#7 - Dr. Swaid Swaid: Private Medicine and Revolutionizing Healthcare

Dr. Swaid Swaid is a world-renowned neurosurgeon whose journey from Eilaboun, Galilee, to the pinnacle of neurosurgery in the United States embodies dedication, compassion, and groundbreaking medical practice. Our discussion focuses on Dr. Swaid's journey to build the Swaid Vestavia Medical Center, and how it can serve as a model to reshape private medicine -- but there is much more to the story.

We explore Dr. Swaid's remarkable life story, his faith, and his cultural heritage. He shares insights about his administrative roles in hospitals, the rise and fall of HealthSouth, and the critical absence of preventative care in our healthcare system. Dr. Swaid tells me about cutting-edge surgical technologies like the Gamma Knife and CyberKnife, their impact on treating conditions such as Trigeminal Neuralgia. He also provides his perspective on private equity in medicine and offers guidance for future healthcare professionals.

Timestamps:

(00:00:00) Episode Introduction

(00:02:13) Early Life in Israel

(00:06:05) Role of Faith in Medicine

(00:08:14) Swaid Family/Clan Name

(00:09:32) How Olive Oil is Made

(00:11:05) Defining Success

(00:12:28) Administration in Hospitals and Quality Care

(00:17:10) Rise and Fall of HealthSouth

(00:24:12) Mergers and Acquisitions in Medicine

(00:27:35) Improving Healthcare in the US

(00:33:34) Failure of Preventative Care in the US

(00:36:57) Ideas for Improving Preventative Care

(00:47:19) Profitability and Improving Quality Care

(00:49:49) Role of Motivation

(00:52:03) Certificate of Need Review Board (Balancing Capacity and Utilization with Costs)

(00:56:16) Gamma Knife and CyberKnife 

(01:03:09) Trigeminal Neuralgia

(01:05:20) Model and Strategy of the Swaid Vestavia Medical Center

(01:16:14) Balancing Management and Patient Care

(01:18:37) Importance of Ownership

(01:22:44) Building the Swaid Vestavia Medical Center

(01:24:44) Private Medicine vs Hospital Employment

(01:29:13) Starting a Private Practice

(01:33:19) Private Equity Firms

(01:36:06) Doctors Reimagining Themselves as the Pillars of Healthcare

(01:43:19) Hope with Private Equity Firms

(01:45:48) Outro

Linktree: linktr.ee/gustavofrancopod

Chapters

• 0:00 Episode Introduction
• 2:13 Early Life in Israel
• 6:05 Role of Faith in Medicine
• 8:14 Swaid Family/Clan Name
• 9:32 How Olive Oil is Made
• 11:05 Defining Success
• 12:28 Hospital Administration and Quality Care
• 17:10 HealthSouth Success/Failure Story
• 24:12 Mergers and Acquisitions in Medicine
• 27:35 Improving Healthcare in the US
• 33:34 Failure of Preventative Care in the US
• 36:57 Ideas for Improving Preventative Care
• 47:19 Profitability and Improving Quality Care
• 49:49 Role of Motivation
• 52:03 Certificate of Need Review Board (Balancing Capacity and Utilization with Costs)
• 56:16 Gamma Knife and CyberKnife
• 1:03:09 Trigeminal Neuralgia
• 1:05:20 Model and Strategy of the Swaid Vestavia Medical Center
• 1:16:14 Balancing Management and Patient Care
• 1:18:37 Importance of Ownership
• 1:22:44 Building the Swaid Vestavia Medical Center
• 1:24:44 Private Medicine vs Hospital Employment
• 1:29:13 Starting a Private Practice
• 1:33:19 Private Equity Firms
• 1:36:06 Doctors Reimagining Themselves as the Pillars of Healthcare
• 1:43:19 Hope with Private Equity Firms
• 1:45:48 Outro