In this episode of The Better Life, Dr. Pinkston sits down with Dr. Marschall Runge, Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and CEO of Michigan Medicine. Together, they explore the systemic challenges facing the American healthcare system and discuss the optimistic future outlined in Dr. Runge’s new book, The Great Healthcare Disruption.

The conversation dives deep into the "corporatization" of medicine, where insurance companies and administrative costs often take precedence over the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Runge highlights a startling statistic: while the U.S. spends the most on healthcare globally, it ranks roughly 60th in "healthy average life expectancy." They discuss potential solutions, including shifting focus toward prevention, learning from international models like Singapore and Denmark, and restoring the fundamental trust between physicians and their patients.

Key Topics Covered:


The Efficiency Gap: Comparing the 16% administrative costs of private insurance to the 2% cost of Medicare.


The Preventive Approach: How lifestyle factors, nutrition, and social policy impact long-term health outcomes.


AI in Healthcare: The double-edged sword of AI being used by insurance companies to drive high denial rates.


The Primary Care Shortage: Why the U.S. has fewer primary care doctors per capita than almost any other developed nation and how "medical homes" can bridge the gap.


Restoring Trust: Moving away from "Reddit-based" medical advice and back to evidence-based care provided by trusted professionals.

 

In this episode of&nbsp;The Better Life, Dr. Pinkston sits down with Dr. Marschall Runge, Dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and CEO of Michigan Medicine. Together, they explore the systemic challenges facing the American healthcare system and discuss the optimistic future outlined in Dr. Runge&rsquo;s new book, The Great Healthcare Disruption.
The conversation dives deep into the "corporatization" of medicine, where insurance companies and administrative costs often take precedence over the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Runge highlights a startling statistic: while the U.S. spends the most on healthcare globally, it ranks roughly 60th in "healthy average life expectancy." They discuss potential solutions, including shifting focus toward prevention, learning from international models like Singapore and Denmark, and restoring the fundamental trust between physicians and their patients.
Key Topics Covered:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
The Efficiency Gap: Comparing the 16% administrative costs of private insurance to the 2% cost of Medicare.
</li>
<li>
The Preventive Approach: How lifestyle factors, nutrition, and social policy impact long-term health outcomes.
</li>
<li>
AI in Healthcare: The double-edged sword of AI being used by insurance companies to drive high denial rates.
</li>
<li>
The Primary Care Shortage: Why the U.S. has fewer primary care doctors per capita than almost any other developed nation and how "medical homes" can bridge the gap.
</li>
<li>
Restoring Trust: Moving away from "Reddit-based" medical advice and back to evidence-based care provided by trusted professionals.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Dr. Pinkston is working hard to create a new vision for health and wellness by re-entering the radio waves coming in April! Dr Pinkston is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and of the Christus Santa Rosa family practice residency program. Graduating in 1997 and starting her clinical solo practice in 2000, Dr. Pinkston provided South Texas with the best general care in family practice until 2007 when she developed Rheumatoid Arthritis. Through diet, exercise, hormones, mind and body techniques she has regained her health and wants to help others discover their own path to wellness. She will have the local radio show with a national platform on Sirius XM and will have a podcast, blog and YouTube channel! Stay tuned as developments are happening EVERYDAY!

  

