RACHEL PURI: LEADING A DISTINCTIVE HEALTHCARE REVOLUTION IN – FOCUS
DARYL APPLETON: UNLOCKING POTENTIAL WITH THE SUCCESS DOCTOR IN – FOCUS
TO WATCH HEALTH CARE LEADERS IN
H E A L I N E S S
Jean-Christian and Ines Rindoni’s Blueprint for Empowerment and Growth
Innovating for a Healthier TomorrowHealthcare is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by visionary leaders across disciplines who challenge traditional approaches. From policy-makers advocating reform to entrepreneurs leveraging AI and telemedicine, these innovators are making healthcare more accessible, patient-centered, and sustainable. As we celebrate these leaders, it's clear that the future lies in collaboration—merging traditional medicine with cutting-edge technologies and holistic wellness.
In this issue, we feature JeanChristian and Ines Rindoni, founders of Healiness, whose unique blend of Eastern and Western healing is revolutionizing personal transformation. Their holistic approach prioritizes emotional, mental, and spiritual health alongside physical wellbeing, offering a new model of global wellness leadership.
DARYL YEUNG Editor-in-Chief
Embracing Excellence
600 N Broad St 5 Middletown, DE 19709, United States +1 302-907-9110
Editor-in-Chief –
Art Director –
Managing Editor -
Naomi Lam
Creative Director –Daryl Yeung
Matt Reis Adam Waring
Project Manager –
Marketing Manager –
Customer Relationship –
Business Development –
Richard Dann
Sofia Brown
Natasha Green
Matt Hale, Josh Wilder, Anish Miller
For any advertising related information, please contact info@exeleonmagazine.com. Submissions as well as contributions to the magazine are welcome.
Take a moment and let us know about our magazine; whether it be about the design or a possible mistake, we would appreciate any feedback from your end. You can reach out to daryl@exeleonmagazine.com.
DR. LOUIS BOURGET
have carved out a unique space at the intersection of wellness and international business, creating a revolutionary company called Healiness. Their endeavor brings together complementary ields—Eastern and Western medicine, holistic healing, and business strategy—with a shared vision of transforming personal development on a global scale.
Their collaboration represents the integration of two worlds that are often seen as distinct: corporate business development and the deep, ancient wisdom of healing. Together, they lead Healiness, a company that promotes vitality, resilience, and holistic well-being, all while keeping pro itability and sustainability at the forefront.
At the heart of their work lies a powerful partnership that transcends professional boundaries and extends into their personal lives. The synergy between Jean-Christian's sharp business acumen and Ines' decades of expertise in holistic healing has not only made Healiness a thriving global brand, but also a safe haven for individuals seeking transformation. Through a combination of innovation, integrity, and profound empathy, the couple has built an environment where clients can achieve mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth.
The birth of Healiness is a story of collaboration and complementary strengths. JeanChristian's experience in international business, paired with Ines' deep-rooted knowledge in healing modalities, created a powerful dynamic that led to the inception of Healiness. “We realized that by combining our expertise, we could create something truly innovative—a company that promotes vitality while also having the business acumen to reach people globally,” Jean-Christian explains. Their partnership allowed them to explore a new approach to
wellness that not only addresses personal well-being but also tackles the intricacies of scaling personal development services on a global platform.
From the outset, the couple shared a vision that personal transformation goes beyond just physical health—it is a holistic process involving the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of life. This was the driving force behind Healiness' mission to create tailored wellness programs that cater to individual need, while also building a sustainable business model capable of impacting generations. Ines' expertise in blending Eastern and Western
medicine—along with her use of Ayurvedic practices, mindfulness, energy therapies, and even hydrogen therapies—contributed to shaping this holistic model. Her experience not only changed the lives of others but also had a profound impact on her own, further fueling her desire to bring this wisdom to a broader audience.
The couple's initial challenge was how to create a brand that blended two seemingly divergent ields—healing and business.
“We asked ourselves: how could we combine conscious and subconscious levels of acting, shifting belief paradigms, and yet make it scalable?” Jean-Christian shares. Through countless conversations and close collaboration, they merged their strategies, integrating holistic wellness principles with practical business growth models. As a result, Healiness emerged as a unique wellness company, grounded in both purpose and pro itability.
