July 1, 2026 Salus Health Care Forum

Jeremy

Well, we’re known for our enjoyable navigation of vulnerability. It’s one of white men’s favorite things.

Gay

Exactly.

Jeremy

Jack, I’m sure you’ve had the experiences where the illness is the awakening.  There is kind of a parallel with post traumatic growth.  And of course, having an operation is a traumatizing event. So it’s kind of interesting that some people probably grow through the process. There’s some kind of a pivoting or crisis associated with this that is under- recognized. I think this is part of the theme I’m hearing here.

Jack

Jeremy, I think probably some of it is biochemical. And I think you were touching on that with Timothy Leary and the new ketamine stuff. But I think there may also be some other aspect that isn’t the biochemicals of the anesthesia. Something else is a precipitant of an underlying sense of frailty and sense of vulnerability.

Mark

I agree with the idea of another precipitant. I think how you come in, how you approach this so-called second half of life has a lot to do with the outcome. Anesthesia can provide a trigger. During the last 40, 50 years, the emphasis has been on the quick onset and quick offset of lipid soluble. There has not been a complete recognition regarding the mechanisms of action regarding a lot of our anesthetics. We still try to get quick onset and then quick offset. But that does not mitigate the fact that anesthesia can be a potent trigger for these underlying issues.

If you’re going into heart surgery and there are those that have already come in with a game plan, I’m going to keep active. This is an opportunity. I’m not withering on the vine.

This is an opportunity to develop new skills. People do a lot better.

Jeremy

What I’m hearing is that because we don’t go into this with an intentionality of growth, we may be missing a big opportunity. Is that kind of what you’re getting at, Jack and Gay, is that because it’s been mysteriously occurring without any kind of coaching or thought process. People are going in blind, not realizing they’re about to undergo a major life transformation.