Bio

Dr. Marianne Pinkston is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program. Graduating in 1997 and starting her clinical solo practice in 2000, Dr. Pinkston provided South Texas with the best general care in family practice until 2007 when she developed Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe disabling inflammatory arthritis condition of all the joints that includes severe debilitating fatigue and other issues. Dr. Pinkston then began her journey into integrative and functional medicine where she has earned tens of thousands of hours in training and degrees in stem cell and peptide certification as well as anti-aging and regenerative medicine studies and in integrative medicine studies. Dr. Pinkston is a specialist of weight loss having her self gained up to 300 pounds and developed diabetes and high blood pressure, dr. Pinkston lost 162 pounds in a year and two months regaining her precious health. Dr. Pinkston also provides the best in hormone replacement therapy for men and women and treats autoimmune conditions as well as thyroid and diabetic and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Pinkston is not limited to any certain disease or treatment style. Dr. Pinkston entered into the mass media scene in 2016 with KTSA 550 and the Dr Pinkston’s Radio Show and now has joined with KLUP-930 The Answer in San Antonio Texas where she will present many contemporary and integrative health topics as well as inspirational and guided life improvement topics and motivational speaking. Dr. Pinkston is a board of director and speaker for Global Pain Association having suffered chronic pain for 14 years and is the president of Pinkston Medical and Wellness Clinic under Total Care Physical Therapy And Rehab. She continues as a solo practitioner in San Antonio Texas treating all ages and men and women for all conditions. Dr. Pinkston is the premier specialist of Hormone Replacement Therapy and of wellness and anti-aging and is medical director of the Dolce Beauty and Laser medical spa. Dr. Pinkston has over 10,000 hours of teaching for medical students and Nurse Practitioner and physician assistants. She is extremely active in the community and in many philanthropic areas and continues in private practice. Dr. Pinkston is sponsored by PD labs in Austin Texas and join forces with pharmacist Ray Solano on Healthy Choices channel on Sirius XM and has developed a blog a podcast and a YouTube channel where you can find Dr. Pinkston at any time. Dr. Pinkston’s mission is to give patients and everyone everywhere the better life.

Dr. Pinkston is working hard to create a new vision for health and wellness by re-entering the radio waves coming in April! Dr Pinkston is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and of the Christus Santa Rosa family practice residency program. Graduating in 1997 and starting her clinical solo practice in 2000, Dr. Pinkston provided South Texas with the best general care in family practice until 2007 when she developed Rheumatoid Arthritis. Through diet, exercise, hormones, mind and body techniques she has regained her health and wants to help others discover their own path to wellness. She will have the local radio show with a national platform on Sirius XM and will have a podcast, blog and YouTube channel! Stay tuned as developments are happening EVERYDAY!
&nbsp;&nbsp;
Bio
Dr. Marianne Pinkston is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio and of the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program. Graduating in 1997 and starting her clinical solo practice in 2000, Dr. Pinkston provided South Texas with the best general care in family practice until 2007 when she developed Rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a severe disabling inflammatory arthritis condition of all the joints that includes severe debilitating fatigue and other issues. Dr. Pinkston then began her journey into integrative and functional medicine where she has earned tens of thousands of hours in training and degrees in stem cell and peptide certification as well as anti-aging and regenerative medicine studies and in integrative medicine studies. Dr. Pinkston is a specialist of weight loss having her self gained up to 300 pounds and developed diabetes and high blood pressure, dr. Pinkston lost 162 pounds in a year and two months regaining her precious health. Dr. Pinkston also provides the best in hormone replacement therapy for men and women and treats autoimmune conditions as well as thyroid and diabetic and other inflammatory conditions. Dr. Pinkston is not limited to any certain disease or treatment style. Dr. Pinkston entered into the mass media scene in 2016 with KTSA 550 and the Dr Pinkston&rsquo;s Radio Show and now has joined with KLUP-930 The Answer in San Antonio Texas where she will present many contemporary and integrative health topics as well as inspirational and guided life improvement topics and motivational speaking. Dr. Pinkston is a board of director and speaker for Global Pain Association having suffered chronic pain for 14 years and is the president of Pinkston Medical and Wellness Clinic under Total Care Physical Therapy And Rehab. She continues as a solo practitioner in San Antonio Texas treating all ages and men and women for all conditions. Dr. Pinkston is the premier specialist of Hormone Replacement Therapy and of wellness and anti-aging and is medical director of the Dolce Beauty and Laser medical spa. Dr. Pinkston has over 10,000 hours of teaching for medical students and Nurse Practitioner and physician assistants. She is extremely active in the community and in many philanthropic areas and continues in private practice. Dr. Pinkston is sponsored by PD labs in Austin Texas and join forces with pharmacist Ray Solano on Healthy Choices channel on Sirius XM and has developed a blog a podcast and a YouTube channel where you can find Dr. Pinkston at any time. Dr. Pinkston&rsquo;s mission is to give patients and everyone everywhere the better life.

The Better Life with Dr. Pinkston Podcast

Dr Pinkston jumps into the holistic and contemporary health, wellness, anti- aging scene with a dose of motivational and inspirational guidance to bring her listeners to experience The Better Life. 

Dr Pinkston jumps into the holistic and contemporary health, wellness, anti- aging scene with a dose of motivational and inspirational guidance to bring her listeners to experience The Better Life.

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