Ines is not just the co-founder of Healiness; she is its emotional and spiritual core. Her work is centered on blending Eastern and Western healing modalities to address childhood and generational trauma while clearing mental, emotional, and physical blockages. "My passion lies in unlocking people's potential and helping them live the lives they choose," Ines explains. Her approach is holistic, integrating ancient healing techniques with modern, scienti ically proven methods, all
designed to guide individuals on transformative journeys of self-discovery and empowerment.
Ines' expertise is both vast and deeply personal. For over 25 years, she has explored the intersections of different healing disciplines, from energy therapies and family constellations to somatic breathwork and oxygen therapies. In everything she does, she emphasizes the importance of subconscious programming, explaining that “95% of our lives are run by these unconscious patterns.” Her goal is to help individuals reprogram their subconscious minds to achieve holistic wellbeing—mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Ines' deep empathy and authenticity are integral to the transformative experiences she creates for her clients. She views healing not as a quick ix but as a lifelong journey towards wholeness, a process that involves both inner work and outward action.
Ines' role in Healiness is indispensable not only for the personal transformations of their clients but also for the innovative growth of the company. Her integration of ancient healing scripts, mindfulness, and energy medicine into modern wellness practices forms the foundation of Healiness' unique offerings. Her presence imbues the company with a sense of authenticity, making clients feel supported in both their emotional and physical healing processes.
One of Ines' most innovative contributions is her development of 9D somatic breathwork, a modality that combines traditional breathwork techniques with advanced sound technology. This approach creates a multi-sensory healing experience, which helps clients release deep-seated emotions and traumas from their bodies. "By focusing on speci ic breathing techniques, clients can shift stagnant energies, injuries, and traumas, releasing them through the power of breath," she explains. This holistic method
As thought leaders in both wellness and business, Jean-Christian and Ines are committed to pushing the boundaries of the personal development industry. Their approach to wellness is grounded in long-term, integrative solutions, rather than short-term ixes. They are passionate about making wellness accessible to everyone, particularly through their Healiness Foundation for Children, which provides resources and education on emotional and mental intelligence to underserved communities. “By investing in children's wellbeing, we can shape healthier, happier minds and ensure they grow up with the tools to manage stress and maintain balance,” Ines shares.
The couple's shared vision for the future of Healiness is one of continued growth and expansion, but always with a focus on maintaining the intimate, personalized approach that has de ined their success. They plan to expand their digital platform and bring their holistic approach to wellness to a global audience, ensuring that their programs reach not just individuals, but also corporations and communities. Their goal is to make wellness a fundamental part of life, accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.
In terms of business innovation, Jean-Christian and Ines aim to set a new standard in the wellness industry—one that prioritizes both personal well-being and corporate responsibility. “We want Healiness to serve as a model for how businesses can prioritize their clients' well-being while achieving sustainable growth,” Jean-Christian explains. Their leadership style, grounded in empathy, transparency, and balance, serves as a blueprint for how wellness businesses can thrive without compromising on their core values.
aligns perfectly with the couple's goal of creating comprehensive healing experiences that address the body, mind, and spirit.
While Ines provides the emotional and spiritual compass for Healiness, Jean-Christian brings the business expertise that ensures the company's scalability and global reach. His background in international business allows him to understand market complexities and develop strategies that enable Healiness to grow without losing its personal touch. “One of the key lessons we've learned is the value of leading with empathy and active listening, particularly in a wellnessbased business,” Jean-Christian re lects. His approach to leadership has evolved as Healiness has grown, focusing on empowering his team while maintaining a deep connection to the clients' wellbeing.
Jean-Christian's ability to scale a business is evident in the way Healiness has expanded globally, yet remains grounded in its core values. As the company grew, he and Ines learned the importance of creating a balanced leadership style, one that allows for strategic delegation while still keeping the personal essence of their work intact. “Scaling without losing the personal touch that sets us apart has been a signi icant challenge, but one we've embraced fully,” he says.
