The Pediatric Health Coach Academy
Pediatric Health Coach Training
About Us
Join us in transforming lives of children, teens and families through the power of health coaching
Our mission is to train and equip professionals with health coaching skills and behavior change techniques that effectively improve the lives of children, teens, and families. We are creating a community of pediatric health coaches dedicated to promoting optimal physical and mental health.
Our Story
The idea for PHCA began over a decade ago when we worked together at Kurbo Inc., the world’s first digital health company to provide scalable, evidence-based health coaching for children and teens. By combining Dr. Runyan’s decades of experience in pediatric health coaching at Stanford’s Children’s Hospital and Dr. Levi’s extensive training and experience in evidence-based coaching, Kurbo created a one-of-a-kind coaching team that connected deeply with our clients, reported high satisfaction rates, and produced lower attrition and higher success rates than traditional programs.
The custom health coaching program that we built for Kurbo reached thousands of families and served clients from health insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, the US Military, and the Singapore Ministry of Health. Our commitment to providing a personalized, high-quality coaching experience sets us apart in the industry.
Our success at Kurbo in addressing youth physical and mental health inspired us to create PHCA. PHCA was designed to be more than just a coach certification program. Our mission is to create a ripple effect in healthcare by training skilled health coaches capable of making a meaningful impact on the lives of the millions of children impacted by metabolic and mental health issues. We believe that by equipping coaches with the tools and knowledge they need, we can build a community of professionals dedicated to creating lasting change.
Kids and families need new ways to manage wellness and build healthy habits that don’t rely on doctor’s visits. Health and wellness coaching for families is a fast-growing career opportunity. Whether you’re a health professional looking to expand your skills or someone passionate about making a positive impact, PHCA offers the expertise, support, and inspiration you need.
We are honored to be the ONLY health coach training program specializing in children, teens and families that is approved by the National Board of Health & Wellness Coaching. Join us on this journey as we transform the delivery of pediatric and family health.
Our Founders
Thea Runyan, DrPH, MPH
Founder, CEO
Faculty
Dr. Runyan is a recognized expert in child and family health, with a primary focus on the prevention and treatment of child obesity. She serves as a consulting Health Scientist and Subject Matter Expert for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity. Over her 20-year public health career, Dr. Runyan has been passionate about guiding youth and adults toward healthier lifestyles, previously as the lead behavior coach at Stanford Children’s Hospital and later founding Kurbo, a pioneering digital health program. As the Head of Science and Behavior Change at Kurbo, she developed a research-backed behavior modification program featuring an app and weekly online coaching sessions. Additionally, Dr. Runyan designed the coach training curriculum and management platform for Kurbo’s health coaches, who delivered personalized guidance to tens of thousands of clients across the U.S. and Singapore.
Arielle Levi, PhD, NBHWC, PCC
Founder, Chief Science Officer
Faculty
Dr. Levi is the lead designer of PHCA's Curriculum. She has spent the last 12 years in the world of pediatric health, wellness coaching, and coach training. Arielle spent nearly a decade as the Coach Program Manager at Kurbo, where she trained over 1,500 professional coaches and helped guide thousands of families towards improved lifestyle habits. She holds PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, with research focused on the qualities, skills, and characteristics of top-performing pediatric health coaches. Arielle is a NBHWC certified coach and a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation (PCC). She also holds Certifications in Functional Nutrition and Clinical Hypnosis. Outside of her professional achievements, she is the proud mother of two toddler boys and an avid golfer.
Our team
Ann-Marie Monteiro MSCN, CHC
Nutrition Expert, Guest Lecturer
Ann Marie, founder of 3 Whole Plates, LLC is a mom, Chef, and Certified Health Coach with an MS in Clinical Nutrition. Her health coaching journey began with personal struggles of chronic fatigue and heightened anxiety, leading her to explore the transformative power of food as medicine. She is passionate about bringing people back into their kitchens to create nutritious meals that support their health goals. Ann Marie has coached youth and families for over six years as a Master Coach and Mentor at Kurbo.
Carol McDermott
Program Manager
Carol brings over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry, excelling in customer care and operations management. She also offers extensive expertise in telehealth coaching coordination, which serves as the foundation for her work as an Enrollment Coach. Her passion for supporting health and wellness professionals is deeply personal. After witnessing firsthand the transformative impact a skilled wellness coach can have on the well-being of kids, teens, and families—including within her own family—she is dedicated to helping future health coaches develop the expertise, empathy, and communication skills needed to provide exceptional care. Carol is committed to guiding prospective students as they embark on their journey to become compassionate, highly-skilled pediatric health coaches who make a real difference in the lives of children and families.
Lauren Mbae, MBA, NBHWC
Coach Mentor, Enrollment Coach
Lauren is a Board Certified Health Coach with additional training in Emotional Eating Psychology, Culinary Coaching, and Nutrition. Lauren specializes in helping clients break the cycle of emotional eating and understand the recurrent pattern of using food to cope with emotions. She works with clients in identifying the signs of emotional eating, understanding potential triggers, and reevaluating their relationship with food, offering specialized support and strategies tailored to the clients' needs. Lauren pursued a career in coaching after overcoming her own struggle with disordered eating, and has found incredible value in being able to relate to her clients' feelings and struggles.
Heather Procknal, NBHWC, CHC
Nutrition Expert, Guest Lecturer
Heather is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. She graduated from Duke Integrative Medicine's Professional Health and Wellness Program. With a background in Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Heather has worked with countless children and families helping them uncover their best potential. Her approach is a blend of empathy and encouragement, where health is seen not as a challenge, but as a joyful exploration. Her passion lies in weaving wellness into the fabric of daily life, ensuring it is fun, flexible, and sustainable—never a burden, but always a source of empowerment.
Bita Farvar Arabian
Enrollment Coach
Bita is passionate about families and health. An educator with a background in youth arts, nutrition, and movement, she has dedicated her career to supporting well-being. As a skilled recipe developer, Bita has created two online cookbook bundles, a comprehensive recipe website, and a dedicated newsletter. A confident broadcaster, she illuminates Persian culture through her award-winning podcast, fostering a sense of community through the shared love of food. Bita’s positive, artistic, and caring nature make her a creative, influential, and motivating mentor. With her ability to inspire and encourage others, she guides coaches with a grateful heart.
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Stoplight Health, LLC
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