I am Dr. Monica Bucci, MD, a physician, neuroscientist, author, wife and life enthusiast, deeply passionate about the human brain.
I am the Director of Research at the Center for Youth Wellness in San Francisco and an author of scientific research on how our brain and body respond to stress. Using the science of stress-related growth, I offer a new approach to understanding how life’s stress can activate the brain to adapt to unprecedented change.
Born and raised in Rome, the magnificent capital of Italy, my father taught me to appreciate beauty and art since I was a little girl.
Growing up, for as long as I can remember I have been intrigued by the beauty of the human brain and its incredible potential for growth and healing.
I wanted to know why people who experienced serious life challenges were able not only to survive but to experience profound transformation that surpassed what was present before their struggle. How do these individuals find a way to thrive, often despite physically and mentally traumatic experiences? How do they rebuild a new sense of self after their identity has been shaken at its core?
After earning my medical degree, a dual specialty in Neurology and Radiology in Italy and a fellowship in Neuroradiology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), one of the top medical universities in the world, I landed a position as Faculty Researcher at UCSF.
Throughout my life, I was also fascinated by a multitude of other things: writing, psychology, contemplative practices and nutrition.
The question I get asked most often is:
“I feel totally disconnected. What can I do to feel myself again?”