He believes that Healiness' success stems from the harmonious balance between his business mindset and Ines' healing wisdom. Together,
they have created a company culture that emphasizes continuous growth, learning, and empathy. This dual approach has allowed them to lead with authenticity, building trust and openness with both their team and clients. Their personal connection as a couple enriches their professional dynamics, creating a nurturing environment within Healiness that resonates deeply with their clients.
Contact Healiness at concierge@healiness.com and visit www.healiness.com
Jean-Christian and Ines are often described as a “power couple,” but their success goes beyond that label. Their personal and professional partnership serves as an inspiring example of how complementary strengths can lead to extraordinary impact. Their daily commitment to emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual balance is reflected in the way they lead Healiness, creating an environment where clients feel supported and empowered. “Our relationship is at the heart of Healiness,” Ines emphasizes. “It's this balance that keeps Healiness grounded, yet visionary.”
Their legacy will be one of transformation, not only for the individuals who come to
Healiness for healing but also for the wellness industry as a whole. Through their combined expertise in business and holistic healing, Jean-Christian and Ines have created a movement that seeks to revolutionize the way people think about wellness—making it a universal priority, deeply rooted in authenticity, empathy, and purpose.
As they continue to lead Healiness into the future, Jean-Christian and Ines remain committed to their core values, ensuring that their company serves as both a sanctuary for individual transformation and a blueprint for how wellness businesses can grow with integrity. HEALINESS: Shine to your
Ready to fuel your ambition and receive your dose of inspiration directly to your digital doorstep?
Subscribe to Exeleon Magazine today, and enjoy the following perks:
Convenience at Your Fingertips
Access each issue on your preferred digital device anytime, anywhere.
Dive deeper with bonus content, behind-the-scenes interviews, and special features reserved for our esteemed subscribers.
Community Connection
Join a network of likeminded individuals, share your story or interview, and be part of a thriving entrepreneurial community.
SIMPLY SCAN AND SUBSCRIBE
Innovation is at the heart of creating breakthrough businesses. This means business leaders must constantly ind new solutions for old problems; enabling them to ponder, to aspire, to explore and to uncover — often revealing valuable insights and spurring creativity.
One such ingenious leader that is moving the needle, especially in the world of healthcare, is Rachel Puri. Rachel is the Co-founder and CEO of Lina — a prominent medical coworking company built to empower independent health practitioners.
Sporting a beaming smile and calm con idence, she shares her perspective on what de ines a leader: “I'd say besides authenticity, honesty and adaptability, openness and desire for constant learning are important qualities that make one a dynamic leader. I think a great leader must have these skills and the desire to build systems that set the stage for the team's success.”
When it comes to her team at Lina, Rachel always places herself under a microscope. She questions how well she embodies the qualities of a leader for her team. “As a leader I strive to inspire, motivate, and support everyone on the team as
much as possible.”
Brought up in a family of medical professionals, Rachel began to gravitate towards healthcare from the early years of her childhood. Her grandmother was a family physician in Chisinau, Moldova while her mother spent over three decades working in the blood bank department of New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Inspired by her family's pulse in this industry, she started her career in mental health, where she guided and counseled people with developmental disabilities. Subsequently, she pursued her master's degree in International Affairs, specializing in public health. Yet, her curiosity for more hands-on clinical work persisted, one which led her to go back to school and earn a nursing degree.
“Working as a registered nurse in busy hospital units was one of the most rewarding professional experiences I have ever had and has taught me invaluable lessons that I carry with me to this day,” she mentions.
Revisiting her past, she remembers
being fascinated by her family's work which in luenced many of her career choices and led her to where she is today. In fact, her company, Lina, is named in honor of her late grandmother, Polina, who passed away just six months before the launch of the company and continues to remain a constant source of inspiration in Rachel's life.
LINA'S LIBERATING MISSION
Operating a successful private practice is like navigating a complex maze, where every turn presents a new challenge. Rachel recognizes that independent healthcare practitioners face testing choices and sizable initial and recurring expenses — like hefty security deposits, expensive of ice equipment, long term of ice leases, of ice setup, maintenance of systems, equipment, staf ing, compliance, marketing and much more.
