Donald M. Vickery, MD, was a pioneer in the self-care and wellness movement who wrote a number of health books and founded several centers to promote healthy living. A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard School of Medicine, he was one of the first U.S. doctors to make a crusade of teaching patients to take a more active role in maintaining their health. He is the author of many books, including Life Plan and Take Care of Yourself, and in 2003 he was awarded the American College of Preventative Medicine Lifetime Achievement Award.

Larry Matson, EdD, has performed NIH-funded research on diet and exercise interventions on cholesterol and diabetes outcomes; taught research methods, exercise physiology, healthy living, and behavior change; and directed a human performance testing laboratory. He is a certified health and fitness specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine and works as a medical writer and research specialist and as a health coach. He lives in Greely, Colorado.

Carol Vickery, RN, MSN, has nearly 40 years of experience in various nursing fields, such as critical care, community health, wellness, and maternal child health. She is a public health nurse with the Nurse Family Partnership Program to educate first-time moms in Colorado. She lives in Evergreen, Colorado.