PURPOSE OF STUDY: Telephone coaching has been proven to be an effective modality for promoting and sustaining healthful behaviour change. Few studies, however, show the effect of telephone coaching interventions on coaches and its effects on their personal behavioural change. This study sought to evaluate the effect that involvement in a summer telephone-coaching program for parents of obese youth had on knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of health coaches. METHODS USED: We conducted a study of physicians in training and community health workers at the end of a 5 week telephone coaching program. All coaches were provided with training prior to program involvement. Surveys were collected at the beginning of the program and focus group conducted at the program conclusion. SUMMARY OF RESULTS: Results identified key themes of patient motivation, health education and personal health practices. Participants identified strategies that could be implemented to enhance telephone-coaching interventions in a community based setting. Additionally, they reported increased knowledge and practice of healthful behaviours in their personal lives as a result of their participation in the telephone-coaching program. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that involvement in telephone coaching to promote healthful behaviour change is a promising educational platform for multi-disciplinary team members and trainees.