[Applause] it said the most important thing in life
it said the most important thing in life
it said the most important thing in life is good health but our nation’s in our
is good health but our nation’s in our
is good health but our nation’s in our region’s health is not so good and it’s
region’s health is not so good and it’s
region’s health is not so good and it’s not an exaggeration to say that our
not an exaggeration to say that our
not an exaggeration to say that our health is at a tipping point health care
health is at a tipping point health care
health is at a tipping point health care consumes 18 percent of our country’s
consumes 18 percent of our country’s
consumes 18 percent of our country’s gross domestic product or 3 trillion
gross domestic product or 3 trillion
gross domestic product or 3 trillion dollars a year in costs if risen
dollars a year in costs if risen
dollars a year in costs if risen steadily for decades I suspect many of
steadily for decades I suspect many of
steadily for decades I suspect many of you would agree that these costs seem
you would agree that these costs seem
you would agree that these costs seem unsustainable and are overwhelming for
unsustainable and are overwhelming for
unsustainable and are overwhelming for families and businesses politically the
families and businesses politically the
families and businesses politically the health care policy debates are divisive
health care policy debates are divisive
health care policy debates are divisive health is seen as a commodity rather
health is seen as a commodity rather
health is seen as a commodity rather than a human right and we tolerate the
than a human right and we tolerate the
than a human right and we tolerate the fact that millions don’t have access to
fact that millions don’t have access to
fact that millions don’t have access to health care that they can afford US
health care that they can afford US
health care that they can afford US health statistics are worse than dozens
health statistics are worse than dozens
health statistics are worse than dozens of other countries any less developed
of other countries any less developed
of other countries any less developed and with far fewer resources than our
and with far fewer resources than our
and with far fewer resources than our nation and we should all be heartbroken
nation and we should all be heartbroken
nation and we should all be heartbroken but for the first time in modern
but for the first time in modern
but for the first time in modern American history it’s predicted that our
American history it’s predicted that our
American history it’s predicted that our youth may have a shorter life expectancy
youth may have a shorter life expectancy
youth may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents locally we struggle
than their parents locally we struggle
than their parents locally we struggle with an opioid epidemic in a chronic
with an opioid epidemic in a chronic
with an opioid epidemic in a chronic disease burden that’s similar to or even
disease burden that’s similar to or even
disease burden that’s similar to or even worse than surrounding states and there
worse than surrounding states and there
worse than surrounding states and there are large disparities between who has
are large disparities between who has
are large disparities between who has decent health and who has poor health
decent health and who has poor health
decent health and who has poor health right here in southwestern New Hampshire
yet a decade ago our communities leaders
yet a decade ago our communities leaders pledged to help the Monadnock Region
pledged to help the Monadnock Region
pledged to help the Monadnock Region become the healthiest community in the
become the healthiest community in the
become the healthiest community in the nation so let me tell you about what
nation so let me tell you about what
nation so let me tell you about what I’ve discovered on my journey as an
I’ve discovered on my journey as an
I’ve discovered on my journey as an advocate for health how I believe we
advocate for health how I believe we
advocate for health how I believe we need to tip things towards better health
need to tip things towards better health
need to tip things towards better health more than 25 years ago I trained to be
more than 25 years ago I trained to be
more than 25 years ago I trained to be come an OBGYN physician at two
come an OBGYN physician at two
come an OBGYN physician at two prestigious private universities now I
prestigious private universities now I
prestigious private universities now I can say their prestigious because I
can say their prestigious because I
can say their prestigious because I recently looked them up and and I found
recently looked them up and and I found
recently looked them up and and I found out that they’re still in the top 15
out that they’re still in the top 15
out that they’re still in the top 15 medical schools in the country and in
medical schools in the country and in
medical schools in the country and in the flagship hospital the flagship
the flagship hospital the flagship
the flagship hospital the flagship hospital of my medical school was nearly
hospital of my medical school was nearly
hospital of my medical school was nearly 20 stories tall and I was impressed my
20 stories tall and I was impressed my
20 stories tall and I was impressed my mother were still alive I know cheat
mother were still alive I know cheat
mother were still alive I know cheat hope you’d be impressed too but I was
hope you’d be impressed too but I was
hope you’d be impressed too but I was also impressionable and I came away from
