Elisa Mendel is Kaiser Permanente’s vice president of Healthworks & Product Innovation.
Q: In a few words, what does Total Health mean to you?
A: Mind, body, spirit.
Q: What’s your first health-related memory?
A: My dad is a radiologist. The smell of the x-ray department is an early familiar positive memory.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Peanut butter.
Q: If you could change one thing in health care, what would it be?
A: More value and emphasis on emotional health.
Q: In your opinion, what is the most underrated way to improve health for individuals?
A: Daily movement and laughter.
Q: Where do/would you most like to travel?
A: Anywhere I’ve never been.
Q: If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead, who would you pick?
A: My mom (she died when I was young), Gandhi, and Jimmy Stewart.