Meet Cindy Lee Neighbors — author, former U.S. Army Captain, and physician whose powerful life journey spans the worlds of performance, medicine, service, and storytelling. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Cindy began her creative path early through pageants, theater, print modeling, and commercial work before transitioning into acting in Los Angeles and earning a degree in theater from the University of Southern California.
Driven by a call to serve, Cindy later entered military medicine, earning her Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from the Uniformed Services University. During her medical career, she was inducted into the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and gained national recognition for her groundbreaking opioid reduction research, earning multiple top research awards for her work at Tripler Army Medical Center.
Now retired from the Army as a Captain, Cindy has returned to her lifelong passion for storytelling. Her debut memoir, TOO MUCH, is a raw, courageous exploration of mental health, trauma, resilience, and self-discovery within the demanding world of military medicine. She is also preparing to release her debut children’s book, Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors, through Mascot Books.
Cindy is deeply committed to destigmatizing mental illness and empowering others to find their voice. When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and scuba diving — always chasing growth, adventure, and healing through every chapter of life.
✨ Meet Cindy Lee Neighbors at the Scottsdale Book Festival and experience storytelling rooted in truth, resilience, and purpose.