April 25, 2012
R. Sean Morrison, MD
(click here for bio)

Palliative Care 2020: Solution to Health Care Crisis?

How can we better manage chronic illness in the future? How can we best care for those who are nearing the end of life? Why is it important to listen to patients’ goals when setting a course for treatment? Come find out from Dr. Morrison, who heads up national organizations devoted to increasing evidence-based palliative care. He’s received numerous distinguished awards, published over 100 research articles including works in New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine and Journal of the American Medical Association. He’s appeared on major network news and in publications around the country. He is currently Principal Investigator, National Institute of Aging funded 5-yr. multisite study on improving pain management in older adults.

October 11, 2011 Speaker
Daniel Kraft, MD
Presentation: MEDICINE IN THE FUTURE...
THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT

CEO & Founder, IntelliMedicine
Executive Director, FutureMed

 Daniel Kraft is a Stanford and Harvard trained physician-scientist with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice, biomedical research and innovation.  Daniel chairs the Medicine track for Singularity University and is Executive Director and curator for the FutureMed program, which explores convergent, exponential technologies across healthcare.

Dr. Kraft  is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics following residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and completed Stanford fellowships in hematology/oncology & bone marrow transplantation, and postdoctoral work in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.  He has multiple scientific publications, medical device, immunology and stem cell related patents through faculty positions with Stanford University School of Medicine and as pediatric bone marrow transplantation clinical faculty at University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Kraft recently founded IntelliMedicine, focused on connected, data driven, and integrated personalized medicine. He is the inventor of the MarrowMiner, an FDA approved device for the minimally invasive harvest of bone marrow,  and founded RegenMed Systems, a company developing technologies to enable adult stem cell based regenerative therapies.  

Daniel is an avid pilot and has served for the past decade as a flight surgeon with an F-16 Squadron in the California Air National Guard. He has conducted research on aerospace medicine that was published with NASA, with whom he was a finalist for astronaut selection.

Changes to Come in Health Care
April 26, 2011

Ron Pollack, The National Perspective(Click here for bio)
Eileen Ellis, The Michigan Perspective(Click here for bio)

All of us will be impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act passed last year.  What effect will be seen by patients, practitioners and healthcare organizations? 

Key elements of The Act are envisioned to be delivered at the state and local level.   Eileen Ellis, who is at the forefront of developing the Insurance Exchanges in Michigan and one of the key voices in the state on healthcare reform policy and implications, discussed pending changes not only in healthcare coverage, but also in state and local opportunities for healthcare delivery.

Additionally, national healthcare expert Ron Pollack talked about how we got here and how we will move forward post-Act.  What will happen Year One, and in subsequent years, and what impact will result?  He dispelled myths surrounding the Act, discuss Accountable Care Organizations, the new Patients Bill of Rights and highlight potential roadblocks to implementation.

Dr. Gail Christopher (click here for bio)
Health Inequities
March 2, 2010

We know that minorities experience higher rates of infant mortality, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, HIV infection/AIDS and cancer than Americans in general.  They also face higher rates of disability, chronic disease and premature death.  But why…and what can be done to change things?   Dr. Christopher, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Vice President for Programming, Food, Health & Well Being, spoke with invited guests of the health forum about health inequities...what are some of the contributing factors, what can be done to raise awareness and why it is important for all of us to know about why they exist and what we can do to change the situation.

Dr. Christopher presented compelling information and discussed the implications of health disparities throughout the United States, regionally and locally. Please click here to see an article from the Battle Creek Enquirer about the recent presentation.

If you'd like more information about Dr. Christopher's work, please visit the Kellogg Foundation's website at www.wkkf.org.

Kurt Mosley (click here for bio)

Will the Last Physician in America Please Turn Off the Lights?
A Look at America’s Looming Doctor Shortage
Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Nearly every medical and physicians’ association is sounding the alarm about a looming physician shortage. Kurt Mosley, a nationally recognized authority on medical staffing issues and trends, discussed one of the most critical challenges facing the healthcare system today including the shortage's affect on patients, physicians and hospitals and what we can do to address the impending shortfall.

Mr. Mosley leads Merritt Hawkins & Associates, the nation’s top physician search firm.

Editorial, Battle Creek Enquirer

Presentation Slides

Will The Last Physician In America...

So You Want To Be A Physician

Dr. Harrison Bloom (click here for bio)
Healthy Aging and Longevity
Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Dr. Harrison Bloom, International Longevity Center-USA and the Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, spoke at the Health Care Leadership Forum. Americans are experiencing an unprecedented increase in longevity—right along with a rise in aging-related issues. Bloom's discussion covered how to live better, not just longer, and how to best care for the ever-growing number of older adults.

Event summary: Healthy Aging Is Not An Oxymoron

Event photos : Click here to view event photos

Dr. Kathleen Hall (click here for bio)
Stress and Illness
Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Dr. Hall explored the medical implications of chronic stress, sharing theories about mind-body medicine from the world's top science/medical experts while reviewing realistic approaches for stress management that can be used by patients and practitioners alike.

