We need more boldness in healthcare

What does health care mean to you? Create a picture in your mind.

Where does it happen?

Who are the people there?

How are people behaving and interacting with each other?

Why are the people there?

I can only guess what you envisioned; however, I'm willing to bet that the first thing that came to mind wasn't...

Peers supporting each other.

People sharing what gives them a sense of purpose and meaning.

People workshopping their goals.

Coaches providing accountability.

Someone learning new healthy recipes on YouTube.

Exploring insights from your wearable data.

Celebrating modest improvements one day at a time.

Someone achieving a new skill or accomplishment.

Encouraging others in your community.

In Peter Attia 's book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity , he openly shares his protocols to help his patients live better longer. I value his efforts as he addresses the underlying problems in the United States healthcare system. Specifically, we tend to rely too heavily on treating illnesses with external substances or procedures instead of emphasizing behaviors that can lower our risk of disease and utilizing diagnostics that allow us to intervene sooner than we currently do. We spend nearly $3.7 trillion dollars annually on costs associated with treating chronic illnesses in the United States , yet most of those dollars are not spent on social and behavioral determinants of health, which are the biggest drivers of health outcomes. So, the most inspiring aspect of Attia's work is the evidence he presents to support the idea that our lifestyle choices are the most effective means of combating chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. These choices include regular exercise, healthier eating habits, prioritizing restful sleep, developing better coping mechanisms for stress, and cultivating meaningful relationships.

Dr. Attia is not alone in his vision for improving global health. The McKinsey Health Institute has projected that by redefining our understanding of health, investing resources in prevention and promoting optimal health, improving our methods for measuring health, accelerating innovation, collaborating across all sectors, and empowering individuals to take control of their own health, we could add an additional 45 billion years of high-quality life to the world . Their call to action echoes Dr. Attia's, but they also urge governments, philanthropic organizations, and established institutions to take decisive action and make the necessary changes.

I wanted to share my thoughts on healthcare since it has been a lifelong passion of mine, and I have spent most of my career working in this field. I sometimes feel discouraged when I encounter people with good intentions but fail to see the potential of a different healthcare system. There are many barriers, such as the over-reliance on pharmaceuticals instead of behavior change, the limitations of academic research in supporting nutrition, sleep, and exercise, and the high costs of becoming a healthcare professional. However, we need individuals willing to challenge the status quo and approach healthcare from a new perspective to make a real difference. Many influential organizations and individuals such as Dr. Attia, the McKinsey Health Institute, the Heartland Whole Health Institute , Alice L. Walton School of Medicine , as well as big companies like 苹果 , 亚马逊 , and Walmart Health , along with emerging startups and investment funds, are playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare. And to a16z's point, the companies that have trust and own the consumer relationship will be best positioned to have an impact . Their efforts are transforming health care, but we need more. We need as many people as possible to understand that they, too, have the power to take charge of their health and that they are not alone.

Who else is boldly working to empower individuals to be stewards of their health?