also impressionable and I came away from
also impressionable and I came away from my education with a picture for how it
my education with a picture for how it
my education with a picture for how it seemed the medical establishment felt it
seemed the medical establishment felt it
seemed the medical establishment felt it best to use our nation’s vast resources
best to use our nation’s vast resources
best to use our nation’s vast resources to improve health see I learned that we
to improve health see I learned that we
to improve health see I learned that we needed more scientific medical education
needed more scientific medical education
needed more scientific medical education and we needed cutting-edge techniques
and we needed cutting-edge techniques
and we needed cutting-edge techniques and surgeries and you know it’s hard to
and surgeries and you know it’s hard to
and surgeries and you know it’s hard to argue that because diseases and
argue that because diseases and
argue that because diseases and treatments are so complicated you did
treatments are so complicated you did
treatments are so complicated you did more research and development and new
more research and development and new
more research and development and new medications to combat the major killers
medications to combat the major killers
medications to combat the major killers like heart disease and cancer and
like heart disease and cancer and
like heart disease and cancer and diabetes and we needed to be tireless in
diabetes and we needed to be tireless in
diabetes and we needed to be tireless in working to find that silver bullet that
working to find that silver bullet that
working to find that silver bullet that cure that’s just around the corner
cure that’s just around the corner
cure that’s just around the corner waiting to be discovered we need a more
waiting to be discovered we need a more
waiting to be discovered we need a more sophisticated medical imaging technology
sophisticated medical imaging technology
sophisticated medical imaging technology I mean cat scans are good but aren’t MRI
I mean cat scans are good but aren’t MRI
I mean cat scans are good but aren’t MRI is even better and what about those
is even better and what about those
is even better and what about those amazing PET scanners and why why can’t
amazing PET scanners and why why can’t
amazing PET scanners and why why can’t we just swallow a little tiny camera let
we just swallow a little tiny camera let
we just swallow a little tiny camera let it visualize trouble as it makes its way
it visualize trouble as it makes its way
it visualize trouble as it makes its way through you know from the top and out
through you know from the top and out
through you know from the top and out the bottom if you know what I mean we
the bottom if you know what I mean we
the bottom if you know what I mean we needed doctors more doctors and nurses
needed doctors more doctors and nurses
needed doctors more doctors and nurses there always seems to be a shortage of
there always seems to be a shortage of
there always seems to be a shortage of doctors and nurses and we needed more
doctors and nurses and we needed more
doctors and nurses and we needed more hospital rooms and emergency rooms and
hospital rooms and emergency rooms and
hospital rooms and emergency rooms and urgent care centers
we needed a handle on medical
we needed a handle on medical information we needed a electronic
information we needed a electronic
information we needed a electronic medical record for every detail of a
medical record for every detail of a
medical record for every detail of a patient’s medical histories just a few
patient’s medical histories just a few
patient’s medical histories just a few clicks away maybe we could even implant
clicks away maybe we could even implant
clicks away maybe we could even implant a little chip in the skin of everyone
a little chip in the skin of everyone
a little chip in the skin of everyone and then we’d have our medical history
and then we’d have our medical history
and then we’d have our medical history with us too how cool would that be
my wife hi who’s awesome OBGYN and I we
my wife hi who’s awesome OBGYN and I we were dutiful in preparing to be medical
were dutiful in preparing to be medical
were dutiful in preparing to be medical healers we kept these little books in
healers we kept these little books in
healers we kept these little books in the pockets of our white coats we call
the pockets of our white coats we call
the pockets of our white coats we call those our peripheral brains because you
those our peripheral brains because you
those our peripheral brains because you need them because you couldn’t possibly
need them because you couldn’t possibly
need them because you couldn’t possibly remember all that scientific information
remember all that scientific information
remember all that scientific information and medication dosing and of course the
and medication dosing and of course the
and medication dosing and of course the iPad hadn’t been invented back then so
iPad hadn’t been invented back then so
iPad hadn’t been invented back then so we didn’t have that which is all of your
we didn’t have that which is all of your
we didn’t have that which is all of your peripheral brains now see we’ve been led
peripheral brains now see we’ve been led
peripheral brains now see we’ve been led to believe that outstanding medical care
to believe that outstanding medical care
to believe that outstanding medical care is all that’s needed to ensure good
is all that’s needed to ensure good
is all that’s needed to ensure good health which one Oh a secret it’s a
