This is the 10th article in a series on America’s dysfunctional healthcare system.

Yesterday marked the 36th year that the world observed World No Tobacco Day. This relatively obscure milestone masks a stalled effort to curb consumption of combustible cigarettes and other nicotine-related products. It’s unlikely most people paid any attention. But the impact of smoking is all around us, even if we don’t see it. Statistics rarely tell a provocative story to compel people to action.

The ‘sick care’ model has brought us to the brink of a health crisis. For example, more than half of US adults have at least one chronic condition, and one in three suffers from multiple chronic conditions.

An open letter to my sisters and brothers on the front lines: those of us still fighting the good fight against COVID-19.