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Dr. Marty Makary

27th Commissioner of the FDA, New York Times Bestselling Author, Surgeon, Health Advocate, Member of the National Academy of Medicine

As former U.S. FDA Commissioner, a nationally recognized surgeon, bestselling author, and healthcare policy leader, Dr. Marty Makary offers audiences an authoritative perspective on the forces reshaping medicine, public health, and the future of healthcare. Having led major FDA initiatives while also spending decades on the front lines of patient care, he brings practical insights into healthcare innovation, affordability, wellness, and the new science of food & nutrition. Event planners value Dr. Makary for his ability to translate complex issues into engaging, actionable discussions that resonate with healthcare, business, government, and leadership audiences alike.

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Travels From: Maryland | Fee Range: Inquire for Details

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Through engaging stories from the operating room, the halls of government, and the front lines of healthcare reform, Dr. Marty Makary offers a clear-eyed, nonpartisan look at the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of American healthcare. Drawing on decades of experience as a surgeon, researcher, policy leader, and former U.S. FDA Commissioner, he examines how healthcare arrived at its current crossroads and what lies ahead for patients, providers, employers, and policymakers.
With a focus on practical solutions rather than political talking points, Dr. Makary explores the critical decisions facing the healthcare system—from affordability and innovation to prevention and public trust. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of the forces transforming healthcare today and actionable insights for navigating the changes to come.
Trust is the foundation of effective healthcare, yet public confidence in medical institutions, government agencies, and health information has been tested in recent years. Drawing on his leadership at the FDA, clinical experience at Johns Hopkins, and work advancing healthcare reform, Dr. Marty Makary examines what it takes to build trust, communicate through uncertainty, and lead meaningful change in complex organizations. This timely presentation provides valuable lessons for leaders across industries navigating disruption, public scrutiny, and evolving stakeholder expectations.
Audience Takeaways:
•     Understand the key drivers of trust and credibility in healthcare
•     Learn leadership principles for managing change and communicating during periods of uncertainty
•     Gain insight into the challenges and opportunities facing healthcare institutions today
•     Apply lessons from healthcare reform to broader business, government, and organizational leadership challenges
In an era of conflicting headlines, viral health trends, and endless wellness advice, separating fact from fiction has never been more challenging. Drawing on his experience as a surgeon, researcher, bestselling author, and former U.S. FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary shares the latest evidence on nutrition, exercise, disease prevention, and healthy aging. Challenging conventional wisdom and popular misconceptions alike, he offers a practical, science-based framework for improving health, extending longevity, and making informed decisions in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Audience Takeaways:
•     Separate health myths from evidence-based guidance on nutrition, fitness, and disease prevention
•     Understand the latest research on longevity, healthy aging, and overall wellness
•     Explore the role of food, lifestyle, and prevention in reducing chronic disease risk

Biography

Dr. Marty Makary is a New York Times bestselling author, surgeon, and health care expert who served as the 27th U.S. Commissioner of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, confirmed with a bipartisan vote of the U.S. Senate. At the FDA, Marty led historic reforms including accelerating drug approvals, reducing animal testing, creating a new food pyramid, removing artificial food dyes, and a school lunch program to transition to healthier foods. He was also the first head of a government agency to adopt AI agency-wide. Prior to serving in government, Marty was a professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Business School.

At Johns Hopkins, Marty was the Chief of Islet Transplant Surgery, pioneered new surgical procedures, and founded the Johns Hopkins Center for Surgical Trials and Outcomes Research. For his achievements, Marty received the Nobility in Science Award from the National Pancreas Foundation and was named the Mark Ravitch endowed chair of gastrointestinal surgery at Johns Hopkins. Marty has been a visiting professor at over 25 medical schools and served in leadership at the World Health Organization. He has published over 350 scientific peer-review articles, and, in 2019, was elected to the National Academy of Medicine.

Marty is the recipient of the 2020 Business Book of the Year Award for his book, THE PRICE WE PAY about health care costs, and his latest book, BLIND SPOTS—a #1 Bestseller— explores nutrition science, the microbiome, hormone replacement, and new health trends.

Marty has led national policy efforts to make health care more affordable, more holistic, and more coordinated, especially for vulnerable populations. His research has focused on the evaluation of new technologies, the appropriateness of medical care, and the business of medicine. He was co-founder of Global Appropriateness Measures, a national effort to reduce unnecessary surgery and medication prescribing. He also served as Chief Medical Officer of H-E-B, with a focus on healthy food and disease prevention. His current work focuses on game-changing interventions in health care and new models of care that reduce downstream medical utilization and lower health care costs.

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