S6E17: Michael Dowling - Talks Aging, Storytelling & Gun Violence
Healthcare thought leader Michael J. Dowling returns to Irish Stew to discuss his new book The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults, the launch of Northwell Studios to tell stories that humanize health care, and why he sees gun violence as a public health priority.
Last on Irish Stew in April, 2021, the Limerick-born Northwell Health CEO shares insights into the progress of geriatric healthcare, the societal challenges posed by an aging population, finding the one thing that matters to older adults, and the role of immigration in a graying world.
“We all want to age, nobody says I don't want to get older. So, we should have respect for people as they get older because we will be there someday ourselves,” he says.
Michael also tells how the new Northwell Studios will bring fresh storytelling to healthcare today, building on the success of the acclaimed Netflix documentary series Lenox Hill and Emergency NYC, and the Academy Award-shortlisted Covid-19 documentary The First Wave.
We wrap with Michael’s advocacy for viewing American gun violence as a public health crisis and how corporate America is embracing this new thinking.
To catch Michale Dowling’s infectious optimism, join us on this check-in episode of Irish Stew.
Links
- Website
- Book: The Aging Revolution
- Northwell Health: Michael Dowling
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - Limerick and Life Long Learning
02:50 - America's Graying Tsunami
06:15 - Lessons From Writing a Book
10:04 - Breakthroughs in Senior Care
11:57 - Nobody Says: I Don't Want to Get Older
16:44 - Practitioner Challanges
21:13 - What Matters: That One Thing
22:41 - Bringing Real Healthcare to TV
29:19 - Gun Violence: A Public Health Issue
39:05 - Reasons For Optimism
42:04 - Credits
Michael Dowling
CEO Northwell Health
Michael Dowling is one of the health care industry’s most highly respected voices, achieving the No. 1 ranking in Modern Healthcare magazine’s 2022 list of the “100 Most Influential People in Healthcare.” As a health care executive over the past three decades, he has been a no-excuses advocate for reforms that have helped the industry become more patient-focused and committed to quality and safety. His willingness to take a stand on societal issues such as gun violence and immigration has earned widespread praise and recognition from peers and the news media. During his years in academia and government, Mr. Dowling has distinguished himself as a compassionate voice for those in need, developing and promoting innovative health and human services policies.
As president and CEO of Northwell Health for 22 years, he has demonstrated invaluable leadership in overseeing a rapidly expanding clinical, research and academic enterprise with annual revenue of $18 billion. With a workforce of more than 85,000, Northwell is the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State, caring for more than two million people annually through a vast network of 21 hospitals, more than 900 outpatient facilities—including 220 primary care practices and 50-plus urgent care centers—along with home care, rehabilitation and end-of-life services.
Hailing from Ireland, Mr. Dowling bridges borders and brings a global perspective to health care. In 2020, he received the Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad, which recognized his contributions t…
Read More
Listen On