Uniting for Change: How Dr. Marty Makary (FDA Commissioner Nom) and RFK Jr. (HHS Nom) Are Poised to Revolutionize American Healthcare

Do you lead only when it’s easy? When everyone agrees with you? When your party holds the power? What if, just once, we set our differences aside to work toward a shared purpose? That’s exactly what Dr. Marty Makary M.D., M.P.H. and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. are doing—and I’m proud to have been a part of this bold effort!

Shankar Poncelet and I first met Dr. Makary in 2020 just after co-founding the Free Market Medical Association (FMMA) in San Antonio with Roger Moczygemba MD MHA . Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of not only learning from Dr. Makary but also witnessing his steadfast commitment to improving healthcare for everyone.

I vividly recall when Shankar and I finished reading his bestselling book, The Price We Pay. It was an enlightening but slightly terrifying experience. Why? Because he dared to expose shocking truths about the healthcare industry, including:

• Predatory billing practices like surprise bills for out-of-network services.
• Rampant overtreatment through unnecessary tests and surgeries.
• Hospitals suing low-income patients for unpaid bills, often using aggressive debt collection tactics like wage garnishments or liens.
• Misaligned incentives that prioritize profits over patient outcomes.
• Hidden costs and opaque pricing, making it impossible for patients to know the cost of procedures upfront.
• Medical errors, which remain one of the leading causes of death in the U.S.
• Drug prices inflated through rebate schemes that benefit insurers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
• Unethical marketing that pushes unnecessary treatments and medications.
• Nonprofit hospitals acting like corporations, focusing on profits while neglecting charity care and vulnerable patients.
• Exploitation of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, through unnecessary or aggressive end-of-life care services.

It was at that moment Shankar and I truly grasped the weight of advocating for the FMMA, knowing we were stepping into a world of intense transparency and challenging the status quo of healthcare. We couldn’t help but wonder—were we safe?! There's a lot of people who stand to gain from us not challenging the status quo!

However, we found solidarity in a community of courageous advocates, all willing to sacrifice comfort and peace of mind to push for what’s right in our local communities like Arti Thangudu, MD Kristin Held Bill Cox Deborah Maldonado Kellie Pickett Harlon Pickett Tim Puckett Hussein Musa MD Adetoun Abisogun Musa MD C Wes Clements III Monica Salas, MD Prisiliano Salas Jr., MD Allison De Paoli just to name a few!

Dr. Makary’s fearless advocacy for accessible, affordable, and ethical healthcare has always placed patients first, even when it’s unpopular. He has consistently spoken truth to power, and his dedication to uncovering and addressing healthcare's "blind spots" is evident in every aspect of his work. I haven't finished reading the books and I am already appalled at the number of myths propagated by the medical community because of "group think." Publishing his book is one step towards ending it.

Equally inspiring is Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights , who I had the honor of meeting during his campaign at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. Bobby’s ability to pause his campaign—recognizing that the only path toward making the biggest impact in his lifetime required a shift in strategy—is a testament to his wisdom and integrity. When leaders like RFK Jr. and Dr. Makary come together—putting aside differences to do the right, tough, and uncommon thing—we have a real shot at making a difference in the single most important issue for Americans: life and death.

This nomination marks a pivotal step toward restoring trust in the FDA. With Dr. Makary and Bobby Kennedy joining forces, I am confident that we are on the right track to truly Make America Healthy Again. Their shared dedication to challenging what doesn’t make sense in healthcare and prioritizing the well-being of all Americans is exactly the kind of leadership we need.

Congratulations again, Dr. Makary! Your nomination is a well-deserved recognition of your tireless efforts to reform healthcare. Let us celebrate this milestone and look forward to a brighter, healthier future for all Americans.