health which one Oh a secret it’s a
health which one Oh a secret it’s a secret I began to uncover as a
secret I began to uncover as a
secret I began to uncover as a conscientious obstetrician who felt like
conscientious obstetrician who felt like
conscientious obstetrician who felt like most of my practice became rescuing
most of my practice became rescuing
most of my practice became rescuing people who are in health crisis that
people who are in health crisis that
people who are in health crisis that medical model of health is mostly a lie
medical model of health is mostly a lie
medical model of health is mostly a lie if we want to achieve better health we
if we want to achieve better health we
if we want to achieve better health we need to look beyond medical care now
need to look beyond medical care now
need to look beyond medical care now sure you need high quality medical
sure you need high quality medical
sure you need high quality medical science and you need competent health
science and you need competent health
science and you need competent health professionals but even the most generous
professionals but even the most generous
professionals but even the most generous figures estimate that no more than 15 to
figures estimate that no more than 15 to
figures estimate that no more than 15 to 20 percent of our overall health is the
20 percent of our overall health is the
20 percent of our overall health is the result of excellent clinical care the
result of excellent clinical care the
result of excellent clinical care the other two other 80% is everything else
other two other 80% is everything else
other two other 80% is everything else in our lives how and where we live
in our lives how and where we live
in our lives how and where we live the education we get the jobs we have in
the education we get the jobs we have in
the education we get the jobs we have in the incomes we earn the safety and
the incomes we earn the safety and
the incomes we earn the safety and cooperation in our communities the
cooperation in our communities the
cooperation in our communities the people we surround ourselves with every
people we surround ourselves with every
people we surround ourselves with every day those are the things that matter see
day those are the things that matter see
day those are the things that matter see we really don’t need more health care I
we really don’t need more health care I
we really don’t need more health care I believe we need to care more about each
believe we need to care more about each
believe we need to care more about each other’s health because health is created
other’s health because health is created
other’s health because health is created in the community where we connect with
in the community where we connect with
in the community where we connect with and we help doctors and hospitals alone
and we help doctors and hospitals alone
and we help doctors and hospitals alone don’t hold the key to health we do so so
don’t hold the key to health we do so so
don’t hold the key to health we do so so this is a call to action to everyone out
this is a call to action to everyone out
this is a call to action to everyone out there each and every one of us has the
there each and every one of us has the
there each and every one of us has the power to tip our nation our community in
power to tip our nation our community in
power to tip our nation our community in our world toward better health because
our world toward better health because
our world toward better health because it turns out health is actually created
it turns out health is actually created
it turns out health is actually created in the home where families express love
in the home where families express love
in the home where families express love and feel cared about where breast
and feel cared about where breast
and feel cared about where breast feeding is encouraged where parents and
feeding is encouraged where parents and
feeding is encouraged where parents and grandparents are attentive to their
grandparents are attentive to their
grandparents are attentive to their children and are eating together around
children and are eating together around
children and are eating together around a dinner table and their talking face to
a dinner table and their talking face to
a dinner table and their talking face to face rather than texting each other even
face rather than texting each other even
face rather than texting each other even when they’re in the same room right
when they’re in the same room right
when they’re in the same room right because protective factors like that
because protective factors like that
because protective factors like that reduce risk and lead to healthy
reduce risk and lead to healthy
reduce risk and lead to healthy development and wellbeing for children
development and wellbeing for children
development and wellbeing for children and families health is created in our
and families health is created in our
and families health is created in our neighborhoods having affordable housing
neighborhoods having affordable housing
neighborhoods having affordable housing knowing your neighbors having sidewalks
knowing your neighbors having sidewalks
knowing your neighbors having sidewalks and safe places to walk and play caring
and safe places to walk and play caring
and safe places to walk and play caring about each other’s children like they’re
about each other’s children like they’re
about each other’s children like they’re your own you know paying them to rake
your own you know paying them to rake
your own you know paying them to rake the leaves and shovel driveways things
