
[Applause] what if I told you that getting your
what if I told you that getting your
what if I told you that getting your annual physical is a complete waste of
annual physical is a complete waste of
annual physical is a complete waste of time you think you’re doing the right
time you think you’re doing the right
time you think you’re doing the right thing you schedule the appointment you
thing you schedule the appointment you
thing you schedule the appointment you take time off work you fast you go to
take time off work you fast you go to
take time off work you fast you go to your doctor feeling like you’re doing
your doctor feeling like you’re doing
your doctor feeling like you’re doing something good and useful for your
something good and useful for your
something good and useful for your health but you’re actually not research
health but you’re actually not research
health but you’re actually not research shows it is worthless worthless and
shows it is worthless worthless and
shows it is worthless worthless and making a difference in your likelihood
making a difference in your likelihood
making a difference in your likelihood of getting sick or even of dying may as
of getting sick or even of dying may as
of getting sick or even of dying may as a doctor have to admit I used to dread
a doctor have to admit I used to dread
a doctor have to admit I used to dread the annual physical the quick review of
the annual physical the quick review of
the annual physical the quick review of your complaints and ordering the same
your complaints and ordering the same
your complaints and ordering the same lab tests for everyone whether need it
lab tests for everyone whether need it
lab tests for everyone whether need it or not and then going over the results
or not and then going over the results
or not and then going over the results talking about how you really need to get
talking about how you really need to get
talking about how you really need to get the cholesterol down and start a new
the cholesterol down and start a new
the cholesterol down and start a new exercise program I mean how many times
exercise program I mean how many times
exercise program I mean how many times have you had the same conversations with
have you had the same conversations with
have you had the same conversations with your doctor about those extra 10 pounds
your doctor about those extra 10 pounds
your doctor about those extra 10 pounds or the need to get your cholesterol down
or the need to get your cholesterol down
or the need to get your cholesterol down promising you’re gonna change your diet
promising you’re gonna change your diet
promising you’re gonna change your diet completely have you ever actually made
completely have you ever actually made
completely have you ever actually made any changes as a result of your annual
any changes as a result of your annual
any changes as a result of your annual checkup for the majority of my patients
checkup for the majority of my patients
checkup for the majority of my patients the answer was always no but this wasn’t
the answer was always no but this wasn’t
the answer was always no but this wasn’t discussed when I was in medical school
discussed when I was in medical school
discussed when I was in medical school many people know what they need to do to
many people know what they need to do to
many people know what they need to do to get healthier but they’re not doing it
get healthier but they’re not doing it
get healthier but they’re not doing it but with time and experience I realized
but with time and experience I realized
but with time and experience I realized the key to driving real change is to tap
the key to driving real change is to tap
the key to driving real change is to tap into one sense of purpose what drives
into one sense of purpose what drives
into one sense of purpose what drives you what do you want your health for
you what do you want your health for
you what do you want your health for with that clearly identified upfront
with that clearly identified upfront
with that clearly identified upfront then the annual physical can be more of
then the annual physical can be more of
then the annual physical can be more of a transformative experience leading to
a transformative experience leading to
a transformative experience leading to meaningful change that does encourage
meaningful change that does encourage
meaningful change that does encourage you to make those lifestyle changes like
you to make those lifestyle changes like
you to make those lifestyle changes like starting an exercise program or changing
starting an exercise program or changing
starting an exercise program or changing your diet but it took me years to
your diet but it took me years to
your diet but it took me years to understand that because in my training
understand that because in my training
understand that because in my training doing the annual physical I just felt
doing the annual physical I just felt
doing the annual physical I just felt like I wasn’t getting to what really
like I wasn’t getting to what really
like I wasn’t getting to what really mattered to my patients so I would try
mattered to my patients so I would try
mattered to my patients so I would try and dig deeper and I would say okay so
and dig deeper and I would say okay so
and dig deeper and I would say okay so what made you come
what made you come
what made you come today for this checkup and I would hear
today for this checkup and I would hear
today for this checkup and I would hear well my partner made me come in or as
well my partner made me come in or as
