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American healthcare is broken in a way everyone can see but almost no one has been able to fix. The system was built around treating disease episodes and it has created an epidemic of preventable chronic conditions, costs that are eating employers alive, and patients who get lost the moment a diagnosis lands.

Dr. Ralph Snyderman has spent decades at the center of this problem and at the forefront of solving it. As Chancellor for Health Affairs at Duke University for 16 years and the founding President and CEO of the Duke University Health System (one of the first major integrated academic health systems in the country) he has seen what works, what doesn't, and why the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care is harder than it looks.

In this episode, he and Vincent Catalano dig into what that transition actually requires: a new approach to care that is proactive and personalized rather than reactive and episodic, a care delivery system designed to match patients to the right level of care, reimbursement aligned with outcomes, and support systems that enable patients to do their part. They also discuss the groundbreaking work underway in Arkansas, where Alice Walton and the Heartland Whole Health Institute are building a whole-health model from a near-blank slate — and what it would mean if it scales.

If you manage benefits, advise employers, or simply want to understand where American healthcare is actually headed, this conversation is the one to hear.

About Dr. Ralph Snyderman: Dr. Ralph Snyderman is Chancellor Emeritus, James B. Duke Professor of Medicine, and Executive Director of the Center for Personalized Health Care at Duke University. He served as Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine at Duke from 1989 to 2004, overseeing the development of the Duke University Health System — one of the most successful integrated academic health care systems in the country — and serving as its founding President and CEO. Dr. Snyderman has played a leading role in the conception and development of personalized healthcare and has been widely recognized for his contributions to more rational, effective, and compassionate care. The Association of American Medical Colleges has referred to him as the "father of personalized medicine." He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, with a bibliography of nearly 400 manuscripts and numerous books, including A Chancellor's Tale: Transforming Academic Medicine. He is also a founder and board member of Zeal Care, a population health company.

About Vincent Catalano: Vincent Catalano is the founder and CEO of CLEAR Healthcare Solutions, bringing over 23 years of experience in employee benefits and healthcare consulting, including senior roles at Arthur J. Gallagher and Lockton. As host of the CLEARly Beneficial Podcast, he cuts through the complexity of the American healthcare system to bring brokers, HR professionals, and employer decision-makers the conversations that matter.

This episode is brought to you by HealthNEXT. HealthNEXT helps employers build cultures of health and well-being that reduce healthcare costs, enhance workforce productivity, and create sustainable competitive advantages through data-driven population health strategies.

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Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.