ESSAY
How I Practice as a Longevity Physician
Choosing Depth in a World Obsessed with Scale
In the rapidly evolving field of longevity medicine, tech startups are racing to automate health solutions on an unprecedented scale. Companies like InsideTracker, Superpower, Function Health, and Levels harness data-driven approaches to help individuals optimize their well-being. As a healthtech innovator, I recognize the allure and importance of scaling—the venture capital model thrives on efficiency and mass reach. Yet, as a practicing physician, I've realized that relentlessly pursuing scale dilutes the meaningful patient connections that first drew me to medicine. Instead of treating individuals as mere data points in an expansive system, I've now chosen to focus intently on the person right in front of me. In an industry fixated on "bigger," I've deliberately opted for "smaller.”
A Relationship-Focused Practice
This transformation was deeply personal. Amid the hustle of traditional high-volume clinics and the expansion of tech platforms, I found myself drifting away from the very reasons I entered medicine. The modern healthcare model often reduces doctors to cogs in a machine that values efficiency over human connection. Even in complex specialties like oncology, physicians are pressured to see 30 to 40 patients a day, leaving little room for genuine interactions. Considering that humans have evolved to maintain only about 150 stable relationships—known as Dunbar's number—a physician can meaningfully connect with only 30 to 40 patients overall if they wish to have a life outside of work. Massive patient panels mean significant life events—like career transitions, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one—often go unnoticed, yet these profoundly impact a person's health. I became a physician to heal, support, and be a true partner in my patients' lives. To realign with my core values, I knew I had to reinvent the way I practiced.