well my partner made me come in or as one patient was upfront enough to say
one patient was upfront enough to say
one patient was upfront enough to say just to make sure I’m not dying doc but
just to make sure I’m not dying doc but
just to make sure I’m not dying doc but I would feel sort of like a fraud
I would feel sort of like a fraud
I would feel sort of like a fraud because I knew deep down the way I was
because I knew deep down the way I was
because I knew deep down the way I was doing it I wasn’t really impacting
doing it I wasn’t really impacting
doing it I wasn’t really impacting whether or not they were gonna die
whether or not they were gonna die
whether or not they were gonna die and unfortunately the impact of the
and unfortunately the impact of the
and unfortunately the impact of the failure of the routine checkup at really
failure of the routine checkup at really
failure of the routine checkup at really preventing disease as being felt
preventing disease as being felt
preventing disease as being felt nationwide do you know last year saw a
nationwide do you know last year saw a
nationwide do you know last year saw a decline in life expectancy in the United
decline in life expectancy in the United
decline in life expectancy in the United States across all races a decline
States across all races a decline
States across all races a decline attributable to a rise in heart disease
attributable to a rise in heart disease
attributable to a rise in heart disease stroke and other preventable diseases
stroke and other preventable diseases
stroke and other preventable diseases that means if this trend continues our
that means if this trend continues our
that means if this trend continues our children will live shorter lives than we
children will live shorter lives than we
children will live shorter lives than we will think about that it’s shocking it’s
will think about that it’s shocking it’s
will think about that it’s shocking it’s partly due to statistics like this and
partly due to statistics like this and
partly due to statistics like this and the rise and other negative health
the rise and other negative health
the rise and other negative health indicators that leading medical groups
indicators that leading medical groups
indicators that leading medical groups actually recommend against doing the
actually recommend against doing the
actually recommend against doing the annual preventive wellness exam for
annual preventive wellness exam for
annual preventive wellness exam for patients without symptoms but everyone
patients without symptoms but everyone
patients without symptoms but everyone is still doing it because it’s how we’re
is still doing it because it’s how we’re
is still doing it because it’s how we’re taught so you know when I was a medical
taught so you know when I was a medical
taught so you know when I was a medical resident a doctor in training in New
resident a doctor in training in New
resident a doctor in training in New Orleans I had a patient named Renee and
Orleans I had a patient named Renee and
Orleans I had a patient named Renee and she made me rethink this annual physical
she made me rethink this annual physical
she made me rethink this annual physical she came in with high cholesterol high
she came in with high cholesterol high
she came in with high cholesterol high blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight
blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight
blood sugar a good 25 pounds overweight so I had the same talk with her I had
so I had the same talk with her I had
so I had the same talk with her I had with many of my patients about getting
with many of my patients about getting
with many of my patients about getting control over blood sugar exercising and
control over blood sugar exercising and
control over blood sugar exercising and she would listen politely nod like she
she would listen politely nod like she
she would listen politely nod like she was taking it all in and then come back
was taking it all in and then come back
was taking it all in and then come back the next visit the same way or maybe
the next visit the same way or maybe
the next visit the same way or maybe even a little heavier with the same
even a little heavier with the same
even a little heavier with the same cholesterol and blood sugar finally
cholesterol and blood sugar finally
cholesterol and blood sugar finally after years of these redundant checkups
after years of these redundant checkups
after years of these redundant checkups exasperated I said Renee why do you
exasperated I said Renee why do you
exasperated I said Renee why do you think you haven’t lost any weight and
think you haven’t lost any weight and
think you haven’t lost any weight and she said you know I hear what you’re
she said you know I hear what you’re
she said you know I hear what you’re saying I need to lose weight for my
saying I need to lose weight for my
saying I need to lose weight for my overall health but it’s just so hard for
overall health but it’s just so hard for
overall health but it’s just so hard for me and I think I look okay and I said
me and I think I look okay and I said
me and I think I look okay and I said well Renee does your weight affect you
well Renee does your weight affect you
well Renee does your weight affect you in any real way in your life and here’s
in any real way in your life and here’s
in any real way in your life and here’s where it all changed for me she said
where it all changed for me she said
where it all changed for me she said actually I’d love to coach my
