William Ashton is a former Fortune 100 senior executive with more than 28 years experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry. He retired as a Vice President at Amgen, the world’s largest biotechnology firm. He then joined the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia where he became the founding dean of the Mayes College of Business and Health Care Policy and later was appointed Senior Vice President for External Affairs. He presently is a Principal at the Harris Consulting Group LLC,  is on the board of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. His degrees are from the California University of Pennsylvania and the University of Pittsburgh. In this interview, Bill speaks about growing up in a family of coalminers and how he got started in health, as well as his insights into challenges and opportunities within the system.

53: William Ashton: Long-Time Pharmaceutical Executive Discusses Health's Greatest Challenges Today

Health care is currently at a crossroad. It represents 18 percent of GDP in the United States, the largest economy in the world, and faces multiple challenges but with many opportunities for improvement. Health permeates the life of every individual in some form or fashion. The Health Crossroad explores this world. We invite you to listen and participate, both on our podcast and our accompanying website, where we will post summaries and key concepts from each interview as well as advice and facts related to the world of health. Get an unbelievable look at health, through the eyes of those who live it, 7 days a week during your daily commute, exercising, or just learning.  Each show provides gaps and solutions that you will not want to miss!

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Katherine Milkman is an Assistant Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research relies heavily on "big data" to document various ways in which individuals systematically deviate from making optimal choices. Her work has paid particular attention to the question of what factors produce self-control failures (e.g., exercising too little or eating too much junk food) and how to reduce the incidence of such failures. Katherine has published in leading periodicals such as Management Science, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Psychological Science. She also is an Associate Editor for the Behavioral Economics Department at Management Science and a member of the Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes Editorial Board. Her work has been featured by media outlets such as The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, BusinessWeek, The Economist, NPR, and Harvard Business Review. In 2011, Katherine was recognized as one of the top 40 business school professors under 40 by Poets and Quants, and in 2013 she was voted Wharton's "Iron Prof" by the school's MBA students. She graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in Operations Research and Financial Engineering and has a Ph.D. from Harvard University's joint program in Computer Science and Business. In this interview, Katherine discusses her research in temptation bundling, planning props, and commitment devices among other topics and their implications to improving health behavior.

88: Katherine Milkman: Leading Wharton Professor Using Big Data to Explore Health Behavior

Attorney David O’Bryon is founder and president of O’Bryon & Company. With more than thirty years of association and government experience, he has served organizations as an executive, consultant, and volunteer. He registered as a lobbyist before the U.S. Congress in 1980 and has been involved in all major federal legislative initiatives for the chiropractic profession since then. He has served as Executive Director of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges since 1996. Prior to forming O’Bryon & Company, Dave served as chief executive officer for many nonprofit organizations and in key government staff positions. He was a senior Congressional staff member for both U.S. Representatives Gilbert Gude and Newton Steers, Jr. He serves on the Secretariat of the National Association of Colleges and Universities and was President of the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions. He was awarded degrees from Gettysburg College and the Potomac School of Law, along with an honorary doctorate from Logan College.

87: David O'Bryon: National Leader in Legislation and Government Policy

This podcast is about stress in the United States. Depending on an individual’s age, gender, race and ethnic/racial background, stress is a common feature in the lives of many Americans. It can begin early in life for students who worry about such matters as being bullied or worrying about being accepted at the college of one’s choice. Upon completion of one’s formal education, there is anxiety over finding a job and having sufficient income to pay off student debts. Marriage and having children bring on strains of their own, such as paying medical bills and meeting educational costs. Advances into older age brackets often are accompanied by the onset of chronic disease plus additional concerns about how to cope with health care expenses such as medications.

Topic Update 7: Stress In The US

For the first three months of The Health Crossroad, a new item was added on a daily basis. Negotiations are underway however,with two potential acquirers/partners for the program and site. Until a decision is finalized, new material will be posted either on an irregular basis or not at all. Thank you for your support at The Health Crossroad!

Pause: The Health Crossroad On Hold During Acquisition/Partnership Negotiations

Dr. Jerry Kennedy is a chiropractor, an author, and I’m happy to say, a podcaster, with one of the top-ranked new shows on iTunes in health! Dr. Kennedy’s journey began when he realized the importance of himself in feeling great and reducing pain. Since then, he dedicated his career to helping others understand their bodies. Dr. Kennedy is the author of two books, The Posture Paradox and The Neck Pain Cure. In this interview, through personal anecdotes and great analogies, Dr. Kennedy discusses the importance of viewing health in a new light and redirecting the focus to one that is more positive and healthy.

53: William Ashton: Long-Time Pharmaceutical Executive Discusses Health's Greatest Challenges Today

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