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Dr. Jessica Edwards is a board-certified family medicine physician, founder of Zahra Medical, and a former health policy fellow. With a career spanning telehealth innovation and community care—and personal experience as a parent navigating the U.S. healthcare system—she offers an unfiltered perspective on how profit-driven policies and administrative overhauls have impacted patients, providers, and public trust.

In this compelling segment from The Humanity of Fame, host Kali and Dr. Edwards trace a timeline that begins with the 9/11 attacks and ends in the era of private equity takeovers in healthcare. What started as a push for better access to digital medical records has, over the years, spiraled into a system where profits often outrank patients.

Dr. Edwards breaks down how well-intentioned policy—like electronic health records—was co-opted by corporations, leading to a mass exodus of seasoned physicians, declining patient outcomes, and the rise of impersonal, business-run healthcare. She also highlights the dangerous influence of corporate reps, conflicts of interest, and how money—not medicine—became the driver of the system.

Key Takeaways:

• The post-9/11 push for digital medical records and how it opened the door for privatization.
• How doctors were financially penalized or forced out for not complying with rapid policy shifts.
• The 2008 ban on doctor-owned hospitals and its ripple effects on healthcare quality.
• Why private equity acquisition led to a 25% drop in patient satisfaction scores.
• The recurring theme: “Follow the money.” How profit motives continue to disrupt care.

Guest Contact:
🌐 ZahraMedical.com
📣 Follow Dr. Edwards for evidence-based insight, policy awareness, and advocacy around patient-first healthcare.

Find out more about Kali and the show HERE: https://humanityoffame.com/