The Pursuit of Health Podcast

The Pursuit of Health is a weekly podcast dedicated to a thorough exploration of the American Healthcare System at a critical time in our nation’s history. The podcast’s creator and host, Dr. Eric Fethke, is a pediatric cardiologist and educator trained at Columbia University, with over 25 years of experience practicing medicine. Students, professionals, and everyday people alike are invited to learn from guest experts who are pursuing groundbreaking work to improve America's health. Join us on our journey towards a better healthcare!

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The Pursuit of Health Podcast

Ep56: The (Dangerous) History of Consumerism in American Healthcare-Prof. Nancy Tomes

October 10, 2024 • Dr. Eric Fethke

“Medical consumerism figures more as a problem than progress.”

Today’s guest is the award-winning historian, American public health expert, and author, Professor Nancy Tomes.

In a discussion encompassing past, present, and future, Professor Tomes provides a unique historical lens to better understand the healthcare challenges of today, in hope of sparking solutions for an equitable system for every patient in America.

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We spoke about the evolution of critical consumerism in healthcare, how that led to today's increased complexity, the role of advertising and other stakeholders in our system, the importance of primary care physicians, and how a historical approach can help us return to some of the fundamentals that made American healthcare exceptional in the first place.

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