ABOUT MARIA
A physician who believes in what makes life worth living.
I began my career treating the body. Over time I learned that healing also lives in meaning, connection, and the courage to grow through difficulty. Today my work is devoted to human flourishing.
My story
Dr. Maria Benzo, MD, MS, PCC, trained as a physician at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata in Argentina and specialized in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación Psicofísica del Sur. For years she led pulmonary rehabilitation and integrative medicine programs, walking alongside patients living with chronic illness.
She saw again and again that the patients who thrived weren’t always the healthiest. They were the ones with hope, purpose, and support. That insight led her to mindfulness, coaching, and a Master of Science in Positive Psychology.
Today she is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and of Psychology at Mayo Clinic, where her research shows how health coaching helps people build self-management, motivation, and well-being. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Positive Psychology at Life University, where she teaches mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral coaching.
An ICF Professional Certified Coach, Maria has coached physicians, patients, and professionals, and she trains health coaches. She brings science and warmth to every room, in English and Spanish. She is the author of Flawed and Flourishing.
Beyond her work, Maria is a kind mother, a patient wife, and a passionate salsa dancer. She thrives on true friendships, and her happy place is wherever her people are (and the beach, of course). Her philosophy of life: be present, cultivate joy, and stay connected. Her life purpose is simple: to flourish, and to help her people flourish.
MOMENTS
Along the way
Credentials
- MD; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- MS in Positive Psychology
- ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC)
- Certified health and wellness coach
Training
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, with Jon Kabat-Zinn
- Focused ACT, with Russ Harris
- Trauma-informed ACT, with Russ Harris
- Motivational interviewing, with Stephen Rollnick
Approach
Evidence-based and human-centered. Maria weaves positive psychology, mindfulness, and psychological flexibility into practical tools people can use the same day.
Research
Co-author of Chapter 11, “Alternative Modes of Pulmonary Rehabilitation,” in the AACVPR Guidelines for Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programs, Sixth Edition.
Peer-reviewed research on health coaching, engagement, and well-being in chronic disease.
Let’s work together
Keynotes, workshops, and group or individual coaching to help people and teams flourish.