This led her to lay the foundation for Lina along with her Co-Founder and Former CEO – Vicrum Puri. She recognizes that healthcare practitioners like doctors and therapists, in private practice, are overburdened as they struggle with unnecessary operational hiccups that lead them astray from what's most important – patient care.
Remarkably, this is where Lina stands out as a pioneering and irstof-its-kind company to adopt a lexible of ice space model. Focused exclusively on the needs of healthcare providers, Lina is one of the rare coworking spaces that provides a cost-effective and sustainable way for practitioners to tend to their patients while retaining their independence.
Since the beginning, Lina has proved to be a soothing solution, easing burdens associated with launching, growing, and operating a private practice. Rachel elaborates, “Our innovative model eliminates steep overhead costs and minimizes time and energy spent managing an of ice and challenges unrelated to patient care. We pride ourselves in having created a space that offers freedom for practitioners to
practice on their terms.”
Additionally, Rachel and her team are more than just a platform for professional growth; they are a haven where practitioners can bond with each other and form meaningful friendships and connections.
Furthermore, they have recently launched a Digital Lina Provider Directory, which spotlights each practitioner's practice within the Lina community. This marketing support feature not only showcases the professionals' practices but also helps attract new patients.
Rachel realizes the importance of this enhancement, “This meets a vital marketing need of many independent practitioners and we are thrilled to offer this additional layer of support to all healthcare
Co-founder & CEO Lina
practitioners at Lina,” she states.
Back in 2017, when Rachel and her partner Vic Puri, launched Lina, the concept of medical coworking did not exist.
“We created Lina because we identi ied a clear gap in the market. A whole segment of healthcare professionals was left out of the loop when it came to accessing lexible of ice space options,” she explains. She further notes that her partner's extensive experience in Real Estate was instrumental in illing this market gap and building the company.
Traditional coworking spaces, although suitable for various professionals, fall short in meeting
Gloria Kolb, the co-founder of ELITONE®, is not just an inventor but a visionary in the realm of women's health. With an impressive portfolio of 30 patents to her name, Gloria has dedicated her career to addressing some of the most intimate and overlooked issues in women's health.
In this exclusive interview, we explore the inspiration behind her groundbreaking invention, ELITONE®, a non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence, and delve into her journey of innovation and perseverance.
Can you share the inspiration behind co-founding ELITONE® and developing a non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence?
I knew bladder leakage was a common issue, but it wasn't until I was trying to treat myself that I became dismayed at and alerted to how poor the treatments were. “Poor” means that they may have worked but had no concern with how a
woman would it the treatment into her life. All the vaginal devices meant that she had to ind time to lock herself in her bedroom to be lat on her back and wait 20 minutes. The vaginal devices were hard to hold, hard to keep using, and just made me feel icky. I thought there had to be a better (easier) way!
With 30 patents to your name, what drives your passion for invention and innovation in women's health?
I love creating and designing, and that was how I was made. Put that together with the real need in women's health, where there hasn't been a lot of innovation, and that sets the platform. Then keep it fueled with the feedback from women that Elitone is changing their lives, and that all keeps us going.
ELITONE® has been recognized as a breakthrough solution for incontinence. Can you discuss the challenges you faced during its development and how you overcame them?
With my cofounder and my 50+ combined years in medical device development, we didn't ind a lot of challenges during Elitone's development. Our planning and experience got us through prototype development, clinical studies, and only a few minor
hiccups with regulatory approvals. It does take time though, unlike the array of non-medical kegel devices that lood the market making any sort of claims they want. However, our challenges (and I can't say we overcame them - we are still going through them), come in the
commercialization of the products. For example, it was pretty impossible to get funding due to the embarrassing nature of the issue, a product for women's health, by a female founder, that male investors don't necessarily understand. But even female investors have told me,
“I love Elitone, and I will keep using your product, but I am going to fund your competitor because it's a better inancial deal that I cannot pass up.”
Secondly, we are highly regulated but are selling Direct to Consumer,
so we don't it the life science nor CPG (consumer product goods) buckets that venture capital investors typically are in.
