Being aware of what's happening in the room -- paying attention to the process -- requires an intention, a willingness to be present, to show up and engage with our patients in a way that is mutually respectful.

Proper health care is not one-size-fits all. Even if the 80-year-old Spanish-speaking man in the chemo recliner beside me has my same disease, his needs are different. Keep that individualization in care and kindness at the head of everything, and the rest will fall into place.

It has been awhile since I have blogged here on HuffPost. Blame it on the "endless" presidential election of 2012 or the seemingly disheartened state ...

Have you tried to tell your story, only to have the doctor interrupt with a list of questions? This advice should help.

When you go to the doctor, you want to find out what's wrong and how you can get better. In modern-day America, though, what you will get are tests to "rule out" problems rather than figure out what you actually have.

In directing ESCAPE FIRE: The Fight To Rescue American Healthcare, Susan Froemke and I explore how our system is broken and why it doesn't want to change. But we also highlight pioneering leaders and courageous patients across the country who are implementing solutions.

All treatment falls short if not applied correctly, whether allopathic or naturopathic. A proper diagnosis always precedes a proper treatment.

The Affordable Care Act is the start of a "prevention revolution" in America. The focus will begin to shift from treating the sick to also keeping the healthy well and detecting disease early when there's the best chance of cost-effective interventions and cures.

Numerous studies have shown that the general public has exaggerated perceptions of the health risks they face -- as well as exaggerated expectations of the benefit of medical care.