Discussing The Future of Medical Innovation – In Pictures and In Person

In this space, I’ve frequently discussed the need for U.S. policymakers to address the future of medical innovation in this country.  Confronted with an aging population and chronic disease on the increase, will our society invest in developing new cures and medical technologies?  Will the United States continue to be synonymous with healthcare advancements?

For those who prefer a graphic approach to these questions, I highly recommend a web video produced by the Council for American Medical Innovation (CAMI).  In just a little over two minutes, it spells out the impact innovation has made in conquering diseases like polio and reducing deaths from AIDS and other serious illnesses, while spotlighting the challenges – such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease – that still need to be confronted.

On this topic, CAMI is hosting an important event tomorrow (January 12).  The symposium, Medical Innovation at the Crossroads: Choosing the Path Ahead, will feature a number of knowledgeable speakers including former HHS secretary Mike Leavitt, former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, PhRMA President and CEO John Castellani, Cleveland Clinic Innovations executive director Chris Coburn, and best-selling author and CNN contributor Dr. Fareed Zakaria.  They will be discussing federal policies that affect innovation and the challenge of investing in healthcare innovation in times of fiscal restraint.  It’s taking place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Newseum in Washington, DC.

Web video — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWawsb_xyws