Have you ever sat in a waiting room for 45 minutes, only to get 10 minutes with a provider who barely looks up from the screen? Walked away with a prescription, but no real understanding of what’s going on.
You’re not imagining things. And you’re definitely not alone.
In this episode of Sofia Unfiltered, host Riley Rees is joined by two doctors who’ve seen it all from the inside—Dr. Alan Roth and Dr. Andy Lazris, co-authors of A Return to Healing. Together, they reveal how a century of medical policy, corporate influence, and rigid protocols quietly transformed healthcare into something impersonal, fragmented, and profit-driven.
They’re not just naming the problem—they’re helping us understand how we got here, and what you can do to take your power back as a patient.
This blog breaks down their insights, key takeaways, and the most common questions people are asking about what’s wrong with modern medicine and how to find care that actually feels like care again.
Let’s take it from the top.
Dr. Alan Roth and Dr. Andy Lazris trace the roots of today’s broken system all the way back to 1910—when the Flexner Report reshaped medical education in the U.S. While it standardized scientific training, it also shut down many schools that served women, Black students, and those focused on holistic or community-based approaches.
The result? Medicine became more technical, but less human.
Over time, powerful players such as pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, hospitals, and device manufacturers began to influence how care was delivered, billed, and measured. Healing started to take a back seat to protocols, profits, and productivity.
“Medicine became a business. It became about producing research and profit, not about healing. And that’s where we lost the art of medicine.” — Dr. Alan Roth.
Today, most appointments are scheduled in tight 10–15 minute blocks. Your provider may be juggling quotas, screen time, coding requirements, and insurance hurdles—leaving very little space actually to hear your story.
But here’s the good news: true, patient-centered care still exists. You just have to know where to look.
Find providers who take the time to treat the whole person:
Functional Medicine Experts | Integrative Health Experts
Lab work can be a useful tool—but it’s not the whole story. And it shouldn’t be the only thing guiding your care.
Drs. Roth and Lazris explain that modern medicine has shifted toward treating numbers, not people. Conditions like prediabetes, high cholesterol, or prehypertension are often diagnosed based on strict lab thresholds—many of which are created by expert panels with deep ties to pharmaceutical companies.
That means more people are being labeled as “sick” earlier, even when they feel fine, and are often prescribed medications without clear evidence that those drugs will lead to better long-term outcomes.
“We’re treating patients. We’re not treating numbers. What's important is what matters to the patient, not what's the matter with them.” — Dr. Roth.
If you’ve ever felt confused by your results or pressured into a treatment that didn’t feel right, you're not alone. You deserve context, clarity, and care that aligns with your goals—not just your numbers.
Looking for help interpreting your labs with a real person?
Book a session with a Health Coach who can walk through your results and help you understand what they really mean—for you.
If you or someone you love is juggling five, six, or even ten daily prescriptions—you’re not alone. And you’re right to question it.
Drs. Roth and Lazris raise a serious concern: many older adults are being overprescribed medications like statins, blood thinners, and sedatives, even when the risks may outweigh the benefits. The problem? Clinical guidelines often don’t adjust for things like age, frailty, or personal quality-of-life goals.
Doctors are under pressure to follow standardized protocols—even when those protocols don’t make sense for every patient.
Our interviewees also add:
“We’ve seen patients harmed because no one stopped to ask if the medication was still helping.” - Dr. Andy Lazris.
“Medicine became a business. Too often, decisions about medications are driven by guidelines or profit, not by what’s best for the patient.” - Dr. Alan Roth.
Polypharmacy (taking multiple medications) can lead to dangerous interactions, dizziness, brain fog, and increased risk of falls. But many families don’t know a second opinion is even an option.
Want a fresh look at your medications or your parent’s treatment plan?
Find an Integrative Practitioner on Sofia Health for a thoughtful, personalized review.
If it feels like your doctor is in and out of the room before you’ve finished explaining what’s wrong, you’re not imagining it.
Drs. Roth and Lazris say this isn’t a personal failing. It’s structural.
Primary care doctors are expected to manage the most complex, ongoing health concerns—but they’re often paid the least, burdened with endless documentation, and given just 10–15 minutes per patient. Many medical students are even discouraged from pursuing primary care because of the low pay and high pressure.
The outcome? Burnout, turnover, and less time for real connection.
Dr. Roth says: “We’ve created a system where the most important relationship—the one between doctor and patient—is constantly under threat.” And Dr. Lazris completes: “Doctors want to listen, to understand the whole person, but the system simply doesn’t give them the time to do it.”
If you’re craving more time, more context, and a provider who truly listens, it may be time to step outside the standard insurance-based model.
Looking for longer visits and whole-person support?
Explore Lifestyle Providers who can take the time to actually care for you.
Sometimes, getting a diagnosis doesn’t lead to better health—it leads to more stress, more tests, and more treatment than you actually need.
This is called overdiagnosis, and it happens when a condition is identified that might never cause symptoms, illness, or affect your life at all. Examples include mild thyroid irregularities, early-stage prostate or breast changes, and other low-risk findings.
Once labeled, though, it’s hard to hit pause. Many patients are funneled into a cycle of follow-ups, biopsies, procedures, and medications—all without clear evidence that these interventions will help.
