I’ve heard this question asked in interviews, and I’ve been asked it myself.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve become involved with several organizations that are working hard and taking positive action in this regard. I’m a proud ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, I’m on the traction team for Medicine Forward (MF), and I’m a strong collaborator and supporter of the Health Care Reinvention Collaborative (HRC).

As we’re preparing to head into the new year, I asked Dr. Dawn Ellison and Denise Wiseman, core team members of both MF and HRC, to speak to the mission of these organizations, spread a message of hope, and encourage everyone to take action; it’s going to require all of us to join in advocating for the changes in health care that are so desperately needed.

Why Medicine Forward was founded

Medicine Forward (MF) began because doctors saw something crucial was missing in health care. Many were tired of a system that seemed to prioritize profit over patients, drowning doctors in paperwork and regulations. The founders of MF had personally experienced the emotional toll this system can take; they experienced burnout and moral injury. They realized these feelings reflected a deeper, system-wide problem.

In response, these physicians created MF, a nonprofit dedicated to putting the patient-physician relationship back at the heart of health care. MF is about more than one organization’s mission; it’s a community of doctors, patients, and advocates working together to support caregivers, promote equity, and make real changes.

There are many others like us.

Medicine Forward is only one part of a much larger picture. Across health care, thousands of individuals, small groups, and organizations are working to turn the tide against the harm our current system is causing. The Health Care Reinvention Collaborative (HRC) was born out of this collective desire for change. In July 2023, the catalysts for HRC brought together doctors, nurses, pharmacists, patients, and advocates to share their experiences and ideas for solutions. These conversations sparked an idea to build a “network of networks” where individuals and organizations can come together, share resources, and work collaboratively to build a better future for health care.

HRC: Connecting the change makers

While MF focuses on restoring the patient-doctor relationship, HRC is about connecting changemakers (those they lovingly refer to as ruckus makers). HRC isn’t here to reinvent health care itself—it’s here to connect and convene the people and groups who will. By creating a network of networks, HRC aims to bridge gaps, connect ideas, and serve as a platform where changemakers can collaborate and grow.

To guide this work, HRC uses the impact network model, a framework that builds trust and fosters meaningful relationships. In HRC’s network, connections turn into partnerships, and ideas become collective solutions that tackle health care’s toughest issues. This approach is rooted in the belief that networks grow at the speed of trust, and HRC’s role is to nurture that trust, creating a place where people can connect and collaborate on a deeper level. HRC’s mission is to identify, connect, support, and shine a light on every health care changemaker. If you see the need to challenge and reinvent our system of care, you are a health care changemaker.

HRC also draws from the “two loops” model of system change, which recognizes that meaningful transformation often begins with small, grassroots efforts that eventually connect and build a broader movement. With this model, HRC works to support and amplify groups like Medicine Forward, helping them reach more people and become part of a growing network that’s changing health care for good.

The root of the problem: Why we need this network

Both MF and HRC understand that while health care has many challenges, they often share the same root causes. Complicated insurance and payment systems make it hard for doctors to put patients first, and government regulations—meant to improve care—often end up bogging doctors down with paperwork. These barriers pull doctors away from what matters most: helping people get better.

Rather than just putting out fires, HRC wants to help those connected within the network to get to the heart of these issues. By identifying and addressing these root causes, they aim to support their members and connected networks to create solutions that make a lasting difference for everyone in the system—patients, doctors, nurses, and more.

A vision for the future

Despite the many obstacles, we believe there’s reason for hope. Every day, we’re seeing small but important changes: doctors reconnecting with their passion, patients feeling more respected, and health care workers finding support through these growing networks. This is the future we’re working toward—a health care system where caregivers can do what they’re trained to do, and where patients are treated as partners in their care.

Beyond this, we envision a system not just built to address or provide sick care, but that proactively works to uplift the health and well-being of all.

Imagine a network of changemakers—doctors, advocates, patients, and more—lifting each other up and pushing health care forward. This is the vision HRC is striving for, along with MF and so many others.

Join the movement

Both MF and HRC invite you to be part of this growing movement. This isn’t about traditional membership—it’s about finding people who share our passion for change. MF offers a space where doctors, patients, and advocates can work together to restore trust and compassion in health care. HRC is building a community of people and organizations ready to collaborate, share ideas, and tackle the root issues together.

We invite you to stand with us in this movement to bring humanity back to health care. Whether you’re a health care professional, a patient, or simply someone who believes we can do better, you have a role to play. Together, we can build the change that doctors and patients are craving. Join us. Be part of the solution our health care system needs.

Kim Downey is a physician advocate and physical therapist. Dawn Ellison is an emergency physician. Denise Wiseman is a health care executive.