At the third annual TIME100 Health Leadership Forum held in New York City on September 10, experts convened to address critical challenges in healthcare equity, longevity, and advanced treatments. The event brought together members of the TIME and TIME100 Health communities to explore how breakthrough innovations can reach the patients who need them most.
During the panel “The Access Gap: Expanding Pathways to Life-Saving Care,” moderated by TIME senior health correspondent Alice Park, speakers highlighted that while medical science has made remarkable strides, distribution and access remain significant hurdles. Amy Ronneberg, CEO of NMDP, noted that although donor matching issues have improved over the past six years, new barriers have emerged. She pointed out that thousands of patients are not receiving timely referrals to transplant centers, and those who are referred often face substantial financial obstacles.
Dr. Eneida R. Nemecek of Oregon Health & Science University emphasized that geographic location is a major determinant of access. She criticized current healthcare system designs for prioritizing institutional needs over patient convenience. Dr. David L. Porter, director of the Center for Cell Therapy and Transplant at Penn Medicine, added that advanced therapies like CAR-T cells are primarily available at major academic institutions in urban centers, forcing many patients to travel long distances or forgo treatment entirely.
To combat these disparities, Porter described a pilot study at the University of Pennsylvania that successfully treated over 60 patients with CAR-T cell therapy in community health settings. This approach aims to provide high-end care closer to patients’ homes, reducing the logistical burden on families. Ronneberg stressed the importance of community education and financial support for travel, drawing on her own experience as a cancer survivor who found the healthcare navigation process daunting despite having professional resources.
In a separate discussion on brain health, Maria Shriver addressed the underdiagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in women. Citing a survey indicating that only one in five women knows they are at higher risk than men, Shriver argued for earlier conversations about cognitive health. She shared that her advocacy is personal, rooted in her father’s 2003 diagnosis. Shriver highlighted emerging research into the links between menopause and brain health, as well as the growing public dialogue around postpartum mental health, citing the recent trial of Lindsay Clancy as evidence of shifting cultural narratives.
The forum also featured a forward-looking conversation on longevity with Harvard Medical School professor David Sinclair. Sinclair suggested that the first person to reach the age of 150 may already be alive, noting that children born today will benefit from technological advancements in AI and healthcare that are currently unimaginable. The TIME100 Health Leadership Forum was presented by the American Cancer Society, Kite, Insulet, Musely, and NMDP.
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