Kathleen Hall is the founder and CEO of The Stress Institute, which was established to serve as a center for collection and dissemination of information on the impact of stress on our lives. Comprised of prominent physicians, professionals in a variety of stress-related disciplines, and lay individuals, The Stress Institute is interested in exploring the various effects of stress on mental, physical and spiritual health.

Dr. Hall's work is featured at the institute, including courses based on her books Alter Your Life: Overbooked? Overworked? Overwhelmed? and A Life In Balance: Nourishing the Four Roots of True Happiness.

Visit www.stressinstitute.com and www.DrKathleenHall.com for more information.

Michael Hindmarsh, MA (click here for bio)
Steven Bernstein, MD, MPH (click here for bio)
Chronic Care and Its Management
Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Physicians, faced with an aging population and increasing chronic illness, are overwhelmed by the needs of patients with diseases such as high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

One of the creators of the internationally recognized and highly regarded Chronic Care Model was a featured speaker at October's Health Care Leadership Forum and Winslow Lectureship. Michael Hindmarsh shared information about the model, which improves disease outcomes, decreases hospital admissions and lengths of stay, and decreases the overall cost of health care.

In addition, Dr. Steven Bernstein from the University of Michigan presented information about the adoption of the Chronic Care Model at both U of M and the VA Medical Center in Ann Arbor. He pointed out that by adding system-wide change to the treatment of chronic illness, patients have been greatly helped and outcomes have improved.

Click to view the PowerPoint presentation from the lecture.

Archelle Georgiou, MD (bio here)
On the Cusp of Reason or Insanity…
Emerging Themes and Trends in Health Care
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Archelle Georgiou, MD, spoke to invited guests at the March 20 Health Care Leadership Forum. Dr. Georgiou is the executive vice president of Specialized Care Services, a part of UnitedHealth Group. She is part of the second largest Health Management Organization (HMO) in the country.

Dr. Georgiou's presentation on emerging themes and trends in health care touched on the important issues driving the need for change in the healthcare system; the role of health information technology in enabling change; and the importance of driving toward integrated healthcare delivery systems.

Guests of the forum appreciated her energetic, informative talk, which touched on patient-centered initiatives on the horizon and important regulatory and industry advances in the pipeline.

For more indepth information on her presentation, click here.

Bonus article: Personal Health Records Save Time and Lives.

Bruce (Ned) Calonge, MD, PhD (bio here)
An Ounce of Prevention in Medicine… the Real Story
Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Dr. Calonge discussed his role as Chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, whose recommendations are considered the “gold standard” for clinical preventive services in the United States. USPSTF recommendations set the clinical standards for medical professional organizations, health organizations, medical quality review groups and undergraduate and post-graduate medical and nursing education.

In addition to his work with USPSTF, Dr. Calonge is the Chief Medical Officer of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, a member of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Task Force on Community Preventive Services and the CDC’s Evaluating Genomic Applications for Practice and Prevention Workgroup.

Samuel Gandy MD, PhD (bio here)
Alzheimer's Disease—Today and Tomorrow
Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Dr. Gandy is an internationally recognized expert on Alzheimer’s disease. He is the program director of a 15-year National Institute of Aging-funded program on Alzheimer’s drug discovery. He is the director of the Farber Institute of Neurosciences, which is conducting three of the first anti-amyloid clinical trials in North America. He is also the chairman of the National Medical and Scientific Advisory Council for the Alzheimer’s Association.

Dr. Gandy is passionate in his pursuit of understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease, which has direct and indirect costs of $100 billion annually in the United States. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s. At the health forum, Dr. Gandy talked about some of the new treatments on the horizon.

Dr. Lawrence Einhorn (bio here)
The Cure for Testicular Cancer
Tuesday, October 13, 2005

Dr. Lawrence Einhorn is Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Indiana University, Dr. Lawrence Einhorn has paved the way for cancer treatment in the U.S. and internationally. Dr. Einhorn led the medical team treating testicular cancer survivor, Lance Armstrong, and is credited with increasing the testicular cancer survival rate from 10 percent to 95 percent through an innovative drug combination. Dr. Einhorn is a leading researcher, clinician and educator, teaching students important lessons in empathy for their patients.

Click to view video and photos from his visit to Battle Creek.

William C. Richardson, PhD
President and Chief Executive Officer of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Tuesday, May 17, 2005

Whether serving as chairman for the National Academy of Sciences' Institutes of Medicine Committee on Quality of Health Care In America, or working with President Jimmy Carter on eradicating racial and ethnic disparities in health, or partnering with the nation's business, media, and faith leaders to bring attention to the un-and underinsured, Dr. Richardson has always strived to positively effect change in health care.Over the course of a 34 year career, Richardson has worked to improve the health of our nation. At the May 17 Forum, he shared his experiences gained over three decades in health care and provided insight into upcoming challenges facing our nation. He also spent half of the meeting answering questions from local health leaders about current and future issues facing our community.

