“You are not alone.” People who are newly diagnosed or facing a health challenge long to hear those words. Connection is an antidote to suffering and confusion. When they are able to tap into peer-to-peer networks of patients and caregivers, Networkers learn in community about their condition, shrug off the burdens of isolation and shame, then urge […]
MIT Press
Seekers go out on the hunt
As I’ve shared in previous posts, I’m writing a book for MIT Press about the key role that peer health advice plays at every level of our health care system. The people I’m describing in my book do not wait to be invited to create opportunities for positive change. They seize opportunities to take action. They reject […]
Lisa Suennen adds a dash of salt
My friend Lisa Suennen, aka @VentureValkyrie, wrote a thought-provoking response to the framework I shared a few weeks ago. She says she’s adding a cynical point of view. I’d say she’s adding much-needed salt. The whole post is worth your time to read, so please do click through. Here’s an appetizer: “Susannah asked for feedback […]
Whose needs are not met?
For years I tried to find ways to explain the particular challenges facing people with undiagnosed and rare health conditions. I decided to create a visualization showing the wide spectrum of people’s health needs and I’d like some feedback on it. Imagine a horizontal line. At the far left side are the people whose needs […]
Consumer-strength tools,
industrial-strength innovation
On August 31, I’ll be part of the 2021 Federal Wearables Summit. This post is my attempt to “flip” the event by sharing what I intend to say. Please let me know what you think in the comments below. In 1986, Eric von Hippel of MIT identified “lead users” as people who identify and solve […]
Doing the work
I am thrilled to share that I am writing a book for MIT Press about the alchemy, grit, and soul of the health innovation pipeline that is powered by people connecting with each other to solve problems. Here’s the back story, which illustrates one of my core principles: Do the work that needs to get […]
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