Dónal grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and since then has lived in Virginia, Georgia, Virginia again, New York, Virginia again, Ireland, Massachusetts, Virginia again, Vermont, Indiana, Vermont again, Iowa, Maine and (whew!) Iowa again.

In his previous career, Dónal was a freelance advertising copywriter and freelance writer, and is the co-author of 40 books published by Time-Life Books, National Geographic and Readers' Digest. He earned a master's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his medical degree from the University of Iowa.

Dónal completed his family medicine residency in Cedar Rapids, then practiced at a rural clinic in West Liberty, Iowa, before joining the CRMEF faculty. He is married to Karen, and they are the parents of five children: Declan, Brendan, Siobhán, Tiernán and Dónal. He enjoys writing, reading, Notre Dame football and, with Karen, tours with Bruce Springsteen (well, ok, we do have to buy tickets!).