Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/534828
87 Thought Leadership tains to doctors and nurse practitioners, but applies far more broadly. It can't be said any better: "The doctors are fighting a losing battle. The nurses are like insurgents. They are occasionally beaten back, but they'll win in the long run. They have eco- nomics and common sense on their side." The unsustainability of healthcare spending in the U.S. at almost 18 per- cent of total GDP means that healthcare must change. The unprecedented advances of the Internet economy suggest the potential for that change. Al- though the healthcare system is much larger and more complex than the taxi industry, the rise of Uber at the expense of legacy taxi companies shows how rapidly change can occur when a new business model creates significantly increased value for the consumer. In such an environment, protecting the status quo is futile. Legacy entities would better serve their communities' interests and their own economic in- terests by dedicating their available energy, talent and capital to being part of healthcare's reinvention. Protectionism is not a long-term strategy. n Your comments are welcome. I can be reached at kkaufman@kaufmanhall.com. The preceding column was republished with permission from Kaufman Hall. D uring a long life full of travel and meet- ing untold thousands of people, I have had the honor of speaking with a hand- ful of individuals whose life stories have truly in- spired me. One meeting happened quite by happenstance re- cently at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Since I was early to the airport for my scheduled flight, I decided to have a cup of coffee and read the paper in American Airlines' Admirals Club. There, I noticed a young lady at another table, sit- ting in a wheelchair. She was busy ordering food and talking to some people. She had a pleasant way about her, with an infectious smile. Just be- fore I left for my gate, I stopped by her table to say hello. Her name is Anjali Forber-Pratt, and she indeed is a very warm and gracious person. I told her about a good friend of mine, Ed Eckenhoff, the founder and former CEO of the prestigious National Re- habilitation Institute in Washington, D.C. Ed is a paraplegic and often beats me at golf. I offered that to her as a way of letting her know there were others in the world who are handicapped and have done incredible things while overcoming daunting obstacles. I thought possibly Ed's story would serve as inspiration to her. Little did I know. After I had finished speaking, she told me in a soft voice: "I recently participated in the London Paralympic Games as a USA Team member. I also participated in the IPC Athletics World Champi- onships and hold the World Championship in the 200 meters and silver medalist in the 100 and 400 meters. I also participated in the Beijing Paralym- pic Games and was the bronze medalist in the 400 meters and 4x100 relay." Frankly I was so stunned I didn't know what to say, except that I was honored to meet her and I hoped that she didn't mind me coming over to see her. Anjali was most gracious about the whole thing and then gave me a card that listed more of her athletic achievements and bio. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois. She is co- author of the book "Color, Learn and Play," about sports for athletes with physical disabilities and was the recipient of the United States Olympic Committee Amazing Mentor Award. Her life story, I read later, is even more amazing. Born in Calcutta, India, Anjali lived in an orphan- age for two-and-a-half months before being ad- opted by a family in Natick, Mass. Two months after arriving in the United States, she contracted an illness resulting in the diagnosis of transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that affects the spinal cord. Rushed to the hospital, she was not expected to live. However, her fighting spirit pre- vailed and Anjali survived. Transverse myelitis left her paralyzed from the waist down. What some people might view as a tragedy, An- jali would come to view as a positive life-altering event. Through this adversity she developed an innate drive and determination that she has uti- lized in every facet of her life. She was a top dis- abled skier as well as wheelchair runner. It serves once again as a reminder to all of us what determination and courage can do! In- stead of giving up in the face of what might seem a hopeless situation, Anjali and other courageous souls pick themselves up and go forward to do incredible things. We can only marvel at these stories, testaments to the ab- solute miracle of the human soul. There is a motto all of us should follow no matter what the odds: "Never give up!" So when you are overwhelmed by the challenges you face at work or in life, think about Anjali Forber-Pratt and how she has responded to big- ger challenges her entire life. I think you will be as inspired as I am by her example. n A Champion of Sport — and Life By Chuck Lauer, Former Publisher of Modern Healthcare and an Author, Public Speaker and Career Coach BECKER'S HOSPITAL REVIEW CEO ROUNDTABLE + CFO/CIO ROUNDTABLE Register at www.beckershospitalreview.com 44 CEO SPEAKERS • 33 CFO & CIO SPEAKERS • 99 HOSPITAL SYSTEM SPEAKERS KEYNOTES BY CLEVELAND CLINIC CEO DR. TOBY COSGROVE & ASCENSION CEO DR. ANTHONY TERSIGNI