When I was younger, I remember hearing the phrase, “I gave at the office.” It was a polite way to decline donating to fundraising drives and door-to-door campaigns. I used to walk our neighborhood on Labor Day weekend raising money for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, a fundraiser for muscular dystrophy research and patient services. I am pretty sure that I heard the comment “I gave at the office,” from a neighbor or two over the years.

I want to challenge that statement and ask: Is it enough to give at the office?

What can we do to improve healthcare for all Americans (and maybe even those around the world)? How can we extend the quality of life for many?

If you are reading this, then you are directly or indirectly involved in improving healthcare already. Those in my part of the industry continue to develop new equipment, acquisition techniques, and AI systems to benefit patients. Most of you are involved in looking for new ways to lower the cost of healthcare delivery and improve its quality at the same time.

I have personally developed new technologies and designed and launched new products that, for years, have been helping detect, diagnose, and treat cardiac disease for patients I will never meet. I have found healthcare to be a noble and fulfilling profession. But I ask myself if that is enough — just to give at the office.

For me, the answer is no. So, I ask you the same question: Is it enough to give at the office?

I have decided this year to volunteer and donate time, energy, and money as I serve as the executive chair of the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Houston. I will work with new and old friends and colleagues to raise funds, as well as increase visibility and education on topics related to heart health. This includes the role of technology in early detection and life extension.

Sadly, I have not done enough of this in the past.

Like many of you, I have lived in the medical technology arena for a while. In fact, I recently realized that I started my first job in this field just over 30 years ago in January 1996. I have experience and knowledge that isn’t common or widespread. You all do, too.

When I talk to a family member or friend, I realize that they don’t fully understand what we do for patients. I know for sure that my conversations with a family member led her to get regular MRIs for breast cancer screening, and her disease was caught as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a very early form of breast cancer. I also know that conversations with my best friends about cardiac disease and cardiac CT technology at least in part led to the discovery and treatment of coronary artery disease before a life-changing or (scary) life-ending episode.

I don’t say that to brag. I say it to stimulate the thought in many of you: “Who should I talk to about such things?” I am sure many of you have similar stories and can also think of people with whom you should share your knowledge.

That’s my simple but main point of encouragement for the day.

Can we find a little extra money or time? Can we go out of the way to have a conversation or lean into a program like the Heart Walk?

I will put out the pitch for the Houston Heart Walk if you live in the area. Please reach out and I will get you engaged. And since many of you reading this column are in executive positions, keep in mind that I am looking for a few willing to lean in a little more and take a board position with me.

There are people in our lives who can use what we know and do every day. There are also people whom we will never meet but can benefit from the time and energy we spend out of the office, whether that’s walking a 5K for the American Heart Association or another cause you’re passionate about in your own hometown.

I am confident I will hear stories this year of people who are alive because of the education that others before me invested “out of the office.” I am hopeful I will play a small role in doing that for others.

I hope I will be able to meet someone someday who benefited from my efforts, including the Heart Walk activities this year. I hope you will consider giving outside the office to have an impact not only on the people you know, but for so many more that you don’t know, too. 

Time to walk, outside.