Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Health, and Science for Women 35+

Ep. 520 We Got Healthcare Wrong – The Biggest Flaws in Modern Medicine & How To Fix Them with Dr. Aaron Hartman

Nov 17, 2025

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Aaron Hartman—a triple-board-certified physician and author of 'Uncurable'—reveals the significant flaws of traditional medicine. He shares how personal experiences, especially advocating for his daughter, reshaped his clinical approach. Dr. Hartman emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care, the restrictive effects of the Flexner Report, and the potential of GLP-1s beyond weight loss. He also discusses the hidden influences of fear and reimbursement on medical practice, advocating for a more compassionate and innovative healthcare system.

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INSIGHT

Learning Begins After Certification

Medical education gives clinicians powerful tools but often ends curiosity after certification.
Aaron Hartman says true learning begins after board certification when clinicians must keep building skills.

ANECDOTE

Fostering Anna Changed His Practice

Aaron Hartman and his wife fostered Anna, a child with cerebral palsy who was failing to thrive.
They refused a feeding-tube recommendation and pursued feeding therapies, avoiding many surgeries and interventions.

INSIGHT

Systems Thinking Reclaims Lost Biochemistry

Functional medicine reconnects detailed biochemistry with whole-person care and systems thinking.
Hartman integrated military, dermatology, and nutritional learnings into a broader clinical toolbox.

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Today, I am thrilled to reconnect with Dr. Aaron Hartman, a triple-board-certified physician who recently wrote the book "Uncurable."

In today’s expansive conversation, we delve deeply into the structural flaws of traditional allopathic medicine. Dr. Hartman shares how his own clinical approach has evolved and recounts Anna’s story, explaining how her experience became a turning point in his professional growth. We highlight the importance of lifelong learning, patient advocacy, and the benefits of removing restrictions to allow providers to deliver patient-centered care. We examine the legacy of the Flexner Report, the rigidity it introduced to modern medicine, and the broad potential of GLP-1s beyond weight loss. We discuss the hidden factors that shape medical errors, the effects of insurance reimbursement, the challenges of existing in the current medical system, and how fear of liability influences clinical decisions. We also explore the triangle of health and the effects of unresolved trauma.

This episode is packed with valuable insights, so you will likely want to revisit it more than once.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU WILL LEARN:

How traditional allopathic medicine is structurally rigid and limits patient-centered care
Dr. Hartman shares how patient advocacy and curiosity-driven learning fueled his clinical evolution.
How the Flexner Report created a hierarchy that discourages innovation and integrity
The therapeutic potential of GLP-1s beyond weight loss
Why being open-minded as a clinician does not mean being reckless
How insurance reimbursement models reward overdiagnosis and procedural volume instead of outcomes
What the fear of litigation leads to, regarding defensive medicine and unnecessary testing
How clinical decisions, overtesting, and overdiagnosis can inadvertently contribute to serious medical errors and harm patients
What the triangle of health is, and how it underpins overall wellbeing
Why unresolved trauma can cause physical illnesses

Connect with Cynthia Thurlow

Follow on X, Instagram & LinkedIn
Check out Cynthia’s website
Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com

Connect with Dr. Aaron Hartman

On his website
Purchase a copy of Uncurable