Building Connections in 2026: A New Approach to Health and Community
As we step into 2026, I’ve decided to forgo traditional New Year’s resolutions in favor of something more sustainable—a New Year’s intention. Rather than making grand promises that often fall by the wayside (like those running schedules abandoned at the first sign of February illness or pristine journals that remain untouched), an intention offers a gentler framework for navigating the year ahead. It’s about embracing a word or phrase—no numbers or metrics—that can be regularly revisited to align our choices with our deeper values. My intention for 2026 is simple yet profound: to seek out community. At this stage of life, with friends scattered across the country—some living nomadically in vans exploring national parks, others settling into homes with nurseries prepared—I’m prioritizing connection despite the distance. This isn’t just a personal whim; research from the National Institute on Aging last year revealed that loneliness increases dementia risk by 31 percent. Building community has become both a personal and professional goal, one that perhaps resonates with you too—having conversations that stimulate intellect rather than merely advancing strategic agendas, engaging beyond LinkedIn comments, and finding meaningful human connection in our increasingly digital world.
For healthcare professionals who find purpose in human interaction, I’d like to invite you to join me in building this sense of community through a series of virtual events throughout 2026. These 60-minute discussions will range from fireside chats with industry veterans to spirited debates with thought leaders, all accessible from anywhere with real-time audience participation. The first three events, completely free to healthcare stakeholders, include: “Collaboration Over Competition: Charting a New Path to Better Patient Care” on January 15th, featuring leaders from Hartford HealthCare, City of Hope, and Banner Health; “Wearables: What’s the ROI For Health Systems?” on January 22nd, with experts from Northwell Health, Withings, and WHOOP; and “Preventing Chronic Disease Patients from Falling Through the Cracks” on February 3rd, bringing together clinical innovation leaders from multiple health systems. These conversations aim to foster the kind of meaningful professional community that transcends typical networking—I hope you’ll consider joining us.
The healthcare landscape continues to evolve rapidly as we begin 2026. Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the close of 2025 as lawmakers left Washington without an extension plan, potentially leaving millions facing premium increases or loss of insurance altogether. However, there appears to be hope on the horizon, with bipartisan negotiations underway for a potential two-year reinstatement of tax credits—though likely with new income caps and minimum premium requirements. Meanwhile, the CDC has dramatically overhauled its childhood vaccine policy, no longer universally recommending shots against influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and several other diseases. This change has alarmed many healthcare professionals, especially when comparing the U.S. approach to other developed nations. While HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims the new schedule aligns with “international consensus,” fact-checking by journalists suggests a more complex reality.
In pharmaceutical news, Novo Nordisk has advanced in the oral GLP-1 market with a pill version of its weight loss drug Wegovy, starting at $149 per day and now available at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies. This development may increase accessibility, particularly for patients wary of injectable forms. However, QuantHealth CEO Orr Inbar offers a cautionary perspective, drawing parallels to the opioid epidemic: “As the drug becomes more accessible and probably cheaper, there might be an even higher predisposition to give the drug to patients… We may find out in a decade or two that we have a GLP-1 epidemic.” On a different health front, an analysis of CDC data revealed malnutrition as America’s fastest-growing cause of death, with a sixfold increase over the past decade—particularly affecting Americans 85 or older, who die of malnutrition at 60 times the rate of the general population. This trend reflects both improved identification of the problem and growing food insecurity among older adults facing rising living expenses.
My recent conversation with Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services, offered insights into how major tech companies are approaching healthcare. Amazon’s strategy centers on being “Earth’s most customer-obsessed company,” with healthcare presenting abundant opportunities to reduce friction in patient experiences. Lindsay described their approach as addressing immediate “paper cuts” like pricing transparency while simultaneously inventing transformative solutions, particularly through AI. Amazon is leveraging artificial intelligence in three key areas: streamlining backend processes at Amazon Pharmacy, enhancing provider experiences through tools like ambient listening with AWS HealthScribe (reducing after-hours documentation burden by 1-2 hours per provider), and improving patient experiences through AI-powered information systems. The company is expanding its healthcare footprint with Amazon Pharmacy kiosks in One Medical locations (which recently partnered with Rush to expand Chicago-area care), same-day medication delivery in more markets, and growing third-party partnerships through its Health Benefits Connectors program.
As healthcare leaders navigate these industry shifts, many face increasing burnout—a condition that executive coaches Brian and Linda Schubring describe as “sneaky” in its progression. Traditional education and expertise may no longer feel sufficient amid unprecedented challenges, leaving executives questioning their capabilities. The signs of burnout—anxiety, sleep disruption, emotional reactivity, diminished comprehension, and profound fatigue—can easily be misinterpreted as external stress rather than internal warning signals. For executives experiencing these symptoms, the Schubrings recommend starting with self-reflection: naming the specific stressors and identifying what aspects remain within personal control. Rather than attempting comprehensive life overhauls, they suggest selecting a single area for improvement—diet, exercise, or sleep—establishing that habit before adding another. This measured approach helps leaders build resilience that ultimately benefits their teams as well. As we move through 2026, perhaps this wisdom serves as a reminder that our intentions—whether for building community or preserving wellbeing—are best realized through consistent small steps rather than sweeping transformations.
