Random Acts of Medicine: How unexpected events shape our health - Rita McGrath & Anupam Jena

In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Anupam Jena, the host of the Freakonomics MD Podcast. Anupam is here to talk about his recent book “Random Acts of Medicine”, which shows how unexpected—but predictable—events profoundly affect our health. What are the hidden forces that sway doctors, impact patients and shape our health? He’s here to explain and help us understand what to do about it.

00:00 Welcome to Thought Sparks with Rita McGrath & Dr. Anupam "Bapu" Jena

00:56 "Random Acts of Medicine" - The Surprising Reception to Bapu's Groundbreaking Book

01:40 The Paradox: Why Do Patients Do Better When Cardiologists Leave Town?

04:17 London Cabbies, Brain Development & Alzheimer's: The Stunning Connection

08:50 The 5-Minute Fix: Why Sports Teams Warm Up But Surgeons Don't (And What Happens When They Do)

13:37 Trust vs. Errors: The Counterintuitive Research That Changed Everything

17:00 "The Machine Saw That": How AI Could Transform Professional Feedback in Medicine & Beyond

21:12 America's Healthcare Paradox: Why Spending 20% of Our Income Doesn't Make Us Healthier

32:45 "Flooding the System with Humans": How AI Could Democratize Healthcare Access

36:28 The 16-Minute Visit: Does Anyone Have Time for Healing?

37:53 Your Zip Code Shouldn't Determine Your Health: The Geography of Medical Inequality

43:02 From Research to Reality: The Rocky Path from Healthcare Insights to Actual Policy

46:31 When Science Meets Values: The Hidden Battle Behind Health Policy Debates

53:10 New Zealand's Hard Choice: A Global Lesson in Healthcare Trade-offs

54:41 The Orphaned Cures: Why Some Life-Saving Treatments Never Make it to Market

57:46 Unintended Consequences: How the Inflation Reduction Act Is Reshaping Medicine's Future

59:34 The Unsung Heroes: Why We Thank Doctors But Not the Innovations That Save Us------------------------Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence. New episodes of the Thought Sparks Podcast are released every other Tuesday at 11am Eastern. Want to learn more about Rita’s ideas and hear more of her conversations with business leaders and innovators? Listen to more Thought Sparks Podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Watch Thought Sparks episodes on YouTubeFollow Rita on LinkedIn, Instagram, X and Blue Sky.Connect with Rita on TikTokSign up for her Thought Sparks Newsletter on Substack. Learn more about Rita, her books and ideas at RitaMcGrath.com