Listen to Dr. Adeel Khan Discuss Industry Influence and Healing on Power Athlete Radio
On Power Athlete Radio Episode 746, Dr. Adeel Khan dove into a thought-provoking discussion about the shortcomings of the current healthcare system, focusing on how physician education and treatment paradigms are influenced by pharmaceutical companies. This system, he argues, has led to a model that prioritizes symptom management over root-cause healing, perpetuating a cycle that benefits insurers and pharmaceutical giants at the expense of true patient care.
The Pharma-Driven Education System
Dr. Khan highlighted a troubling reality: the ongoing education for most physicians is heavily influenced by pharmaceutical companies. Industry-sponsored talks, guidelines, and drug representatives often serve as the primary sources of information for many doctors. In his own experience working in a general practice clinic, pharma reps regularly visited to present updates on new medications, shaping how physicians approached patient care.
“It’s such a weird way to keep up to date on knowledge when you’re just getting your information from someone who obviously has ties,” Dr. Khan noted. These ties often include a vested interest in promoting specific drugs, creating a system where medical education aligns with corporate profits rather than patient well-being.
Medicine or Advanced Pharmacology?
This pharma-driven approach raises an important question: Is modern medicine still medicine, or has it become a form of advanced pharmacology? Dr. Khan argues that the system has evolved into the latter, with little emphasis on understanding the foundational workings of the human body.
Doctors are often trained to manage symptoms with medication rather than addressing the root causes of illness. For example, instead of investigating why a patient has chronic inflammation, the focus may shift to prescribing anti-inflammatory drugs. While this approach can provide short-term relief, it rarely offers a long-term solution and often leads to dependency on medication.
The Systemic Design of a Broken Model
The current system isn’t just flawed—it’s intentionally designed to sustain itself. According to Dr. Khan, the structure of modern healthcare benefits insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations, the primary financial stakeholders. By prioritizing quick fixes over comprehensive care, the system ensures a steady stream of revenue.
“The people who are making the money off this—they want to keep it this way because they’re the ones who benefit the most,” Dr. Khan explained. This profit-centric model leaves little room for doctors to explore holistic, root-cause treatments. Moreover, the time constraints imposed by the system make it nearly impossible for physicians to delve deeper into patient care.
The Need for Root-Cause Healing
Dr. Khan advocates for a shift toward root-cause healing, an approach that prioritizes understanding and addressing the underlying factors contributing to illness. This requires a broader view of health, integrating nutrition, lifestyle, mental well-being, and environmental factors into patient care.
However, implementing this change is easier said than done. Physicians often lack the resources, training, and time to adopt a root-cause approach, and systemic barriers make it difficult to deviate from the pharmaceutical-centric model. Dr. Khan emphasized the importance of empowering both doctors and patients with education and tools to pursue holistic healing.
A Call for Change
The discussion with Dr. Khan serves as a wake-up call for the healthcare industry. To truly serve patients, the system must shift away from its dependency on pharmaceutical solutions and move toward a more integrative, patient-focused approach. This requires systemic reform, including changes in how physicians are educated, how care is delivered, and how success is measured.
Patients, too, play a critical role in this transformation. By asking questions, seeking second opinions, and exploring holistic options, they can push for a healthcare system that prioritizes their long-term health over short-term fixes.
John Welbourn is Founder/CEO of Power Athlete Inc and former NFL player. John was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and started for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played with the New England Patriots until an injury ended his season early with him retiring in 2009. Over the course of his NFL career, John started over 100 games regular season games with 10 play-off appearances. He was a four-year letterman while playing football at the University of California at Berkeley. He graduated from the college of letters and sciences with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric in 1998. And did his Masters work at the UC Berkeley School of Education in 1999. Since retiring from the NFL, John has worked extensively with the NFL, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, the US Army and Naval Special Warfare. He works as a consultant and advisor for several companies focused on improving human performance through training, nutrition and fitness-based technologies. John provides daily coaching and mentorship to over 5000 athletes around the world through his Power Athlete Coaches Network and training program delivery platform. Since in 2013, John has hosted a weekly podcast, Power Athlete Radio; a podcast dedicated to improving performance and connecting with some of the smartest people on the planet. With more than 700 episodes Power Athlete Radio has proven to be on the top podcasts in the strength and conditioning realm. John travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition for Power Athlete and as a keynote speaker. John is a married father of three and resides in Austin, Texas. You can catch up with him at his personal blog, “Talk To Me Johnnie”, at Power Athlete or on social media @johnwelbourn.