President’s Message:
In Loving Memory of Connie
This message is dedicated to my dear friend Connie. Last September, Connie and I had the incredible joy and privilege of watching our children get married. None of us could have imagined that, less than a year later, she would lose her valiant and very brave battle for over 4 years with pancreatic cancer in July of 2025.
I’ll never forget the evening when we first met in 2016 — a beautiful dinner arranged by our children when they realized their relationship was something lasting and special. We talked for hours that night, discovering our shared love of family, faith, hobbies, and laughter. We dreamed about the wonderful times ahead as an extended family.
And we were blessed with so many special moments together — though, in the end, not nearly enough. Her life, and the future we envisioned, were cut short by a cruel, elusive, and devastating disease that strikes without warning and has no known prevention.
Her loss left me asking: Why?
Why are rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and infertility continuing to rise so dramatically? The good news is you can heal the body, starve cancer with your lifestyle, food, exercise, and stress reduction.
Did you know that in the United States, 60% of adults have at least one chronic disease, and 40% have two or more? Among those 65 and older, 80% have two or more chronic diseases, and 7% have five or more. Every 34 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack — and every 83 seconds, someone dies from one. The causes are increasingly clear: processed foods, poor sleep, environmental toxins, and less physical activity are all contributing to shorter, less healthy lives. The good news is that we have the power to change this. By making intentional lifestyle choices, we can improve our health, boost our energy, and extend our lives.
Most of my life, but especially over the past year, I’ve been on a personal journey of learning and transformation — studying nutrition, fitness, and wellness from medical experts, authors, and podcasts. Ironically, I’ve never felt more alive, focused, or energized. My routine — 6:15 a.m. regular workouts, weekly pickleball, visits to the farmers market, a Mediterranean diet, journaling, meditation, and cutting out plastics — takes time, being intentional and disciplined, but the results have been extraordinary.
Let’s explore four simple, attainable lifestyle changes that can help all of us live healthier, longer, and more joyful lives.
Diet
You have all heard “You are what you eat,” which dates back to 1826 and “Let thy food be your medicine and medicine be thy food.” This simple truth, echoed by Hippocrates centuries ago, remains just as relevant today, suggesting that our dietary choices can either heal us or contribute to illness. Ultra-processed foods — full of additives and chemicals — are the real culprits behind many choices. There are 60,000 diet books on Amazon, yet the evidence remains it’s not how much you eat, but what you eat. Ultra-processed foods are the killer; they’re filled with chemicals and cause chronic diseases. That is why it is so important to read labels, select items without additives, or added, fake sugars with as few ingredients as possible.
Shop the perimeter of the grocery store: fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and fish. This is the foundation of the Mediterranean diet, one of the most studied and proven for long-term health. Studies show that regular consumption of processed meats (like bacon, sausage, and hot dogs) increases dementia risk by 14%. According to Dr. Dawn Mussallem of the Mayo Clinic, 95% of Americans aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables. Small, consistent changes in what we eat can literally save lives.
Exercise
Movement is medicine. Regular exercise improves mood, builds strength, prevents disease, and extends life. After age 50, muscle mass and strength naturally begin to decline by 33% for men and 26% for women between ages 60 and 90. But it’s never too late to start. Just 20–30 minutes of resistance training, four to five times a week, can transform your health. Benefits include better sleep, higher bone density, less inflammation, improved balance, and lower risk of heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Get outside and take a walk, join a gym, take a Pilates class, or hire a trainer. Personally speaking, I would rather be strong and old.
As Nike says — Just do it!
Environmental Toxins
Air pollution, pesticides, and plastics are silent health threats. Avoid secondhand smoke, choose organic produce when possible, and minimize pesticide exposure. Perhaps most alarming are microplastics — microscopic particles found in our water, air, and even our bodies.
Studies now show they can accumulate in organs, contributing to cancer, heart disease, infertility, and other illnesses.
Simple swaps make a difference:
-Use glass or stainless-steel containers
-Choose wooden or metal utensils
-Avoid plastic bags and cookware with PFAS
-Support sustainable, low-waste living
Sleep, Lifestyle & Connection
I think we would all agree that life is so very precious. True health extends beyond diet and exercise. Restful sleep, managing stress, and maintaining strong social connections are all vital. A restful, good night’s sleep can provide you with a magical sense of restoration and wellness. In the words of experts, “sleep is a non-negotiable biological state required for the maintenance of human life. Sleep is on same parallel as air, food, and water. Data is quoting 7 hours of good sleep is most beneficial.
Dr. Eric Topol’s book Super Agers cites a study of 700,000 U.S. veterans showing that adopting eight healthy habits — not smoking, exercising, moderate alcohol use, good nutrition, stress management, restorative sleep, meaningful relationships, and avoiding opioids — can add up to 24 years of life expectancy. A lifestyle score based on those same factors was associated with increased likelihood of becoming a centenarian.
Speaking of centenarians, if you haven’t yet, I highly recommend The Blue Zones on Netflix, a docuseries that follows Dan Buettner as he explores the five regions of the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives.
A Final Reflection
Pancreatic cancer is now the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., with over 50,000 Americans affected each year — often without symptoms or warning. Steve Jobs, who also faced pancreatic cancer, once said: “You can hire someone to drive your car or make money for you — but you cannot hire someone to carry your disease for you.” Connie’s passing is a profound reminder that life is precious. We owe it to ourselves — and to those we love — to take care of our bodies, nurture our minds, and live with purpose and gratitude.
Here’s to living fully, healthfully, and intentionally.
In good health,
