Psst: Ideas worth spreading

Last update: November 6, 2009 - 3:01 PM

IDEAS WORTH SPREADING

What do Goldie Hawn, Martha Stewart (pictured), Dr. Richard Satava of U.S. Army Medical Research and Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, special adviser to President Obama, have in common?

They were in San Diego last week to brainstorm health care ideas at the nonprofit TEDMED2009 (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference. It's where eminent doctors, engineers, philosphers and entertainers come to share and hear "ideas worth spreading."

Hawn talked about the need to integrate neuroscience with the latest social and learning techniques to equip children with the skills they need to lead smarter, happier and healthier lives. Her 15-lesson MindUp curriculum is gaining traction in some public schools.

Stewart's Center for Living at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York promotes and facilitates health care for older adults, modeling what we can do to prepare for the "silver tsumani" of aging baby boomers.

We're well into the Information Age, according to Satava, and quickly approaching the next wave of technological revolution -- biointelligence. He illuminated a host of advances that will change medical care, including appendectomies with no visible incision.

The much anticipated appearance of Emanuel turned into a bust when he announced that he was under a gag order not to mention health care reform, but he did let it be known that medicine as we know it has to change.

KAREN YOUSO

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