a first responder and what ultimately led her to make that fateful decision to run into a terrorist attack.
This presentation will:
* Begin by showing a challenging situation and posing a question
* Ask the audience to reflect on chaos in their own life and how they respond
* Incorporate Natalie’s humorous upbringing on a farm in Nebraska to demonstrate challenges we face
* Talk about real life chaos both internal and external
* Discuss the ultimate decision of literally “running into chaos” and how to deal with the consequences
* Explore why we should all consider ourselves people who “run towards”
* Discuss how we find meaning in our chaotic lives
And audiences will learn:
* That, although counter intuitive, running towards chaos actually makes chaos more manageable
* Why humans are genetically predisposed to be selfless and how to incorporate that into everyday life
* How internal chaos can paralyze us from achieving our full potential
* How we find meaning in the chaotic world that surrounds us
Dr. Natalie Stavas
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