Click here to visit CEO Corner on the W.K. Kellogg Foundation website to learn more about Dr. Richardson.

Click to view video from his lecture.

James Battey, Jr., MD, PhD (bio here)
Stem Cells and NIH: Current Challenges and Future Promise
Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Dr. Battey is Chair of the National Institutes of Health Stem Cell Task Force and Director, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Stanford University and his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. He has been with NIH since 1983 and has served in numerous positions.

Click to view video and details from his lecture.

Dr. David L. Katz MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP (bio here)
The Rational Unfattening of America: Can We Get There From Here?
Tuesday, October 12, 2004

Dr. Katz is Associate Clinical Professor of Public Health & Medicine, & Director of Medical Studies in Public Health, at the Yale University School of Medicine. He co-founded and directs Yale’s Prevention Research Center, a CDC-funded clinical research facility devoted to chronic disease prevention, where he has acquired and managed approximately $15million in research funds. Dr. Katz is board-certified in Internal Medicine, and Preventive Medicine/Public Health. He earned his BA from Dartmouth College, his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and his MPH from the Yale School of Medicine.

Click to view event photos plus comments and a video from his lecture.

Dr. Dimitri Papolos (bio here)
Depression, Manic Depression, And 'The Bipolar Child'
Thursday, May 20, 2004

Dr. Papolos is the Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Co-Director of the Program in Behavioral Genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/ Montefiore Medical Center, New York City. He is the Director of Research, Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation and a recipient of the NIMH’s Physician/ Scientist Award. He is the author of The Bipolar Child, Overcoming Depression, and Genetic Studies in Affective Disorders.

Click to view photos and details from his lecture.

Steven M. Gordon, M.D. (detailed bio here)
“Monkeys, Prairie Dogs and Gambian Rats… Oh My!”
An Update on New and Emerging Infectious Diseases and their implications.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003

Dr. Gordon is the Hospital Epidemiologist, Infectious Disease Department at the Cleveland Clinic, who has worked with the Centers for Disease Control, Emory and Cornell Universities, the U.S. Public Health Service and University of Chicago Hospitals.

Click to view photos and details from Dr. Gordon's lecture.

Dr. David M. Eisenberg (detailed bio here)
Traditional and Alternative Medical Use— The Everchanging Landscape
Wednesday, June 4, 2003

Dr. Eisenberg is the Director of the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School and the Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies. He is also the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Click to view photos and details from Dr. Eisenberg's reception and lecture.

Dr. George Vande Woude (detailed bio here)
The Role of Genetics in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease
Director of the Van Andel Research Institute in Grand Rapids
Tuesday, February 4, 2003

Dr. Vande Woude is the former Director of the National Cancer Institute’s Division of Basic Sciences and Special Advisor to the Director of the National Cancer Institute. He is an internationally recognized molecular oncology expert and has authored more than 220 scientific research articles. Dr. Vande Woude is a member of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences. He is the recipient of the National Institutes of Health Merit Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology Transfer from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

See photos and quotes from Dr. Vande Woude's lecture here.

Martin Merry, MD
Charting the Course for Leadership in Health Care
Tuesday, October 8, 2002

Martin Merry, MD is an accomplished physician, internationally acclaimed speaker and distinguished educator who has worked with more than 1000 health care organizations in the areas of quality, medical staff leadership and organizational transition.

The Honorable Louis W. Sullivan, MD
Emerging Issues in Health Care
Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Dr. Sullivan served as Secretary of Health and Human Services during President George H.W. Bush's administration from 1989-1993. As head of the Department of HHS, Dr. Sullivan administered the federal agency responsible for the major health, welfare, food and drug safety, medical research and income security programs serving the American people.

Since January 1993, he has been President of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He is a member of numerous medical organizations including the American Medical Association and the National Medical Association, and the founding President of the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools.

Michael Greenberg, MD, MPH
Bioterrorism and Health Care
Tuesday, February 5, 2002

Professor of Emergency Medicine and Professor of Public Health at MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia.
List of credits include:
• Instructor in Dept. of Defense Domestic Preparedness Program
• Consultant to the U.S. State Dept.’s Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program
• Consultant to the U.S. State Dept.’s Medical Section re: preparedness for U.S. embassies
• Principle investigator—U.S. Army grant to study preparedness levels of hospital emergency departments to evaluate/treat civilian victims of biological and/or chemical terrorist attacks

Ian Morrison
Future of Health Care
Tuesday, October 9, 2001

World-renowned speaker and author Ian Morrison is the author of Healthcare in the New Millennium: Vision, Values and Leadership. He has shared his insights with a wide range of audiences from the boards of Fortune 100 companies to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.Ian Morrison will discuss the future of health care, including the need for strategic, economic and political change. He will examine where we have been, where we are now and where we are headed. You will enjoy his incisive Scottish wit and insightful look at the business that affects us all.

Dr. William Richardson
Institute of Medicine's Report on Medical Errors
Tuesday, January 23, 2001

W.K. Kellogg Foundation