Hugh Waters
Showing 1–6 of 6 transcripts.
- Milken Institute53 min
The Cost of Chronic Disease and the Future of Treatment
Hugh Waters, Hawaa Althahak Almansoori, Sumit Jamuar, Nancy Knight, Freda Lewis-Hall, Hawa Al-Mansouri
The event examines the escalating chronic disease crisis in the MENA region, where obesity and diabetes rates now rival US figures, driving a $20.5 billion economic burden and necessitating advanced mobile surveillance strategies. Experts highlight critical gaps in genomic data representation and clinical reference ranges that risk misdiagnosing non-European populations, while detailing how falling sequencing costs and AI are enabling precision medicine. The panel concludes by advocating a systemic shift from reactive sick care to proactive health systems that prioritize lifestyle modification and predictive prevention to mitigate future disease burdens.
- Milken Institute57 min
Confronting the Obesity and Diabetes Epidemics
William Dietz, Kelly Close, Sean Duffy, Mark Hyman, Joshua Riff, Hugh Waters
This panel addresses the $3.4 trillion annual economic burden of chronic diseases in the U.S., where obesity drives nearly half the costs and disproportionately affects underserved populations through a broken primary care capacity. Experts from organizations like Cleveland Clinic, Omada, and OnDuo demonstrated that community-based food pharmacy models and digital health platforms can dramatically reverse conditions like diabetes and heart failure while reducing costs by up to 80%. To scale these life-saving interventions, the discussion emphasized an urgent need to shift from episodic "sick care" to value-based reimbursement systems that fund "food as medicine" and community health workers.
- Milken Institute59 min
California's Solutions to Health Care
Anna Gorman, Kimberly Evon, Yiwen Li, Josh Ofman, Hugh Waters, Claudia Williams, Kim Avon
A multi-stakeholder panel addressed California's $378 billion chronic disease burden and an impending home care workforce crisis by advocating for a transition from volume-based to value-based care models. Industry leaders and policymakers highlighted precision medicine, targeted genomic testing, and community health workers as critical strategies to reduce inefficiencies while opposing direct price controls that might stifle innovation. The consensus emphasized establishing a common data infrastructure and robust payment reforms to enable California to lead the nation in preventative care and universal access.
- Milken Institute52 min
Putting Prevention First
Liz Szabo, Kelly Close, William Dietz, Frank Hu, Anne Schuchat, Hugh Waters, Bill Dietz
Presenting the latest CDC data and Harvard research, this event highlights that nearly 40% of U.S. adults and 20% of children are obese, driving a three-fold increase in chronic diseases and a 7% rise in obesity-related cancers. The discussion details how excess weight gain in young adulthood significantly elevates risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death, while costing the U.S. economy $3.4 trillion annually. To address these escalating trends, experts advocate for a strategic shift from individual willpower to systemic interventions targeting young adults, including improved food access, campus wellness programs, and increased federal funding for the CDC.
- Milken Institute43 min
Putting Prevention First
Liz Szabo, Kelly Close, William Dietz, Frank Hu, Anne Schuchat, Hugh Waters, Bill Dietz
Recent data reveals that US obesity rates continue to rise across all demographics, with annual prevalence increasing by 1% for decades and severe disparities affecting over half of African American and Hispanic women. These trends drive a $3.4 trillion annual economic burden and sharply increase risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and 13 types of cancer, prompting experts to shift focus from treating established obesity to preventing weight gain in young adults through environmental changes and policy reform.
- Milken Institute47 min
The Economic Impact of Chronic Disease
Ross DeVol, Nancy Brown, Neal Kaufman, Kristen Miranda, Hugh Waters, Otis Webb Brawley
The Milken Institute convened health leaders and researchers to address the escalating economic and human toll of chronic diseases, emphasizing that 80% of cardiovascular conditions and rising cancer rates are preventable through lifestyle changes and systemic reform. Speakers highlighted stark disparities linked to education and income while detailing how policy interventions, such as Medicaid expansion and Accountable Care Organizations, can reduce waste and improve early detection. The session concluded with a unified call to shift from fee-for-service models to patient-centric strategies that leverage digital tools and early education to extend healthy life years rather than merely treating illness.