Finally, we sell directly to consumers to make Elitone as accessible as possible (since most
women do not talk to their doctors about incontinence), yet the consumers expect lower pricing as an electronic and will compare Elitone to the cheaper devices that have no FDA approvals! It is a tough area to be in, but we stick it out because we know in the end we are serving women the best.
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to careers in technology and innovation, particularly in the femtech space?
I previously had a job early in my career where I just analyzed foreign missiles. Although it used my engineering degrees, it felt empty and unsustainable. When you create a product that other people bene it from, it is so rewarding. One thing about serving women is that they are very vocal, both when they have their complaints, and also so appreciative when you help them. I would tell women who are interested in this career to go for it. I enjoy my work and it is not a “job”. Isn't that what we want out of life, to be ful illed?
How do you plan to continue driving innovation and addressing unmet needs in women's health through your work?
We have quite a large list of women now. I plan to keep asking them questions and listening to them.
As a Chief Wellness Consultant and performance-wellness coach, Daryl Appleton has made a signi icant impact in various ields, including professional sports, business, government, inance, medicine, and entertainment. Her specialty lies in working with mid-career executives and specialists, helping them work more ef iciently and effectively through self-awareness, strategy, and scienti ic methods. She is often referred to as "the real-life Wendy Rhoades" from the Showtime show "Billions."
In this interview feature, Daryl shares her journey, the challenges she has faced, particularly as a mother of twin daughters, and the success stories that have shaped her approach to coaching. She provides insights into her work at Brown University's General Surgery department, where she has developed a comprehensive wellness program focusing on self-awareness, selfgovernance, and self-improvement.
Can you please introduce yourself, your business, and your specialization as a coach.
My job is to help high performers get out of their own way so that they can do their job.
Currently, I am the Chief Wellness Consultant at Brown University's General Surgery Program and have contracts centered around performance-wellness (the lens in which I interpret and see well-being) and leadership with organizations and individuals in the ields of professional sports, business, government, inance, medicine, and entertainment.
My specialty is in working with midcareer executives and specialist who are looking to work more ef iciently and effectively through self-awareness, strategy, and scienti ic method.
As a coach, what are some of the biggest challenges that you have faced in your journey?
My twin 3-year old daughters. Having kids has absolutely changed the way I see the world and the lessons and strategies I give my clients "trying to do it all". I have truly learned that there is no such thing as work-life balance but instead there needs to be a sway and alignment to work-life integration.
Can you share a success story or a signi icant achievement in your coaching career?
I started working with Brown University's General Surgery department 5 years ago. At the time their wellness program consisted of yoga and meditation, and it was not landing. When I stepped into the role, leadership and I collaborated on an operational de inition for wellness in surgery (which if you know any surgeons you know how well "wellness programs" go over with them).
Here we were able to create a fullbodied program that viewed wellness through the lens of selfawareness, self-governance, and self-improvement for individuals and the team at large. Five years later we have a full bodied curriculum focus on the gamut of performance, wellness, and leadership strategies for residents, jr attendings and senior attendings at every stage of the career. This also includes a newly formed Leadership Lab, Mentorship Program, didactic lecture series, executive coaching, division retreats, and research efforts to continue to expand and improve. It has been truly a collaborative effort between hard and soft science to focus on addressing burnout and non-technical skill development in the world of medicine.
How do you measure the impact of your coaching on your clients or teams?
At Brown we do robust research efforts that include qualitative and quantitative inquiry which also includes focus groups, and longitudinal studies.
What advice would you give to other women aspiring to be leaders in the coaching industry?
When I was fresh out of college, my boss told me that "what I wanted to do didn't exist" and "I would be better sticking to what I knew". You are allowed to Frankenstein together a career that doesn't exist but works for you and the people around you. Keep pushing ahead and innovating in a direction that you can make an impact in.
What are your future goals for your business and brand? What is your vision through coaching?
