Episode #87: ‘How COVID-19 is Reframing Healthcare in America’ with Dr. David Shulkin, former US Secretary of Veterans Affairs

Dear Friends & Colleagues,

On Friday March 27th 2020, I launched a limited podcast series addressing how the COVID-19 pandemic is reframing American healthcare.  You can find the introduction episode here.  In this series, I’ll be interviewing future-facing, courageous healthcare leaders and entrepreneurs – asking two questions:

(1) How is the COVID-19 pandemic immediately changing the way you’re delivering healthcare?   (2) How will COVID-19 reframe American healthcare for years to come?

In this episode, we’ll be speaking with Dr. David Shulkin.  Dr. Shulkin served as the 9th Secretary of the US Department of Veterans Affairs, as a member of President Trumps’ cabinet.  Previous to that he served as Under-Secretary for Health, having been appointed by President Obama. Prior to entering the government, Secretary Shulkin was a widely respected healthcare executive.  He has been named as one of the Top 100 Physician Leaders by Becker’s Hospital Review and one of the “50 Most Influential Physician Executives in the Country” by Modern Healthcare and Modern Physician.  

Dr. Shulkin is an amazing leader and it’s always a privilege and pleasure to speak with him as he describes the principled-based, data-driven leadership we’ll need in the COVID-19 and post COVID-19 era.  In this dialogue he speaks to a number of issues, including:

• The renewed recognition of the critical role of government in preparing and maintaining a public health system
• The need for a more integrated national public healthcare system – that recognizes & addresses the disparities and inequities in healthcare
• The impact and fall-out of this pandemic on the social determinants of health, which Dr. Shulkin believes could be its most devastating consequence
• The changes in our daily lives – including some positive ones – such as a sense of kindness and generosity, as well as shared responsibility, adaptiveness and resilience
• The social awareness and consciousness being raised, especially amongst the younger generations, who may, for years go come, be motivated to enter into public health service

These are unprecedented times, so I hope you find valuable information, guidance, and inspiration in listening to these experts and entrepreneurs share how they are adapting to this pandemic (in real time); and how they’re thinking about and planning for the future.

Until next time, be safe and be well,
Zeev Neuwirth MD