Local Author Spotlight: Dr. Cindy Zurchin

By Emily King

Franklin Park resident Dr. Cindy Zurchin didn’t learn resilience by choice, but by necessity. When she was just 17 years old, her car was rearended by a speeding driver, and she was pushed into oncoming traffic. A truck then hit the front end of her car and her Ford Mustang exploded into flames as she was ejected and violently thrown to the side of the road, 30 feet away. She was on fire. 

A passing truck driver stopped at the scene and used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames, while others rushed over to cover her with blankets. Dr. Zurchin made it to the hospital, but her survival looked unlikely. She had been badly burned, and she remembers hearing her doctor tell her family that he didn’t think she would make it through the night. 

But she did survive. Recovery was a grueling process consisting of around 17 surgeries, failed skin grafts, and plenty of moments where she wanted to give up. However, she decided that was not an option. 

As a child, Dr. Zurchin remembers reading a syndicated newspaper column by Norman Vincent Peale, the author of the best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking and discussing the lessons with her parents. After her accident she also worked with a family friend and physician to learn mindfulness meditation and visualization, which was not common at the time. This is where she began to learn reframing techniques for surviving adversity. She attributes most of her recovery to these techniques and others that she developed for her survival. 

“From an early age, it was instilled in me that you don't give up, you don't quit, that we always have choices in life. You sometimes have to navigate through those choices,” says Dr. Zurchin.

Unfortunately, this would not be the last time that her resilience was tested. Early in her teaching career, a student pointed a gun at her. She also survived a rare cancer diagnosis in 2016. She used these same techniques to face these challenges. 

Since then, Dr. Zurchin has become a business owner, motivational speaker, trainer, and author. She has harnessed her leadership skills to help schools, businesses, and healthcare organizations to help drive change and create positive workplace culture. She also founded a dance school in Pittsburgh that fosters inclusivity for children of all abilities. She is currently an assistant professor at Point Park University, where she teaches leadership courses.

In her newly-released book, Made of More: Build Resilience. Lead with Courage. Thrive Through Adversity, Dr. Zurchin compiles a lifetime of learned resilience, growth, and leadership techniques. The book combines powerful stories and the practical strategies that anyone can learn to overcome adversity. 

“There are practical strategies that I have developed over the years to help people adapt, lead, and succeed. I didn’t choose what happened to me, but I learned that I had to lead myself through it. Later, I learned how to lead others through difficult situations and help them recognize that they can come out on the other side,” she says.

A lot of the techniques involve reframing the situation, visualization, breathing techniques and more. 

“Reframing means looking at it from another perspective to recognize that you have choices, maybe choices that you might not have seen before,” says Dr. Zurchin. 

The unique aspect of this book is that it is for anyone, from corporate leaders to burnt out moms. The techniques that she has developed can be utilized in a wide range of situations, from life-altering trauma to everyday stressors. 

The early reception of the book has been overwhelmingly positive. She has heard from many readers and editors that have begun using the strategies taught in the book and have already seen incredible improvements in their lives and careers.

Dr. Zurchin was honored to have Ken and Margie Blanchard write the foreword to her book. Ken Blanchard is a renowned author, business consultant, and motivational speaker whom Dr. Zurchin had the privilege of working with directly.

“My goal is that I want people to know that, yes, you can build your resilience, you can lead with courage, and you can thrive through adversity,” says Dr. Zurchin. 

You can find Made of More on Amazon. You can also learn more about Dr. Zurchin’s consulting services and speaking engagements on her website, drcindyzurchin.com.