Most stakeholders in biomedical innovation – scientists, clinicians, patients, caregivers, funders, regulators – recognize each other as allies in the fight against disease. But they often lack shared principles and practices to guide the work they do together. For example, a research organization may say they value patient input, but they do not recognize their […]
Wow! How? Health
Wow! How? “Breaking Brad”
The latest in my series of stories that hopefully make you say, “Wow! How did they come up with that?” Bradley Burnam loved his job as a medical device sales rep because, as he puts it, he got to play doctor: wear scrubs, visit hospitals, and work with patients. But during one site visit he […]
The Black Panther Party’s Health Innovations
Here is the 40th in my series of “Wow! How? Health” stories, also shared on LinkedIn if you want to follow the conversation on that platform. In 1971, the Black Panther Party diagnosed the federal government’s failure to study sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease believed at the time to be found predominately in people […]
Wow! How? Visualizing Self Care
Continuing my series of stories that hopefully make you say, “Wow! How did they come up with that?” Sara Riggare has been living with early-onset Parkinson’s disease since she was a teenager. In my book, Rebel Health, I wrote about her as an example of a Seeker, Networker, and Solver. She is constantly on the hunt […]
Wow! How? Patient-led Design
Michael Graves, the renowned architect and designer, was hospitalized in 2003 when a sinus infection spread to his spinal cord, a very rare occurrence. He survived but was paralyzed from the chest down. As he moved among hospitals and rehabilitation centers, Graves was struck by how the patient rooms and furniture were not only ugly, but […]
Wow! How? Dr. ChatGPT
Every post in my Wow! How? Health. series starts with a story that hopefully makes a reader say, “Wow! How did they accomplish this great health innovation?” The answer is often related to concepts I explore in my book, Rebel Health. Please let me know what you think or if you have questions. Comments are open. When […]
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