Shalom from Tel Aviv

Mitch and I are spending the week here in Tel Aviv visiting with The Wellness Community, our TWC colleagues, patients, caregivers, health care professionals and government officials. After 7 years, our TWC here is thriving. We have spent time with our wonderful, devoted colleagues Margalit, Hassia, Riva, Dafna and many other wonderful TWC facilitators and friends.

On Monday night, we went to the "Wellness Cafe" where 80 patients and caregivers gathered to hear two young cancer survivors talk about how they met in group and traveled to Africa together. They showed slides from their trip and talked about how cancer has given them a new "lens" through which to view life.

Today we went to the Tel Aviv Medical Center and spent time with a Palestinian man from Gaza whose daughter is being treated at the center for cancer. They came to Israel through a special humanitarian program run by the hospital. He and the social workers from the hospital talked about their shared desire for peace and their hope that the amazing one-on-one exchanges that are happening in the hospital through this program might set an important example for what is possible.

Tomorrow we head to Jerusalem to meet with colleagues at the Sharei Tzedek Medical Center.

The Wellness Community Partners with Revolution Health

Wanna start a revolution?? That is what Steve Case and his power house board (including Colin Powell) are doing over at Revolution Health Group (RHG). The exciting news? They have approached The Wellness Community to be one of their partners in the cancer space. What are they looking to do? "Revolution Health seeks to create a health company where patients are put at the center of the health system, with more choices, more convenience, and more control over their health care." I would say that their mission is very consistent with The Wellness Community's Patient Active Concept. RHG is working to accomplish their goal by focusing on three areas: Content, Coverage, and Care. We are very excited that there will be a mini Wellness Community site within the Revolution site, letting people know about all of our great community resources. Take a look at RHG for yourself by visiting www.revolution.com Thank you to RHG for this terrific partnership!