A Healthier Future

Is accessible healthcare a mythical unicorn, or is it something we can work together to attain in the foreseeable future? Believe it or not, Walmart is at the forefront of the mission to make it possible, and their EVP of Health & Wellness, Dr. Cheryl Pegus, sheds some light on this.In this episode of A Healthier Future, Cheryl explains why the notion of providing accessible healthcare is dear to her heart and how Walmart’s mission aligns with that. On the surface, Walmart is an American retail corporation mainly comprising a chain of hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. However, it’s an incredibly health-centric organization with a mission to serve the numerous communities in which it resides.Cheryl also explains why it’ll take a collective effort to make healthcare services more accessible. She explains the different ways organizations can serve as doorways to the basic care needed in the communities they serve.Cheryl talks about the importance of asking for help and working together, regardless of the goal. In her words, “this is the biggest key for whatever success I've ever achieved.”Listen to the full episode to hear:Cheryl’s vision when she first went to medical schoolHow access to medical care affected her decision to become a doctorHow race affects access to medical careWalmart’s community-focused missionHow Cheryl’s path led to her working at WalmartWhy it’s vital to work together as a medical communityCheryl’s vision of a transformed health systemWalmart’s role in encouraging good healthCheryl shares the inspiration behind her cookbooksWhy Cheryl advises people not to shy away from asking for helpKey Links:Walmart: https://corporate.walmart.com/Intermountain Healthcare: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/

What will the future of healthcare look like? While we don’t have a crystal ball, ZS is trying to predict and prepare for the health issues of the future.ZS is a professional services firm that helps companies develop and deliver products that drive results, but its main area of focus is the healthcare industry. ZS uses data and innovation to help improve healthcare technology now and in the future. CEO Pratap Khedkar joins A Healthier Future to shed some light on ZS’s work, why he first became interested in healthcare, and his thoughts on AI as a tool for good. Pratap shares how he thinks healthcare can be improved by looking at individuals, not averages, and how that can help tackle the issue of health inequity. Tune in to the full episode to hear more about data, AI, health equity, and why ZS is on a mission to “transform global healthcare.”Listen to learn:What ZS does in the healthcare spaceHow AI can help the future of healthcareHow Pratap first became interested in healthcareWhy Pratap wanted to create a new vision for ZSPratap’s thoughts on health equity and the problem with averagesHow AI could help healthcare facilities in third-world countriesWhy Pratap recommends always “being restless” and looking for new projectsKey LinksZSIntermountain Healthcare

What does health equity mean to you?For Dr. Steve Neeleman, Founder of HealthEquity, it’s a way to bring healthcare to all those who need it, not just those who can afford it. Inspired by his own family’s health concerns and insurance quibbles, Steve created a company that bridges the gap left by insurance. While insurance can cover the bigger medical expenses, HealthEquity helps with the smaller issues that insurance doesn’t always cover. By helping people save for future health issues, HealthEquity helps people avoid tricky financial situations. Steve joins this episode of A Healthier Future to give us a window into his background, his family life, and what led him to start HealthEquity. We hear his thoughts on doing good as an entrepreneur and how he’s helping Intermountain Healthcare with its Primary Promise fundraising efforts. Listen to learn:How Steve’s upbringing inspired him to become a doctorWhat led him to start HealthEquityWhy diversity is so importantHow social-economic status affects people’s ability to get the right healthcareWhat our Primary Promise program aims to do to help children in needWhy entrepreneurism is a chance to do good Key LinksHealthEquity: https://healthequity.com/Primary Promise: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/primary-childrens/about/primary-promise/Intermountain Healthcare: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/

Community is an overlooked part of our health and wellbeing. But with a loneliness epidemic on our hands, many of us feel more isolated and disconnected than ever. Nextdoor, the popular neighborhood app, is on a mission to change that. Co-founder Prakash Janakiraman joins the A Healthier Future podcast to share his vision for bringing communities together and why he wants to build a “counterculture of kindness.”Prakash explains why he thinks community and social connection are fundamental to our physical and mental wellbeing. We also hear what led Prakash down this path, where the inspiration for Nextdoor came from, and how his positive upbringing helped shape who he is today.Listen to the full episode to hear:How Prakash’s upbringing shaped himHow Nextdoor worksWhere the inspiration behind Nextdoor came fromWhy community is so important to health and wellbeingHow Nextdoor boldly lives by its valuesHow Nextdoor uses machine learning to keep its community positivePrakash’s advice for other entrepreneurs How Prakash and Nextdoor try to create “good trouble” everyday Key Links:NextdoorIntermountain Healthcare

With all the systematic social divisions at play, how do we actively address inequity in healthcare?As a strong advocate for equity in healthcare and across the board, our guest this week on A Healthier Future weighs in on this topic. Kenneth C. Frazier, Executive Chairman at Merck, joins the podcast to explore different approaches to promoting equity in healthcare and society at large. Ken shares his inspiration behind joining General Catalyst and how their responsible approach to innovation contributes to equity in healthcare.He stresses the role of leaders and businesses in blurring the lines across race, gender, and social class (among other constructs). Ken also grazes the topic of history and its role as common ground as opposed to a cause for division. He ties it all together with some words of wisdom for young people looking to get ahead in life, and leaders looking to make a difference.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why responsible innovation is necessary for healthcareHow Ken’s background influenced his decision to become a change-oriented leaderHow the OneTen Initiative is creating a more equitable workforceWhy history is a platform for common groundHow business owners can contribute to a more equitable societyKen’s words of advice for young professionals and business leadersKey Links:Intermountain HealthcareGeneral CatalystMerckKen’s LinkedIn

