53. Health vs. Illness: Pat Caslin on Living with Multiple Sclerosis

We spend billions of dollars a year on healthcare yet no one can give a satisfactory definition of health. Is our inability to articulate what health is precisely the reason for our insanely dysfunctional healthcare systems?

Our guest today will give us his very personal reflections on that question. Pat Caslin is a business strategist from Dublin, Ireland, who’s had a successful career nationally and internationally, working for a variety of financial and business development institutions. Eleven years ago he was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Five years ago the disease became progressive and he lost his ability to walk.

Instead of letting the illness take over his life, Pat went through a profound change of perspective regarding his health and what it means to be healthy. As a result, he has been sharing his insights, both in writing and in speaking engagements, with students, with physicians, with patients, and with the public at large. He was recently selected to give a TEDx talk in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland.