S6E17: Michael Dowling - Talks Aging, Storytelling & Gun Violence
Healthcare thought leader Michael J. Dowling returns to Irish Stew to discuss his new book The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults, the launch of Northwell Studios to tell stories that humanize health care, and why he sees gun violence as a public health priority.
Last on Irish Stew in April, 2021, the Limerick-born Northwell Health CEO shares insights into the progress of geriatric healthcare, the societal challenges posed by an aging population, finding the one thing that matters to older adults, and the role of immigration in a graying world.
“We all want to age, nobody says I don't want to get older. So, we should have respect for people as they get older because we will be there someday ourselves,” he says.
Michael also tells how the new Northwell Studios will bring fresh storytelling to healthcare today, building on the success of the acclaimed Netflix documentary series Lenox Hill and Emergency NYC, and the Academy Award-shortlisted Covid-19 documentary The First Wave.
We wrap with Michael’s advocacy for viewing American gun violence as a public health crisis and how corporate America is embracing this new thinking.
To catch Michale Dowling’s infectious optimism, join us on this check-in episode of Irish Stew.
Links
- Website
- Book: The Aging Revolution
- Northwell Health: Michael Dowling
00:00 - Introduction
01:08 - Limerick and Life Long Learning
02:50 - America's Graying Tsunami
06:15 - Lessons From Writing a Book
10:04 - Breakthroughs in Senior Care
11:57 - Nobody Says: I Don't Want to Get Older
16:44 - Practitioner Challanges
21:13 - What Matters: That One Thing
22:41 - Bringing Real Healthcare to TV
29:19 - Gun Violence: A Public Health Issue
39:05 - Reasons For Optimism
42:04 - Credits
CEO Emeritus Northwell Health
Michael J. Dowling is one of health care’s most influential voices. He is an award-winning health care leader, author and national keynote speaker who takes a stand on societal issues such as gun violence, corporate social responsibility, and immigration—issues many health system leaders shy away from. Mr. Dowling, who was president and CEO of Northwell Health for 23 years, is now CEO emeritus. He will continue to serve Northwell in an advisory capacity, supporting key public health initiatives and focusing on teaching and writing.
Named a "Titan" on the 2025 TIME100 Health list, Mr. Dowling led Northwell to become the only health system on TIME's 2025 Most Influential Companies list. He has also been ranked on Modern Healthcare's 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare list for sixteen consecutive years, achieving the top spot in 2022.
Mr. Dowling is an author; Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis (2020), After the Roof Caved In: An Immigrant's Journey from Ireland to America (2020) and The Aging Revolution: The History of Geriatric Health Care and What Really Matters to Older Adults (2024).
Mr. Dowling grew up in Limerick, Ireland.