The Visionary Bringing Dignity and Innovation to Global Healthcare
By The Influential Today Magazine
The Strategist Remaking Healthcare’s Playbook
When it comes to building a healthcare system that truly serves people, you need more than good ideas. You need vision, operational expertise and the influence to turn plans into reality. That is where Dan Pelino comes in. As co-founder and president of Everyone Matters Inc and author of the bestselling book Trusted Healers, Dan combines decades of experience at the intersection of technology and large scale health systems. Following a 36 year career at IBM, he now channels that expertise into creating a more integrated and human centered healthcare future. We are proud to feature him as The Influential Today Magazine’s Most Admired Leader in Healthcare Industry.
Building Expertise at IBM
After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in behavioral science and leadership from Western Kentucky University, Dan began his career at IBM in 1980. Over the next 36 years, he advanced to senior executive and general manager of the global Healthcare, Life Sciences, Education, Government and Smarter Cities business. In that role, he oversaw a division that generated approximately $20 B in revenue at a time when IBM’s annual revenue was nearing $100 B.
“For more than 20 years, I worked side by side with passionate, committed leaders and learned how to weave technology, data and best practices into better care experiences,” Dan recalls. “My time working globally gave me a front line view of how integrated care models can transform patient outcomes.”
Inspiration for Trusted Healers
After his retirement from IBM, colleagues and clients encouraged Dan to share the lessons he had gathered. He dedicated a year to conducting 40 interviews with top healthcare executives, policy makers and thought leaders around the globe. Those conversations became the foundation of Trusted Healers, published in 2018. Trusted Healers was ranked #1 Bestseller in Health Policy by Amazon.
Patrick Kennedy, former Congressman and mental health advocate wrote the foreword and described the book as one that prompts healthcare professionals to rethink the system from the ground up.
Defining Integrated Care
When asked to explain integrated care, Dan describes it as a seamless journey that begins with a primary care provider responsible for physical, mental and behavioral health. From there, care connects to specialty services, home based support, prescription management and payment coordination.
“Integrated care means that no aspect of a person’s health stands alone,” Dan explains. “Everyone involved in a patient’s well being shares information and works together.”
He points to Dr Paul Grundy, often called the godfather of the Patient Centered Medical Home. “He has shown that when primary care providers take the lead, they improve efficiencies, lower costs and build trust with patients and medical teams. That trust creates better outcomes and stronger relationships.”
Technology Transforming Healthcare
Dan believes the real story of healthcare technology is data integration. The consolidation of electronic medical records created a foundation for patient centered care. Yet many patients are unaware they own their records and that those records hold the key to safer, more coordinated treatment.
The next step is artificial intelligence. “AI offers faster decision support and accelerates scientific discovery,” Dan says. “Imagine a system that learns from imaging data, genomic information and longitudinal clinical records to flag early disease markers and recommend personalized treatment paths. That is where we are headed.”
He adds that technology must serve human needs. “We must design tools with clinicians and patients in mind. Technology should never replace compassion or clinical judgement.”
Taking Charge of Your Own Health
One of Dan’s guiding principles is that people do not have to wait for healthcare systems to change before they take better care of themselves. He draws on Dr Michael Roizen’s 6 Normals Plus 2 framework to empower individuals.
Those normals include maintaining healthy blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels, fasting blood sugar for people without diabetes, a healthy body weight, effective stress management and avoiding smoking. The plus 2 elements are a comprehensive check up including mental health screening and keeping vaccinations current.
“You do not need perfect scores across the board to see benefits,” Dan emphasizes. “Action matters more than perfection. Every small step forward can yield significant health improvements over time.”
The Relationship Between Mental and Physical Health
Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy has long championed mental health parity. Working with Patrick reinforced for Dan that mental, behavioral and physical health belong together in any plan for well being.
Neuroscience research shows how mental state influences physical outcomes. Anxiety, depression and other conditions can affect immune function, inflammation and recovery from illness or injury. Conversely, untreated physical conditions can worsen mental health.
“When we integrate mental and physical care, patients live longer, feel better and gain resilience to handle life’s challenges,” Dan notes.
Global Conversations on Longevity
Across the world, experts are rethinking aging. Longevity is no longer just about adding years. It is about staying active, engaged and valued within society.
Dan has seen global leaders convene around longevity discussions that span education, work, community design and social relationships. “They recognize that an aging population can contribute wisdom, mentorship and experience if we create environments that value and include older adults. That is the essence of a longevity dividend.”
He believes that by framing aging as an asset, communities can redesign policies and programs to support healthspan rather than just lifespan.
Why We Can Be Optimistic
After decades of wrestling with healthcare’s toughest challenges, Dan still sees reasons to be hopeful. Integration of patient data is becoming standard. Evidence based care practices are more widespread. Advances in medical procedures are tackling diseases once deemed untreatable. Society is elevating mental health and now longevity has joined the conversation.
“Combining these forces with individual agency gives me confidence we can build a system that honors each person’s dignity, potential and unique identity,” he says.
The Mission of Everyone Matters, Inc.
In 2017, Dan and his wife Anne Altman founded Everyone Matters, Inc. to bring dignity, diversity and empowerment to citizen based services, healthcare and education. Their motto is “Why do we do what we do, because everyone matters”.
From their base in Northern Virginia, they work with entrepreneurs, policy makers, educators and community leaders to design and support initiatives that bring creative solutions to citizen based services.
About Dan Pelino
Dan Pelino is co founder and president of Everyone Matters, Inc. and author of Trusted Healers. He has testified before Congress on the Affordable Care Act, presented to the White House Commission on Healthcare and accompanied the Commerce Secretary on a trade mission to Mexico. He serves as an adjunct professor at Western Kentucky University and sits on multiple corporate boards.
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