“We’ve created a system that rewards overtesting and overtreatment. We end up doing things to people that don’t help them, sometimes even hurt them.” — Dr. Andy Lazris.
The emotional, physical, and financial costs can be significant—and the benefits? Sometimes minimal.
Want to work with someone who treats the whole person, not just the test result?
Connect with Practitioners focused on your care.
In many cases—yes.
Drs. Roth and Lazris explain that patients are often sent from one specialist to another, with no single provider seeing the full picture. You might end up with five doctors for five symptoms, but no one connecting the dots or asking about your life, stress, nutrition, or emotional health.
Specialists are essential for addressing urgent or complex issues, but they often lack the time or training to identify the root cause or guide long-term healing. The result? Fragmented care, conflicting advice, and a patient left feeling overwhelmed.
“We’ve created what I call the over-specialization of healthcare. There are no relationships, and to me, the art of medicine is about relationship-based care. It is not a transaction,” says Dr. Alan Roth.
If you’ve ever felt bounced around the system without real answers, it’s time to build a team that puts you at the center.
Start with a provider who sees the whole you: Book a Health Coach to coordinate care that actually makes sense.
Why Doesn’t My Doctor Talk to Me About Nutrition, Exercise, or Stress?
It’s not that your doctor doesn’t care—it’s that most were never trained to.
Traditional medical education focuses heavily on disease, diagnosis, and medication, rather than on prevention, nutrition, or the everyday habits that significantly impact one's health. In fact, many doctors receive less than 25 hours of nutrition education during their entire training.
And because the healthcare system rewards procedures and prescriptions over lifestyle support, even well-meaning providers may feel pressure to treat the symptom, not the source.
But the research is clear: lifestyle changes like movement, nutrition, and stress reduction can transform chronic conditions.
“Doctors are not trained in nutrition, they’re not trained in prevention. We’re trained in disease, we’re trained in pharmacology, we’re trained in diagnosis, and we’re trained in testing. That’s the model we’re taught. So when a patient comes in, we’re not thinking about how to make them healthier — we’re thinking about what disease they have and what pill we give them,” says Dr. Lazris.
You deserve a care team that talks to you about how you live, not just what you take.
Explore support from providers who prioritize whole-body wellness:
Take a moment with a Yoga Instructor or Nutritionist on Sofia Health.
More people—patients and doctors—are walking away from the traditional healthcare model. And it’s not hard to see why.
Concierge medicine is growing because it offers what so many feel is missing: time, trust, and truly personalized care. In these models, providers work with fewer patients, offer longer appointments, and focus on prevention, lifestyle, and whole-person health—not just insurance billing codes.
It’s not accessible to everyone yet, but its popularity points to a bigger truth: people are craving deeper connection, not faster visits.
Dr. Andy Lazris completes: “When you give doctors the time to spend with a patient—to really listen, to understand their life and context—it completely changes the relationship. Care becomes about helping the person, not just following a checklist or billing codes.”
Looking for providers who offer more personalized, concierge-style care?
Explore wellness-focused providers on Sofia Health who prioritize quality over quotas.
The system can change—but it won’t happen overnight. And it won’t happen without people like you demanding something better.
Drs. Roth and Lazris believe real reform starts with awareness, advocacy, and action. They’re calling for bold changes, including:
Dr. Alan Roth says: “The healthcare system isn’t broken beyond repair, but it will only change if patients speak up, ask questions, and demand care that actually meets their needs.”
You don’t have to accept rushed visits, vague answers, or care that doesn’t feel right. You do have options—and you deserve providers who see and support the whole you.
Ready for a better experience?
Find a specialist who builds a relationship that supports your real health goals.
Advocating for yourself starts with asking the right questions and not being afraid to speak up when something doesn’t sit right.
Drs. Roth and Lazris encourage patients to approach medical visits as a conversation, not just a check-up. You're not just there to receive instructions—you’re there to make decisions with your provider, not for them.
Here are a few powerful questions that can shift the entire dynamic:
“Patients who ask clear, thoughtful questions and aren’t afraid to get a second opinion often end up with care that actually fits their life.” — Dr. Lazris.
You deserve a provider who respects your voice and partners with you on your health.
Looking for someone who listens? Book a care that aligns with your needs and values.
This episode and everything you’ve just read isn’t meant to overwhelm you. It’s here to give you clarity, direction, and the reminder that you’re allowed to expect more from your care.
You deserve to feel heard.
You deserve to understand your options.
You deserve care that looks at the whole you—not just your lab results.
And the good news? That kind of care is out there. Right now. Through providers who put people first—not profits. At Sofia Health, we connect you with expert practitioners who support your whole-person wellness journey. From functional medicine and integrative health to therapy, yoga, movement, and personalized coaching, you’ll find guidance tailored to your unique needs. Explore the Sofia Marketplace for services, classes, and products designed to help you feel balanced, energized, and empowered to thrive every day.
Check out the full episode of the Sofia Unfiltered podcast, “Why Everything About Modern Healthcare Feels... Off”. Available now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
We’re here to help you thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether through one-on-one consultations, group classes, or on-demand expert content, Sofia Health gives you the tools to create a life that feels balanced and sustainable. Plus, with Sofia Prime, you can access both live classes and an extensive on-demand video library, featuring expert-led content in wellness, nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness.
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Disclaimer: The Sofia Unfiltered Podcast by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.