the leaves and shovel driveways things
the leaves and shovel driveways things like that health is created in schools
like that health is created in schools
like that health is created in schools where kids walk and bike to school
where kids walk and bike to school
where kids walk and bike to school they’re eager and prepared to learn
they’re eager and prepared to learn
they’re eager and prepared to learn they eat wholesome foods they play in
they eat wholesome foods they play in
they eat wholesome foods they play in exercise and they’re mentored by caring
exercise and they’re mentored by caring
exercise and they’re mentored by caring adults who are not even their parents
it’s created in our businesses where we
it’s created in our businesses where we do meaningful work
do meaningful work
do meaningful work we’re not overly stressed and we’re paid
we’re not overly stressed and we’re paid
we’re not overly stressed and we’re paid a living wage not today’s minimum wage
a living wage not today’s minimum wage
a living wage not today’s minimum wage because today’s minimum wage is actually
because today’s minimum wage is actually
because today’s minimum wage is actually an unhealthy wage we don’t sit all day
an unhealthy wage we don’t sit all day
an unhealthy wage we don’t sit all day because being sedentary is sort of the
because being sedentary is sort of the
because being sedentary is sort of the new tobacco and it’s created in our
new tobacco and it’s created in our
new tobacco and it’s created in our clubs and our places of worship where we
clubs and our places of worship where we
clubs and our places of worship where we make friends and it can be of service to
make friends and it can be of service to
make friends and it can be of service to each other because a group of friends at
each other because a group of friends at
each other because a group of friends at a Rotary Club breakfast or a church
a Rotary Club breakfast or a church
a Rotary Club breakfast or a church social that beats 500 friends on
social that beats 500 friends on
social that beats 500 friends on Facebook because research has shown that
Facebook because research has shown that
Facebook because research has shown that only a very small number of those
only a very small number of those
only a very small number of those virtual friends can be counted on in
virtual friends can be counted on in
virtual friends can be counted on in tough times health is also supported in
tough times health is also supported in
tough times health is also supported in our society where our laws and our
our society where our laws and our
our society where our laws and our policies keep our public spaces
policies keep our public spaces
policies keep our public spaces tobacco-free reduce gun violence ensure
tobacco-free reduce gun violence ensure
tobacco-free reduce gun violence ensure a safety net for those less fortunate
a safety net for those less fortunate
a safety net for those less fortunate address climate change keep our air and
address climate change keep our air and
address climate change keep our air and water clean because when we come
water clean because when we come
water clean because when we come together we create a shared culture of
together we create a shared culture of
together we create a shared culture of Health and we’re less likely to be
Health and we’re less likely to be
Health and we’re less likely to be complacent with injustice and disparity
complacent with injustice and disparity
complacent with injustice and disparity because what challenges you also
because what challenges you also
because what challenges you also challenges me
in word luck because in our nature to be
in word luck because in our nature to be cooperative and altruistic and socially
cooperative and altruistic and socially
cooperative and altruistic and socially connected but unfortunately life can be
connected but unfortunately life can be
connected but unfortunately life can be lonely and it can be disconnected and
lonely and it can be disconnected and
lonely and it can be disconnected and seems to be getting more so and social
seems to be getting more so and social
seems to be getting more so and social isolation is life-threatening so what
isolation is life-threatening so what
isolation is life-threatening so what can we do
can we do
can we do turns out we know the cure strong family
turns out we know the cure strong family
turns out we know the cure strong family ties friendships participation in social
ties friendships participation in social
ties friendships participation in social events and gatherings such as today’s
events and gatherings such as today’s
events and gatherings such as today’s event affiliation with civic
event affiliation with civic
event affiliation with civic organizations belonging to religious
organizations belonging to religious
organizations belonging to religious congregations they all matter because
congregations they all matter because
congregations they all matter because living breathing human beings help when
living breathing human beings help when
living breathing human beings help when things go wrong
helping relationships are essential if
helping relationships are essential if you’re making a change tell someone
you’re making a change tell someone
you’re making a change tell someone about it and enlist their help positive
about it and enlist their help positive
about it and enlist their help positive relationships and attachments contribute
relationships and attachments contribute
relationships and attachments contribute to satisfaction with life and happiness
