It's Time to Transform our Health System

The Interprofessional Primary Care Institute (IPCI) exists to address these challenges by promoting a team-based, community-oriented model of care. Rooted in the principles of relational care, collective action, and community engagement, IPCI trains and organizes healthcare professionals to work collaboratively, equitably, and with a shared sense of purpose. By harnessing the power of interprofessional teams and engaging deeply wit...

The upheaval in health politics continues. In this episode, our AI hosts discuss the recent events with RFK Jr, NIH, and USAID.

References:

https://www.science.org/content/article/senate-confirms-robert-f-kennedy-jr-vaccine-opponent-health-secretary

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/02/13/nx-s1-5294591/rfk-jr-trump-health-human-services-hhs-vaccines

https://www.reuters.com/world...

What happens when a Stanford-trained doctor and a former food industry insider team up to challenge everything we think we know about health? Dr. Casey Means walked away from a career in surgery to revolutionize metabolic health, while her brother, Calley Means, went from consulting for Big Food and Pharma to exposing their deepest secrets. Together, they’re calling out the system’s failures—ultra-processed food, overmedication, an...

Greed is certainly a major factor, but there are many more, such as flawed incentives, cognitive biases, institutional inertia, and a hyperfocus on clinical treatment, as our AI hosts explain in this episode.

Disclaimer: This AI-generated and hosted podcast is created, managed, and edited by Dr. Chad Swanson. See chadswanson.com. He considers this an informal conversation with the world about health systems transformation....

Discover how Buurtzorg, founded by Jos de Blok in the Netherlands, reinvented healthcare with self-managed nurse teams and a patient-centered approach. With over 90% patient satisfaction and reduced costs, the model has gained global attention, inspiring adaptations in countries like the USA and Japan. In this episode, the hosts analyze Buurtzorg’s success, challenges in scaling, and potential lessons for healthcare systems worldwi...

The Rippel Foundation is a diverse group of changemakers pursuing an ambitious vision for health and well-being. They  join with partners who believe in the power of shared stewardship – people, organizations, networks, and communities coming together to reimagine our systems and work toward a future where all people can thrive.

https://rippel.org/about/

Disclaimer: This AI-generated and hosted podcast is created,...

Dr. Robert Pearl recently interviewed Munjal Shah, CEO of Hippocratic AI, on the podcast "Fixing Healthcare." We summarize their discussion here. They discusses how generative AI is addressing the healthcare worker shortage with virtual agents that enhance patient care and chronic disease management. Learn about real-world AI applications, from preventing health emergencies to improving crisis response, and discover the s...

The public health world is, it seems, living in chaos. In this episode, my AI hosts provide an overview of the events over the past few days, and provide 3 insights for action: keep relentlessly focused on what's most important; control what you can control; and connect with others around high leverage points.

Your Local Epidemiologist: https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/data-and-communication-are-gold

In this episode, our AI-hosts discuss the discovery and potential public health implications of nanoplastics in (nearly?) every organ in our bodies.

References:
Eric Topol "There's Plastic in My Plaque!": https://erictopol.substack.com/p/theres-plastic-in-my-plaque

Eric Topol "The Microplastic Concerns Elevate—To the Brain": https://erictopol.substack.com/p/the-microplastic-concerns-el...

Disclaimer: This Ai-generated and hosted podcast is created, managed, and edited by Dr. Chad Swanson. See chadswanson.com. He considers this an informal conversation with the world about health systems transformation. It should not be considered medical advice. While Dr. Swanson reviews and edits all of the text, given the nature of AI, there will be errors. Dr. Swanson welcomes questions, corrections, and criticisms. This is a lea...

More and more physicians are joining unions. Is that a good thing?

Dr. Vinay Prasad's youtube video "Why the NIH is a broken funding system.": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjUXbUXYZFI

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Trump's nominee for NIH Director: https://youtu.be/I0O0_Xbmvw4?si=06KBwfyLh2ugnY3i.

Dr. Erik Bricker: https://youtu.be/ZyvxnH72Leg?si=D1CyBzaBb2kWeOq_

Dr. Eric ...

Cityblock Health is transforming care for underserved communities by integrating healthcare with social services. Hosts discuss how addressing social determinants like housing and food access results in better health outcomes, while exploring the challenges in scaling this tech-enabled, community-driven model. They ask whether this approach represents the future of primary care or remains a targeted solution. Dr. Swanson read, list...

What if an entire community decided to stop just treating disease and instead went all in on health—radically rethinking how care is delivered, who’s involved, and what actually gets prioritized? In this episode, with AI hosts, we dive into a bold thought experiment: a city that ditches the status quo and builds a health system that actually works for everyone. We’re talking doctors, schools, businesses, policymakers—everyone align...

The confirmation hearings of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are contentious, with implications for health equity and policy stability. Sofia and David, AI-hosts, discuss the chaos within HHS under Trump-era policy shifts, including executive orders and internal operational turmoil, highlighting the risks of unstable leadership on public health. Insights into systemic dysfunction and strategies for resilience are explored to shed light on na...

Concepts like the Viable System Model and adaptive learning systems can reshape the U.S. healthcare system, with insights from New Zealand's implementation and ophthalmology services. The AI hosts address equity imperatives, profit-driven challenges, and the need for cross-sector collaboration to create a resilient, health-centric system. Real-world examples highlight pathways to scalable and efficient reform. The academic pap...