Looking ahead, my team and I are actively working on expanding our
performance wellness curriculum both virtually and in-person to medical programs who do not have the funds to hire a Chief Wellness Consultant/Of icer. The hope this would also include training for future coaches and executives looking to bring their expertise or transition in the medical ield for leadership and/or coaching in healthcare.
Wri en by Aja McCutchen
AAs a female gastroenterologist having treated now approximately 40,000 women, I have irsthand witnessed the grim realities of a woman's experience in the traditional healthcare system.
Women are twice as likely to experience irritable bowel syndrome, a disturbance of the brain gut axis, compared to men. Women also experience increased risk of pelvic loor disturbances, alternating bowel habits with constipation and diarrhea, bloating as well as diseases such as gallstones.
Irritable bowel syndrome, for example, is intensi ied around menstrual cycles with 70% of women experiencing a shift in symptoms, yet little data exist on the optimal management and understanding of the exact mechanisms of these illnesses.
It was not until the past decade,
that we began to formally guide our women with dietary and therapeutic recommendations for their functional bowel symptoms, such as the FODMAP diet. In addition to the lack of therapies, we know that there is a decreased awareness of gender speci ic symptoms and a stark lack of accessible solutions.
The data shows, and I have witnessed, that 46% OF THE FEMALE POPULUATION experience gut health issues with a signi icant portion unmanaged. We know that women and men are anatomically and hormonally unique, with women sharing anatomical space with their digestive organs and their reproductive organs, yet we have very little research to help guide our therapies! In addition to the lack of data in women speci ic digestive illness, women are more likely to experience dismissals and delays in diagnosis, with an average wait time of 24-26 days to see a GI
specialist or an OB/GYN.
This underscores the urgent need for gender sensitive research, structural and societal reform, and deliberate strategies to address the unmet needs of our women suffering from digestive illnesses.
THE IMPACT OF UNRESOLVED GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS IN WOMEN
While it's true that women have a longer life expectancy than men, it's also known that women are more likely to bear the negative impacts of chronic illness both personally and socially. Studies have shown that women are more likely to experience dismissal of symptoms, delays in diagnosis and suffer higher rates of chronic illness, inancial loss and morbidity. Gut health is a major contributor to women's disease burden. Overall, Gut health represents a $140B market with GI patients costing
employers 3 to 8 times more than a healthy adult.
th Gi issues are the 4 largest driver of employee related healthcare cost. On average, women are spending $7,000 per year for common GI symptoms, adding a signi icant inancial burden to households. Women suffering from GI issues are looking for solutions to restore their control and choice.
GENDER GAPS IN WOMEN'S DIGESTIVE HEALTH
In January of 2023, myself along with two women physician cofounders embarked upon a journey to enter the fem-tech space to address the unmet needs of women and their digestive symptoms. As women physician founders with combined 50+ years of experience, we were stunned by the ABSENCE of physician founders in the femtech space.
We also quickly discovered that there were no signi icant gastrointestinal solutions in the femtech market. It was appalling to
see such an incredible GAP in a trillion-dollar sector. The numbers speak for themselves as it relates to need for women seeking female centric digital solutions, as the annual revenue for low app, which just focuses on menstrual cycle, is $100 million.
Entering the femtech market and digital tech space using AI power has been quite a journey. After bootstrapping most of our startup, we encountered the same issues that many physician entrepreneurs and women entrepreneur's encounter.... a lack of funding! To compete in the market, we needed to grow our team... To add members to the team... we needed money.
We are hopeful that the recent launch of the Women's Health Initiative in November 2023 along with the February announcement of $100 M to accelerate women's health research will allow founders like me, researchers, and innovators to help close the glaring gaps in women's digestive diseases.
Dr. Aja McCutchen with a dynamic career spanning 17 years as a gastroenterologist, stands at the forefront of medical innovation and leadership. She has played an instrumental role in the executive sphere, notably as a key igure in establishing the third largest private equity-backed healthcare platform in the United States.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, earning her
Throughout our entrepreneurial journey, we have encountered many amazing founders committed to changing the landscape of women's health journeys, from wearables to destigmatizing and validating the lived experiences of women. We know that partnership is key to magnifying the impact of our discoveries. Shared API helps to accelerate our discoveries. With studies inally underway, we are acutely aware of the women's hormonal changes that contribute to their digestive experiences.
