Redefining Health at 45

Today, I turned 45.

I never really imagined myself at this age. I could picture myself at 70 or 80—but 45? That’s harder. And yet, here I am. Not terrible. Actually, I feel more myself than I have in years.

So what now?

In the last 6 months, I’ve reduced my alcohol intake by more than 70%. I’m lifting moderately heavy weights two to three times per week. I journal most mornings. I’m living more in the moment with my kids. I already had a great life—but I was seeking something more.

And now I’m starting to find it.

The System Was the Problem

In many ways, I’ve always known what I’m meant to do: help and heal. And I’ve done that for 20+ years as a physician—most recently in advanced heart failure and cardiology.

But something about the structure of medicine was increasingly at odds with the healing it claimed to promote. Traditional medical work is punishingly linear: wake up early, go to work, answer messages, grind through patients, document, then start again the next day. Maybe you rest on the weekend. But often, you don’t.

The system wasn’t built for healing. It was built for throughput.

I’ve watched entire specialties mutate to survive: emergency medicine went shift-based. Internal medicine became hospitalist-focused. Outpatient care became a fragmented sea of inboxes, prior auths, and 15-minute slots.

Somewhere along the way, real healing got lost.

Why I’m Redefining How I Practice

So where does that leave someone like me—a subspecialist in internal medicine, cardiology, and advanced heart failure?

Trapped in the middle. Practicing nights, weekends, holidays. Juggling a clinic, an inbox, a pager, a full roster of patients with no time to truly connect. I knew I couldn’t keep doing it that way.

Because I care too much. Because my best work has always been one-on-one. Because what I believe in—prevention, time, and real medicine—no longer fits in the traditional model.

So I’m building a new one.

What Comes Next

I re-read my medical school personal statement last night. It still feels true. I’m still that person. But now I have the experience—and the urgency—to bring those ideals to life in a new way.

My new model of care is simple, but powerful:
A real relationship between physician and patient.
Time to understand your story.
Tools to measure and optimize your health.
A shared plan built on data, trust, and commitment.

Yes, I’ll use technology—but not to automate care. I’ll use it to enhance insight, empower change, and build resilience.

This is the model I would want for myself. And it’s what I’m now offering to you.

A Final Thought

You might ask, “Jake, how do you know this will work?”

I don’t—at least not yet. But I believe in it. And I know it’s what I need in my own life. That’s enough for me to start.

Next week, I’ll dive into what I believe is the most overlooked vital sign in medicine: your VO₂ max. It’s more than just a number—it’s a window into your aerobic capacity, resilience, and longevity. I’ll explain what it is, why it matters more than your cholesterol or blood pressure, and how to start measuring and improving it—no matter your age or fitness level.

Let’s go on this journey together.