Dr. Candice Weaver, or C.C. as she is affectionately known, is a multi-talented individual whose journey into medicine is as inspiring as it is impactful.
Growing up, Dr. C.C. (short for Candice Carmel) did not envision herself becoming a physician. Her path to medicine was shaped by early experiences, such as the passing of her cousin from AIDS and the death of her father during her teenage years. These events ignited a desire in her to create change and become a beacon of hope for others.
“I am the type of person that sees inequity and I fight until I see a change. I had a few traumatic experiences at an early age that shaped my worldview,” Dr. C.C. shares.”These were the things that led me not only to seek change but to become the change that I was seeking. So, when I was in high school, I started speaking out about AIDS and HIV prevention throughout my community. It led me to Washington DC, where I won a national essay contest, and that landed me at [UC] Berkeley. Berkeley is a school that encourages students to fight and be vocal about inequity, and that’s exactly what it fostered in me.”
After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Policy at UC Berkeley, she pursued premedical studies and conducted cancer research at Johns Hopkins University. She then attained a Master’s degree in Public Health from Dartmouth Medical School. Following this, she earned her medical degree from Touro University and completed her residency training through The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She dedicated three years to the National Health Service Corps. She is currently a double-board certified physician, practicing Family and Lifestyle Medicine.
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“In public health, you’re helping the masses, but as a physician, you’re helping one-on-one. In family medicine, specifically, you get to be a jack of all trades. I chose that career because I felt like I would never be bored, that I would have the human interaction that I craved but wasn’t getting from just cancer research and public health. Lifestyle medicine came a little bit later for me,” Dr. C.C. shares of her journey.
Despite her role as a physician, Dr. C.C. remains committed to “helping the masses”. She currently sits on the Board of Directors for Community Solutions, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides mental health, housing, and social services for underserved women, children, and other disenfranchised people in the South Bay Area.
“It means a lot to me. I was actually asked to join the board several years ago. I am a survivor of domestic violence. I was in a relationship in college with someone who unfortunately had severe mental illness, and that really shaped my life experience,” Dr. C.C. adds “I had to grow up very quickly dealing with that experience. Once I became a physician and had a little more agency, I was more than happy to help people like the 25-year-old me. Community Solutions does really great work for many disenfranchised people in the South Bay area, specifically women, children, and those in need. I don’t want to speak on behalf of their organization, but I am very proud to be a member of their board.”
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She hopes this work will provide the type of access those in underserved communities don’t often have.
“One of the biggest challenges is access to care, not just any access, but access to physicians who look like us. People seek care from those they trust, and especially in the Black community, where Black women are facing a major health crisis in maternal health and prenatal care, it’s a challenge to find physicians they trust, particularly Black women physicians. Even within our communities, there are challenges in accessing quality healthcare and preventive care. So, access and trust are significant barriers that need to be addressed,” she adds.
In addition to her work in medicine, Dr. C.C. is a true “Jack of All Trades” sharing her journey through lifestyle medicine, baking, writing, home entertaining, and DIYing on her social media microblog, “Ceasydoesit”.
“Lifestyle medicine really just fell into my lap, and I realized that this is already what I’m doing. So, I was absolutely overjoyed with the possibility of pursuing it and becoming certified in lifestyle medicine. I’ve documented my whole journey and my creative outlets, which include cooking, words, DIY, and home entertaining, in addition to being a mom, on my social media presence. I think it’s important because health is not just about my blood pressure; it’s about all these things that I do to keep myself emotionally healthy, maintain social connections, and have a creative outlet. That’s what lifestyle medicine is all about,” she adds.
Her love for baking, which stems from her grandmothers, also landed her a spot as a finalist on Food Network’s “Christmas Cookie Challenge”.
“I had two grandmothers, one in Compton and the other in Yonkers, New York. Both of them played a major role in my love for different things. My grandmother in Compton grew vegetables in her little yard, and even though she had limited space, she took so much pride in it. In my yard, I also have a lemon tree that I’ve dedicated to her. During the pandemic, I started growing fruits and vegetables that brought me joy and helped my family,” Dr. C.C. shares. “As for baking, it’s almost like an homage to my grandmother from Yonkers. She was locally famous for her baking; she baked for everyone and gave away food every single day. She was so well-known that she has a day named after her in Yonkers.”
In addition to honoring her grandmothers’ legacies, baking has become a source of joy for Dr. C.C. following a personal health crisis several years ago, which was brought on by the stress of raising three children and practicing medicine.
“I started prioritizing things that brought me joy, and that’s when I started baking. It’s funny how when you start doing things that bring you joy and prioritize your health, everything falls into place. I never sought to be on the Food Network; I never even applied. It’s just that I found I had a knack for cookie art, and it garnered a lot of attention,” she notes.
She’s also turned her passion for baking into a way to promote healthy living by using wholesome ingredients and avoiding artificial additives.
“Part of the reason why I’ve incorporated baking with more wholesome ingredients is to reduce the use of refined sugars and artificial dyes. I use real fruit instead of extracts in most of my fruit-flavored cookies. I’m a firm believer that everything can be had in moderation,” she shares. “I actually started making sugar cookies, which I don’t personally like to eat but enjoy making for fun. I’ve been experimenting with different options and even created a vegan cookie recipe in honor of Tabitha Brown.”
In addition to her work in medicine and baking, Dr. C.C. is also an author. Her children’s book, “Nia’s Puzzle”, is a heartfelt story that teaches young readers about resilience and the importance of taking life one piece at a time.
“It’s an analogy, a story of a grandmother who has her granddaughter over for dinner, and they bake cookies together. She’s passing this story on, and it’s an analogy of life being like a puzzle,” she says. “We get little pieces one at a time, not knowing when they’ll come or what they’ll be. The analogy applies to life when we try to force things that don’t belong. Without setting them aside or trying a different approach, our life’s picture doesn’t make sense. The lesson is about resilience, taking things one day at a time, and having a big-picture perspective. This perspective has helped me through challenging times, realizing that things happen for reasons we may not understand at the time. Ultimately, all these pieces come together to make our life story.”
Looking back on her journey, Dr. C.C. candidly shares the challenges she’s faced balancing motherhood with her medical career, having had her first child during medical school, her second during residency, and her third in her early years as an attending physician. Through it all, Dr. C.C. considers herself fortunate to have a supportive husband.
Reflecting on advice she received during medical school, Dr. C.C. shares, “Someone once told me to plan my career around my life, not the other way around. That really stuck with me. Being a busy mom is not unique, and I won’t pretend to do it perfectly all the time. However, I’ve learned to delegate, say no, and multitask. I do multiple things at once; when I’m at soccer practice, I’m also checking emails. When I’m cooking, I’m also doing laundry. I even pay people to do my laundry for me. You have to know how to delegate and prioritize the things that matter most to you and your health.”
She advises aspiring physicians to explore different specialties and find one that brings true joy and fulfillment.
“For aspiring physicians or anyone unsure of their passion, I suggest doing thorough research. Shadow physicians, learn about different specialties, and find something that brings you joy and interest. Ask yourself if this is something you can see yourself doing every single day,” she concludes. “Medicine is a career that requires a significant investment, not just financially but also in time. Most of us spend half our lives pursuing this career, through undergrad, medical school, and residency. If it’s not something you can see yourself doing for the rest of your life, reconsider. However, if you find joy and meaning in a specialty after spending time in that space, go for it. Medicine can be very rewarding in many respects.”