As research emerges on women health, we are beginning to uncover the in luence of the microbiome, changes in diversity of the microbiome and link this to various disease states. I am hopeful that, as we learn more about women's biochemical changes, diet, and lifestyle in luences, microbiome variations and gender differences, we can then begin to create and build personalized therapies that uniquely address the concerns and needs of our women. Our hope is that our motto, Better Gut, Better Woman, will one day be a true household
multiple accolades including the prestigious "Physician of the Year" award, a testament to her relentless pursuit of challenging and reshaping industry norms. Her pioneering spirit is further evidenced by her trailblazing roles: the irst Black female to serve on the executive committee and the board of directors for United Digestive, and as the national chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) for Independent GI.
Respected oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Louis Bourget has spent virtually all of his 30-plus year career serving patients in Canada's Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. A welleducated man, he holds many advanced credentials, including a B.Sc., two master's degrees, a Ph.D., and several fellowships. He has also completed more than 1200 continuing education courses, including some at the Mayo Clinic.
Each year, Dr. Bourget packs up his medical instruments and supplies and takes his family to the tropics—either South America or Africa—in order to dispense muchneeded surgeries to people with severe facial and dental conditions who otherwise do not have access to such services. He also spends some of his spare time throughout the rest of the year teaching irst aid to members of the Canadian Ski Patrol.
Dr. Louis Bourget generously agreed to sit down for a brief discussion about his medical career and his humanitarian work.
Q: What made you choose oral and maxillofacial surgery as your
area of medical expertise?
Dr. Louis Bourget: I think—and have always thought—that it's an under-appreciated branch of medicine. When most people think about surgery, they tend to think of the abdominal organs, the limbs, or the brain, but the face and jaw can develop problems that need critical medical intervention, too. There are plenty of examples: people who have cleft lips or palates, people who have suffered facial trauma, and people who require treatment for oral infections. I could go on, but basically, to answer the question, when I chose my area of medical expertise, those are the people I wanted to spend my career helping.
Q: Speaking of helping, could you tell us a little about your annual humanitarian missions to the developing world?
Dr. Louis Bourget: Sure. For a week or two out of every year, myself, my family, my sister who is a nun and a physician, and a group of surgeons from multiple disciplines venture to a region of the world we think could bene it from our help. Generally, it's Brazil or one of the countries in Africa, such as Benin. Once there, we make ourselves
available to anyone who requires facial surgery, jaw surgery, or any of the other surgeries that can be provided by the contingent of specialists we have among our party. The places we pick to visit are ones that don't normally have access to doctors like us, so we're usually kept pretty busy for the duration of these trips.
Q: And your family accompanies you on these voyages?
Dr. Louis Bourget: My family is as eager to help people as I am, if not more. My little sister, a nun since the age of 17, is now 58 and is permanently stationed in Africa. She is also a physician, so she does a lot to help to prepare the areas we plan to visit and she makes sure that patient follow-ups are done properly. When we take these trips, the rest of my family assists me with my work whenever I need it. When I don't need help, they ind other ways to be of service to the people we visit. This can take many forms; everything from repairing dwellings to ixing equipment to digging irrigation ditches. I'm really quite proud of them.
Q: That's pretty remarkable in this day and age. How did the
irst of these trips come about? Where did the idea originate?
Dr. Louis Bourget: My sister, the nun, has been an inspiration to me and many others over the course of her long career. During her 25 years in Brazil, she established 100 hospitals, as well as a medical school. It was at her request I was irst asked to go to Brazil and help out wherever I could. At her behest, I also established a foundation–Dr. Bourget Prof Inc.–to facilitate donations and make sure that they reached the right people. One hundred percent of the donations go directly to where they are most needed. Dr. Bourget Prof Inc. pays for all the overhead of the missions, which frees up the donated money to help the less fortunate, instead of using them for management fees,
legal fees etc. In a more indirect and intangible sense, this whole enterprise sprang from a place of empathy and love for our fellow human beings.