Aging is not just about lifespan – it’s about health span as well. Being 100 years old is a huge achievement but being 100 can look very different for different people. Amanda Rees, Co-Founder and CEO of Bold, is on a mission to help people improve their lives and health as they age.   Amanda joins A Healthier Future to tell us how Bold supports people with science-backed, low-intensity workout programs to help improve balance and strength. She explains a bit about her background and why being a caregiver to her grandmother was a huge inspiration behind the idea to start Bold. Amanda also talks about her experience as an entrepreneur, what she believes the keys to success are, and her tips for making a business idea work.Listen to the full episode to hear:How caring for her grandmother inspired the idea behind BoldWhy improving aging healthcare is about prevention and encouraging movementBold’s mission for improving health while agingAmanda’s tips for success as an entrepreneur Key LinksBoldAmanda’s LinkedInIntermountain Healthcare

Innovation is the golden ticket to improving clinical efficiency, and someone who knows that all too well is Frans van Houten, CEO of Philips.Frans joins this episode of A Healthier Future to talk about his background, what his upbringing taught him about innovation, and how it relates to his vision of success. Frans explains what he did when he became CEO of Philips and why the company decided to make healthcare technology a major focus in a highly-competitive tech market. He also dives into the all-important topic of sustainability and why he firmly believes that businesses can be both profitable and sustainable. Frans explains why Philips became a carbon-neutral company and why younger workers increasingly prefer to work at sustainable companies.We round off the talk with a bit of discussion on managing a healthy work-life integration and why you need to love what you do to be a successful CEO. Listen to the full episode to hear:What Frans learned about innovation in his upbringingHis vision on real successWhy Philips pivoted into a focus on healthcare technologyWhere Frans gets his tenacity fromHow to innovate in healthcareWhy sustainability in business is so importantHow to maintain a good work-life integration Key Links PhilipsFrans’ LinkedInIntermountain Healthcare

What do we really need from healthcare? One thing that’s often overlooked is the need for a little fun. After all, play is not just for children. People of all ages can benefit. In fact, according to this week’s A Healthier Future guest, those who are older are in need of play just as much as (if not more) than anyone else.Ted Fischer, Co-Founder & CEO at Ageless Innovation, joins the podcast to talk about how his Joy For All products help elderly people and those with dementia in home care or care units. Joy For All Companion Pets are designed to bring comfort and companionship to elderly loved ones in addition to traditional care. Ted talks about how he got started on his journey to create positive change as a serial entrepreneur, what his upbringing taught him about giving back in business, and how his work extends to mentorship programs to help young people. He also shares some words of wisdom for young entrepreneurs looking to make a difference and succeed in business.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why “play” is a basic human needHow Joy For All products help the elderly How Ted first got started as an entrepreneurWhat Ted learned from his upbringing about businessHow doing good has been a transformative experience for TedWhy Ted is an avid fitness enthusiast Ted’s advice for young entrepreneursWhat’s in store for Ted and his company in the futureKey LinksAgeless InnovationJoy For AllTed’s LinkedInIntermountain Healthcare

Health is so personal, yet healthcare can feel anything but personalized. Anne Wojcicki, CEO and Co-Founder of 23andMe, is on a mission to change that.In this episode of A Healthier Future, Anne explains what led her on the journey to create a personal genomics company. 23andMe offers home DNA kits to help people understand their ancestry and learn what their genetics say about their health. In Anne’s eyes, people need the right tools to make more informed decisions about their own healthcare, and 23andMe is a key part of that. We hear what epiphanies about the healthcare industry set Anne on a mission to help people take more control over their own health. Anne also explains what it is to be a “daring CEO” and how she tries to be a mentor to others.  Anne also discusses how she manages her work-life balance, why it’s important for employees to be happy at home to be productive at work, and how her upbringing shaped her view of the world.Listen to the full episode to hear:Anne’s balanced approach to mixing business and personal lifeHow Anne’s upbringing inspired her Where the idea behind 23andMe came fromWhy Anne felt the healthcare industry focused on the wrong thingsWhat it means to be a patient advocateWhy 23andMe acquired Lemonaid HealthWhat it means to be a daring CEO

What does it mean to be a leader in the modern world?All leaders must contend with challenges and risks, but how you deal with them can set good leaders apart from great ones. Someone who knows this all too well is retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal.General McChrystal is our first-ever guest on the brand new A Healthier Future podcast. In this podcast, Intermountain Healthcare CEO Marc Harrison interviews innovative leaders and explores big ideas around transforming the future of healthcare.General McChrystal is someone who has seen the thick of combat and gained invaluable wisdom about risk and leadership. Now the Founder and CEO of McChrystal Group, McChrystal helps organizations tap into the potential of their people to become better leaders.In episode one, General McChrystal shares his fantastic insights and advice for others on risk, leadership, and much more.Listen to the full episode to find out:How Stanley’s background led him to where he is todayWhat growing up in a military family taught himWhy you should always “focus forward”Why redemption and a belief in change are so importantHow to think about risk in a different wayWhy old leadership styles don’t work anymoreWhy leaders have more responsibility these daysThe trick to being optimisticKey LinksMcChrystal GroupRisk: A User’s GuideIntermountain Healthcare