Dr. George Rapier’s journey to becoming a doctor was fueled by an unwavering desire for public service. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, always wanted to help people,” he reflects. This passion led him to found WellMed, a pioneering healthcare organization now majority-owned by Optum. Under his leadership, WellMed has become a standout in the realm of care delivery organizations, making significant strides in transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based care—a shift that many aspire to achieve but few have managed.
Improving Mental Health
Recently, Dr. Rapier has turned his focus to mental health, an area he believes is critically underserved, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. “I’ve seen a lot of children with mental health issues, specifically depression. Mental health care is just poor, especially since the pandemic,” he notes. His partnership with the Inspiring Children Foundation (ICF) has been a key step in his mission to revolutionize mental health care. “My mission for however much longer I live is to revolutionize mental health care, because it’s terrible right now,” he asserts.
His support of the #NotAloneChallenge, the largest mental health campaign in history, has led to the creation of the Not Alone dinner series, a collection of global events which raise awareness and funding to expand the conversation about mental health.
Innovating Healthcare Models
Dr. Rapier is a firm believer in capitative medicine, which creates financial incentives to keep people healthy, a philosophy he’s championed for 35 years. “If you want to stay in business long-term, doing capitative medicine, you damn sure take care of the patient first,” he emphasizes. This approach was influenced by his personal experiences with his parents, who struggled in a dysfunctional healthcare system. “My parents are great examples. They were medical disasters. I had to move them to get care because they were just in a totally dysfunctional system.”
He was recognized for his lifetime efforts in innovation with the Woz award from Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
Addressing the Crisis
Dr. Rapier’s commitment to mental health extends beyond early intervention. He recognizes the need for comprehensive care for those already affected by trauma. “ICF works at the beginning. It takes damaged kids and gives them a decent chance of life. At the other end, there’s people that are already damaged. The treatment for them is terrible,” he explains. His solution is a modern-day Robin Hood approach: charging those who can afford to pay to support those who cannot. “I’m going to charge the people who can afford it, because they would pay anything to be happier, and use it to support the ones who can’t.”
Improving our Quality of Life
Among the advancements in medicine, Dr. Rapier is particularly excited about the work of Peter Attia and David Sinclair. “David has proven that you can reduce biological age. I’ve been following his regimen for about five years and my telomeres have gotten longer,” he shares. He believes in the potential to significantly extend both health span and life span through proper care of the brain and body.
Advocating for Change
Dr. Rapier is optimistic about the future, seeing a growing desire for change in the wake of the pandemic. “I think the world wants a change. As a child of the 60s, we were going to change the world. It didn’t quite happen. But I think it’s coming back again,” he says. He believes that the first step towards this change is improving mental health care, as physical health cannot be fully addressed without it.
Breaking the Stigma
Reflecting on the evolving perception of mental health, Dr. Rapier observes significant progress. “In my parents’ generation, you couldn’t have a mental health issue. It couldn’t exist. In my generation, it could exist, but you didn’t want to talk about it. Now, it’s still not easy, but you can talk about it. It will continue to change, for the better,” he says.
Dr. George Rapier: A Life Dedicated to Transforming Healthcare
Dr. George Rapier’s journey to becoming a doctor was fueled by an unwavering desire to help people. “I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, always wanted to help people,” he reflects. This passion led him to found WellMed, a pioneering healthcare organization now majority-owned by Optum. Under his leadership, WellMed has become a standout in the realm of care delivery organizations, making significant strides in transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based care—a shift that many aspire to achieve but few have managed.
Balancing Success and Altruism
Dr. Rapier firmly believes that doing well and doing good are not mutually exclusive. He recalls a lesson from his days as a practicing doctor, when a group of nuns taught him a valuable lesson: “Doctor, no money, no mission.”
He has also created the Foundation Reserve, an organization that gives members access to exclusive properties and experiences throughout the world. A third of the membership cost is donated to The Inspiring Children Foundation to support their work with kids with mental health issues.
Dr. George Rapier’s story is one of dedication, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. Through his work in healthcare and mental health, he continues to strive for a better, healthier world.
This article was originally published in June 2024.
