An Introduction from the Author
Welcome, I am so glad you’re here!
Health is rarely straightforward. Whether you're trying to prevent disease, navigate a chronic condition, care for someone you love, or simply determine the next best step for your own well-being, the greatest challenge often isn't a lack of information—it is knowing what to do with the overwhelming amount of information available to us.
This realization is what led me to write Health Shift. My name is Dr. Alice Burron, the author of Health Shift and founder of Strategic Action Health. I am so excited you’re here! I am honored to share this experience with you, and I look forward to exploring what is possible together.
So, why did I write Health Shift? For years, I found myself fascinated by a question that seemed surprisingly absent from many conversations about health: Why are so many Americans struggling with their health when there is so much information and health-intervention options available today?
Answering that question took me into research fields including biology, physiology, psychology, behavior change science, decision science, behavioral economics, consumer science, and health communication. I wanted to understand not only what influences our health, but what influences the decisions we make about our health—and why those decisions so often determine the direction of our lives.
What I discovered fundamentally changed the way I think about health.
Health is not simply the product of knowledge, motivation, or willpower. Rather, it is shaped by the interaction of our experiences, beliefs, emotions, relationships, environment, habits, and countless invisible influences that quietly affect the decisions we make every day. Once we begin to recognize those influences, however, something remarkable happens: we become better equipped to navigate uncertainty with greater clarity, confidence, and intention.
That is the invitation I hope to extend to you through this book club.
This is not simply an opportunity to read a book. It is an opportunity to pause long enough to examine how you think about your health, to become curious about the assumptions and patterns that have shaped your decisions, and to explore a more intentional path forward. Whether you have spent years studying health or are just beginning your journey, I believe you will discover something meaningful about yourself if you are willing to approach this experience with both curiosity and humility. After all, the greatest breakthroughs often begin, not with finding a new answer, but with learning to ask a new or better question.
As we move through these six weeks together, I encourage you to resist the temptation to simply consume information or to assume you already know it. Instead, engage deeply with the material. Read thoughtfully, reflect honestly, ask questions, participate in our weekly Live Sessions, and allow yourself the time and space to consider how these ideas intersect with your own life. This experience was intentionally designed not merely to teach you about health, but to help you think differently about it.
And if you are currently facing a health concern of your own, I encourage you to take advantage of the resources available to you. Participants enrolled in the Cigna Health Plan have the opportunity to work alongside a Health Navigator Coach at no cost—a chance to apply these ideas to your own health situation in real time with the support of someone trained to help you navigate complexity with clarity.
There are few opportunities to step away from the demands of everyday life and devote intentional time to understanding your health more deeply. My hope is that, by the end of our journey together, you will leave not only with new knowledge but with a renewed sense of confidence in your ability to navigate whatever health decisions lie ahead.
LOGISTICS
This Health Shift Book Club website is designed to help you get the most out of the Book Club experience.
Chapter Readings: Each week's assigned chapters are listed at the top of the page.
Live Sessions: You'll find links to reserve your spot for our weekly live sessions. These are opportunities to dive deeper into the material, hear behind-the-scenes insights from the book, and explore how these ideas apply to real-life health situations.
Quick Notes: Short on time? We've got you covered. Each week includes a CliffsNotes-style summary highlighting key concepts and takeaways from the reading.
Bonus Resources: Throughout the Book Club, I'll share additional articles, tools, videos, and resources that expand on the ideas in the book and help you continue learning.
Ask Dr. Alice: Have a question? Every week, you'll have the opportunity to submit questions about the material and its relevance to your own health journey. I'll do my best to answer as many as possible during our live sessions. You're welcome to submit questions anonymously if you'd prefer.
Most importantly, stay curious. Reflect often. Think about how these ideas show up in your own life.
Remember, you have access to FREE Health Navigator Coaching at any time.
I am honored to share this experience with you, and I look forward to exploring what is possible together.
Welcome to your Health Shift!
Dr. Alice Burron
Curious about the deeper story and inspiration behind Health Shift? You can read the story behind the book here on my Substack, Health Shift with Dr. Alice Burron.