2018 ChangeMakers in medicine

Change in healthcare is neither easy nor immediate. 

Yet there is a special group of physicians who work tirelessly to improve the lives of their patients, their own medical practice and the well-being of their community. To us, those physicians are ChangeMakers. 

Medical Economics has selected seven physicians from those standouts across the nation who meet these criteria. Their work is not only to be celebrated, but also possibly emulated by peers as they demonstrate that going above and beyond for the betterment of healthcare can actually happen and result in meaningful improvements to the healthcare landscape. But they will be the first to admit their work was no simple task and took years to effect actual change.

From innovating the practice of direct primary care to calling attention to physician burnout and suicide, and from fostering the next generation of doctors to working to ease the U.S. opioid crisis, these seven physicians are examples of the passion and dedication their profession demands.

We asked audience members, our editorial staff and the physicians who comprise our Editorial Advisory Board to nominate doctors who demonstrate the qualities of a ChangeMakers. From this group our editorial staff and advisers selected these seven remarkable physicians.

Here, you’ll read a little about each and their work to improve healthcare. You can learn more about their work below and see how others can follow in their footsteps to drive more innovation and bring their own unique skills to the goal of improving healthcare for all. 

2018 ChangeMakers

Paul Teirstein, MD: Don't MOC him

Pamela Wible, MD: Shining a light in a dark place

Brian Forrest, MD: DPC is here to stay

Ira Rubin, MD: Fostering the next generation of physicians

Alexi Nazem, MD, MBA: Building technology to let physicians take control of their careers

Lisa Larkin, MD: Focusing on the health needs of women

John Hsu, MD: Innovative solutions for tackling the opioid crisis