Q: Do you have any words of wisdom to the aspiring oral and maxillofacial surgeons in our readership?
Dr. Louis Bourget: Following this particular path takes a great deal of time and commitment. I was in school for a very long time in order to earn the credentials I needed to open my own practices. It took a lot of hard work. Sometimes, when we immerse ourselves in a long-term endeavour, such as becoming a surgeon, we start working and we work so much that we can begin to forget where we come from. ]
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon
We get lost in the day-to-day activities. So, I would advise anyone considering oral and maxillofacial surgery as a vocation to make sure they always remember their initial inspiration for doing so–keep their internal ire burning, for lack of a better term. Once accredited and practicing medicine, you must use your talents to help others. You must think of your fellow citizen's welfare irst and foremost, instead of viewing people with medical af lictions as simply a means to make money. Becoming a surgeon means working long hours, and it means helping patients improve their quality of life. Donate your time, volunteer your medical abilities to the less fortunate, and you will experience a change in your life for the better, the likes of which it is hard to describe!
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ --
U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in rankings and consumer advice, today announced the 2024-2025 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For: Private Companies . The ratings evaluate the best privately owned companies and nonpro it organizations with at least 5,000 employees across 18 industries to help employees and job seekers make decisions about workplaces that may be a good it for them.
The new ratings are part of the ongoing diversi ication of U.S. News' Best Companies offerings and career advice. They offer an analysis of private businesses and nonpro it organizations that best meet consumer preferences across factors including quality of pay and bene its, work-life balance and lexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.
“U.S. News' private company ratings contribute to the expansion of Best Companies' suite of resources and advice," said Carly Chase, vice president of Careers at U.S. News. "Whether you're a new grad seeking a mission-driven organization to launch your career, a seasoned professional interested in joining a family-owned business,
or an HR professional researching organizational methods across public and private companies, these ratings provide a hub to see which businesses are supporting their employees best."
With input from a panel of experts , U.S. News' methodology analyzes publicly available employee sentiment of companies, incorporating editorial judgment and other data that informs how a company supports the everyday experience of its workers. The 2024-2025 ratings are grouped by Industry Classi ication Benchmark (ICB) standards highlighting over 200 private companies and nonpro it organizations across 18 industries. Industries include inancial services, manufacturing, consumer products and services, and more.
To calculate the U.S. News Best Companies to Work For: Private Companies list, U.S. News only considered private companies and nonpro it organizations that have at least 5,000 employees and more than $500 million in annual revenue, as de ined by Crunchbase, and had at least 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 20202023.
Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs , Good Jobs Champions Group , Sustainable Accounting
Standards Board and Global Reporting Initiative to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology .
For more information, including what makes a great company to work for, career paths in customer service and IT, and more, visit Best Places to Work For and U.S. News' expanding Careers offerings and share the ratings on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy of icials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives and communities. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, Real Estate, Careers and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
SOURCE U.S. News & World Report, L.P.
As volunteer judges,
participants can evaluate exceptional achievements and innovations across various industries, helping to recognize the best in American business.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Globee® Awards for USA, a premier data-driven business awards program, invites businesses and working professionals to join its distinguished panel of judges. As volunteer judges, participants can evaluate exceptional achievements and innovations across various industries, helping to recognize the
best in American business.
For more details and to submit your application to participate as a judge, visit https://globeeawards.com/amer ican-business/
The judging process is data-driven and involves a peer-to-peer and industry expert review. Judges will play a critical role in selecting winners for this prestigious program.ABOUT THE GLOBEE AWARDS
The Globee Awards present recognition in ten programs and
competitions, including the Globee® Awards for Arti icial Intelligence, Globee® Awards for Business (International), Globee® Awards for Customer Excellence, Globee® Awards for Cybersecurity, Globee® Awards for Disruptors, Globee® Awards for Innovation (also known as Golden Bridge Awards®), Globee® Awards for Technology, Globee® Awards for Leadership, Globee® Awards for USA (previously known as Globee® Awards for American Business), and Globee® Awards for Women In Business. To learn more about the Globee Awards, please visit the website: https://globeeawards.com