actually I’d love to coach my
actually I’d love to coach my eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team
eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team
eight-year-old daughter’s soccer team but I get out of breath so easily I
but I get out of breath so easily I
but I get out of breath so easily I can’t keep up with the girls running up
can’t keep up with the girls running up
can’t keep up with the girls running up and down the field and I know it’s
and down the field and I know it’s
and down the field and I know it’s partly because of my weight so I said
partly because of my weight so I said
partly because of my weight so I said you know what
you know what
you know what now when you come in for your checkups
now when you come in for your checkups
now when you come in for your checkups we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and
we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and
we’re not gonna be doing weigh-ins and checking blood sugar your checkups are
checking blood sugar your checkups are
checking blood sugar your checkups are gonna be all about checking in and how
gonna be all about checking in and how
gonna be all about checking in and how long you can be active for to see if
long you can be active for to see if
long you can be active for to see if these changes we’ve talked about you
these changes we’ve talked about you
these changes we’ve talked about you making can actually help you be active
making can actually help you be active
making can actually help you be active longer so you could maybe help coach her
longer so you could maybe help coach her
longer so you could maybe help coach her team since I was a resident my teachers
team since I was a resident my teachers
team since I was a resident my teachers would ask me how’s her blood pressure
would ask me how’s her blood pressure
would ask me how’s her blood pressure how’s her blood sugar and I would say
how’s her blood sugar and I would say
how’s her blood sugar and I would say you know we’re not checking that we’re
you know we’re not checking that we’re
you know we’re not checking that we’re just checking how long she could be
just checking how long she could be
just checking how long she could be active for you can imagine how they felt
active for you can imagine how they felt
active for you can imagine how they felt about that what do you mean you’re not
about that what do you mean you’re not
about that what do you mean you’re not checking it you need to record her blood
checking it you need to record her blood
checking it you need to record her blood pressure in her chart you need to record
pressure in her chart you need to record
pressure in her chart you need to record her blood cholesterol I caught hell for
her blood cholesterol I caught hell for
her blood cholesterol I caught hell for it but it was exhilarating feeling like
it but it was exhilarating feeling like
it but it was exhilarating feeling like I was on the patients team and letting
I was on the patients team and letting
I was on the patients team and letting her control what measures of success we
her control what measures of success we
her control what measures of success we would use when you know six months later
would use when you know six months later
would use when you know six months later she came in having lost some weight and
she came in having lost some weight and
she came in having lost some weight and telling me the yes she had had had
telling me the yes she had had had
telling me the yes she had had had enough active energy to coach her
enough active energy to coach her
enough active energy to coach her daughter’s soccer team and when we did
daughter’s soccer team and when we did
daughter’s soccer team and when we did finally recheck her blood tests her
finally recheck her blood tests her
finally recheck her blood tests her blood sugar and cholesterol were both
blood sugar and cholesterol were both
blood sugar and cholesterol were both better so we both got what we wanted I
better so we both got what we wanted I
better so we both got what we wanted I knew she had less risk of heart disease
knew she had less risk of heart disease
knew she had less risk of heart disease and diabetes and she was engaged with
and diabetes and she was engaged with
and diabetes and she was engaged with her daughter in a way that really was
her daughter in a way that really was
her daughter in a way that really was important to her this was a huge moment
important to her this was a huge moment
important to her this was a huge moment of realization for me reframing the
of realization for me reframing the
of realization for me reframing the check up around what the patient really
check up around what the patient really
check up around what the patient really cared about as opposed to around what
cared about as opposed to around what
cared about as opposed to around what lab values I was supposed to help make
lab values I was supposed to help make
lab values I was supposed to help make sure get better was way more powerful so
sure get better was way more powerful so
sure get better was way more powerful so when I began talking to my patients
when I began talking to my patients
when I began talking to my patients about what mattered to them did they
about what mattered to them did they
about what mattered to them did they have any goals they wanted to achieve
have any goals they wanted to achieve
have any goals they wanted to achieve that health could either hinder or
that health could either hinder or
that health could either hinder or facilitate or have some clarity about