to satisfaction with life and happiness
to satisfaction with life and happiness much more than money or fame or having
much more than money or fame or having
much more than money or fame or having possessions and happiness helps us live
possessions and happiness helps us live
possessions and happiness helps us live longer and better small things you do
longer and better small things you do
longer and better small things you do for others in your family schools
for others in your family schools
for others in your family schools workplaces it can have ripple effects
cooperation charity healthy lifestyles
cooperation charity healthy lifestyles they can all spread throughout the
they can all spread throughout the
they can all spread throughout the community kindness and caring could
community kindness and caring could
community kindness and caring could become our social norm
here’s the key to health that was
here’s the key to health that was overlooked in my medical education
connect with someone invites someone to
connect with someone invites someone to connect with you care about someone
connect with you care about someone
connect with you care about someone others someone else’s health as well as
others someone else’s health as well as
others someone else’s health as well as your home join a group doing anything
your home join a group doing anything
your home join a group doing anything that interests you
that interests you
that interests you Collin old friend adopt-a-pet
Collin old friend adopt-a-pet
Collin old friend adopt-a-pet volunteer join a support group see we
volunteer join a support group see we
volunteer join a support group see we need to rekindle the power of
need to rekindle the power of
need to rekindle the power of conversation not debate we have enough
conversation not debate we have enough
conversation not debate we have enough of that we need to engage in genuine
of that we need to engage in genuine
of that we need to engage in genuine reciprocal conversation learn about
reciprocal conversation learn about
reciprocal conversation learn about others become a good listener especially
others become a good listener especially
others become a good listener especially with your significant other right and
with your significant other right and
with your significant other right and your children build trust show respect
your children build trust show respect
your children build trust show respect you know heal a broken relationship by
you know heal a broken relationship by
you know heal a broken relationship by practicing forgiveness in the act of
practicing forgiveness in the act of
practicing forgiveness in the act of forgiveness we’re not wrapping ourselves
forgiveness we’re not wrapping ourselves
forgiveness we’re not wrapping ourselves we’re not letting someone who hurt us
we’re not letting someone who hurt us
we’re not letting someone who hurt us off the hook it may be a bitter pill to
off the hook it may be a bitter pill to
off the hook it may be a bitter pill to swallow for health professionals to know
swallow for health professionals to know
swallow for health professionals to know that medical science alone does not hold
that medical science alone does not hold
that medical science alone does not hold the key to fixing what pails us instead
the key to fixing what pails us instead
the key to fixing what pails us instead it’s all of us starting with the people
it’s all of us starting with the people
it’s all of us starting with the people that are sitting next to you in this
that are sitting next to you in this
that are sitting next to you in this audience today who working together can
audience today who working together can
audience today who working together can tip us towards better health so in the
tip us towards better health so in the
tip us towards better health so in the coming weeks as you sit with family and
coming weeks as you sit with family and
coming weeks as you sit with family and friends talk and eat together hopefully
friends talk and eat together hopefully
friends talk and eat together hopefully become advocates for health in our
become advocates for health in our
become advocates for health in our political system you’ll be practicing
political system you’ll be practicing
political system you’ll be practicing the best medicine there is much more
the best medicine there is much more
the best medicine there is much more powerful medicine than I ever practice
powerful medicine than I ever practice
powerful medicine than I ever practice as
as
as physician you’ll be expanding yourself
physician you’ll be expanding yourself
physician you’ll be expanding yourself social connections you’ll be building
social connections you’ll be building
social connections you’ll be building social capital you’ll begin to confront
social capital you’ll begin to confront
social capital you’ll begin to confront the social issues and inequalities that
the social issues and inequalities that
the social issues and inequalities that keep all of us from reaching our full
keep all of us from reaching our full
keep all of us from reaching our full potential see we can achieve better
potential see we can achieve better
potential see we can achieve better health by working together and I believe
health by working together and I believe
health by working together and I believe that together we can create and live in
that together we can create and live in
that together we can create and live in the nation’s healthiest community thank
the nation’s healthiest community thank
the nation’s healthiest community thank [Applause]
”
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