facilitate or have some clarity about
facilitate or have some clarity about their sense of purpose that was exactly
their sense of purpose that was exactly
their sense of purpose that was exactly the catalyst many people needed to
the catalyst many people needed to
the catalyst many people needed to engage in the very behaviors that
engage in the very behaviors that
engage in the very behaviors that ultimately would make them healthier I
ultimately would make them healthier I
ultimately would make them healthier I mean imagine yourself starting your
mean imagine yourself starting your
mean imagine yourself starting your interaction with your doctor with your
interaction with your doctor with your
interaction with your doctor with your overall purpose for being healthy in
overall purpose for being healthy in
overall purpose for being healthy in your goals rather than your chief
your goals rather than your chief
your goals rather than your chief complaints you walk away from the visit
complaints you walk away from the visit
complaints you walk away from the visit with a plan rather than just a list of
with a plan rather than just a list of
with a plan rather than just a list of lab results and prescriptions for
lab results and prescriptions for
lab results and prescriptions for medications in fact purpose is powerful
medications in fact purpose is powerful
medications in fact purpose is powerful research shows identifying a clear sense
research shows identifying a clear sense
research shows identifying a clear sense of purpose lowers your mortality rate
of purpose lowers your mortality rate
of purpose lowers your mortality rate that means your risk of dying in five
that means your risk of dying in five
that means your risk of dying in five years by
years by
years by percent that’s on par with quitting
percent that’s on par with quitting
percent that’s on par with quitting smoking or starting an exercise program
smoking or starting an exercise program
smoking or starting an exercise program and according to Blue Zones author Dan
and according to Blue Zones author Dan
and according to Blue Zones author Dan Buettner identifying a clear sense of
Buettner identifying a clear sense of
Buettner identifying a clear sense of purpose which is one of those attributes
purpose which is one of those attributes
purpose which is one of those attributes common to the five regions around the
common to the five regions around the
common to the five regions around the world where people live longer and
world where people live longer and
world where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth
healthier than anywhere else on earth
healthier than anywhere else on earth identifying that clear sense of purpose
identifying that clear sense of purpose
identifying that clear sense of purpose adds seven years to life expectancy what
adds seven years to life expectancy what
adds seven years to life expectancy what would you do with seven more years of
would you do with seven more years of
would you do with seven more years of life now I’m not advocating getting rid
life now I’m not advocating getting rid
life now I’m not advocating getting rid of an annual check of some sort some
of an annual check of some sort some
of an annual check of some sort some sort of health check I’m just saying it
sort of health check I’m just saying it
sort of health check I’m just saying it needs to be transformed from a check-up
needs to be transformed from a check-up
needs to be transformed from a check-up to a check-in
to a check-in
to a check-in a check-in about how you’re doing
a check-in about how you’re doing
a check-in about how you’re doing related to how you want to be doing not
related to how you want to be doing not
related to how you want to be doing not just how you’re doing it not dying what
just how you’re doing it not dying what
just how you’re doing it not dying what does the check-in look like number one
does the check-in look like number one
does the check-in look like number one it starts with purpose number two we use
it starts with purpose number two we use
it starts with purpose number two we use health as a tool to achieve that purpose
health as a tool to achieve that purpose
health as a tool to achieve that purpose not as the goal in and of itself and
not as the goal in and of itself and
not as the goal in and of itself and number three as your doctor I can become
number three as your doctor I can become
number three as your doctor I can become a resource in a facilitator I can work
a resource in a facilitator I can work
a resource in a facilitator I can work as part of a team to support you and
as part of a team to support you and
as part of a team to support you and hold you accountable to the goals you
hold you accountable to the goals you
hold you accountable to the goals you have set for yourself we can develop a
have set for yourself we can develop a
have set for yourself we can develop a customized plan for you what food should
customized plan for you what food should
customized plan for you what food should you be eating supplements should you be
you be eating supplements should you be
you be eating supplements should you be taking what tests might you need and
taking what tests might you need and
taking what tests might you need and what other modalities or practitioner
what other modalities or practitioner
what other modalities or practitioner should you see do you want to run a 10k
should you see do you want to run a 10k
should you see do you want to run a 10k then let’s plan what you need to do to
then let’s plan what you need to do to
then let’s plan what you need to do to cross the finish line the good news is
cross the finish line the good news is
cross the finish line the good news is this way of changing the conversation to
this way of changing the conversation to
this way of changing the conversation to be about a Purpose Driven approach to
be about a Purpose Driven approach to
be about a Purpose Driven approach to health is catching on functional
health is catching on functional
health is catching on functional medicine integrative medicine lifestyle
medicine integrative medicine lifestyle
medicine integrative medicine lifestyle medicine are all fields that embrace
medicine are all fields that embrace
medicine are all fields that embrace these concepts of shared decision-making
these concepts of shared decision-making
these concepts of shared decision-making and patient-centered care medical
and patient-centered care medical
and patient-centered care medical schools are teaching this approach and
schools are teaching this approach and
schools are teaching this approach and doctors all around the country are
doctors all around the country are
doctors all around the country are flocking to conferences to unlearn the
flocking to conferences to unlearn the
flocking to conferences to unlearn the generic complaint oriented prescription
generic complaint oriented prescription
generic complaint oriented prescription writing oriented checkup we hear a lot
writing oriented checkup we hear a lot
writing oriented checkup we hear a lot about Purpose Driven Life
about Purpose Driven Life
about Purpose Driven Life but this is about Purpose Driven Health
but this is about Purpose Driven Health
but this is about Purpose Driven Health we’re used to doctors encouraging
we’re used to doctors encouraging
we’re used to doctors encouraging patients to hold on to a sense of
patients to hold on to a sense of
patients to hold on to a sense of purpose in order to beat cancer or other
purpose in order to beat cancer or other
purpose in order to beat cancer or other serious diagnosis to stay strong long
serious diagnosis to stay strong long
serious diagnosis to stay strong long enough to make it to a child’s wedding
enough to make it to a child’s wedding
enough to make it to a child’s wedding or for the birth of a grandchild but as
or for the birth of a grandchild but as
or for the birth of a grandchild but as doctors we don’t harness the power of
doctors we don’t harness the power of
doctors we don’t harness the power of purpose enough when talking to patients
purpose enough when talking to patients
purpose enough when talking to patients about prevention
about prevention
about prevention yet preventable diseases account for 40%
yet preventable diseases account for 40%
yet preventable diseases account for 40% of the causes of death in the United
of the causes of death in the United
of the causes of death in the United States it’s simply about engaging on the
States it’s simply about engaging on the
States it’s simply about engaging on the level of what matters to you not just
level of what matters to you not just
level of what matters to you not just what’s the matter with you
what’s the matter with you
what’s the matter with you you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche
you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche
you know Viktor Frankl quoted Nietzsche in his book man’s search for meaning he
in his book man’s search for meaning he
in his book man’s search for meaning he said he who has a why to live for can
said he who has a why to live for can
said he who has a why to live for can bear almost any how now Franco was
bear almost any how now Franco was
bear almost any how now Franco was referring to a more dire situation but
referring to a more dire situation but
referring to a more dire situation but his message still applies to our health
his message still applies to our health
his message still applies to our health in order to make true sustained behavior
in order to make true sustained behavior
in order to make true sustained behavior change we all need a Y what I’ve learned
change we all need a Y what I’ve learned
change we all need a Y what I’ve learned is that the trick to getting yourself to
is that the trick to getting yourself to
is that the trick to getting yourself to do all the things you know you should be
do all the things you know you should be
do all the things you know you should be doing is to spend some time thinking
doing is to spend some time thinking
doing is to spend some time thinking about your sense of purpose and ideally
about your sense of purpose and ideally
about your sense of purpose and ideally sharing that with your doctor
sharing that with your doctor
sharing that with your doctor then you’ll transform the annual
then you’ll transform the annual
then you’ll transform the annual physical into a powerful tool to lead to
physical into a powerful tool to lead to
physical into a powerful tool to lead to a more more fulfilled and longer life
a more more fulfilled and longer life
a more more fulfilled and longer life one who had seven more years to your
one who had seven more years to your
one who had seven more years to your life then ask yourself this one question
life then ask yourself this one question
life then ask yourself this one question what do you want your health for thank
what do you want your health for thank
what do you want your health for thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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