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Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

Written by: Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
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The bar for human performance is higher than it’s ever been. As a result, we all feel the need to do MORE. At the same time, we are becoming increasingly aware of the value of sleep, rest, recovery, and wellness. Accordingly, we also feel the need to do LESS. If you’re like most people, it can be challenging to reconcile this conflict of feeling the need to do MORE and LESS simultaneously, and that is likely contributing to high rates of burnout and decreased performance. So how do we reconcile these seemingly competing desires? That is where Human Optimization comes in. Human Optimization is the process of achieving more (however you define that for yourself) while simultaneously improving your wellness and well-being. Although it’s not easy, it’s certainly possible. Not only is it possible, but it is becoming increasingly essential. In this Mayo Clinic Talks Mini-Series, we are going to dive into the topic of Human Optimization and will focus on a few key areas including: exercise, nutrition, culture, emotional intelligence, and finding joy in all you do.

Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at:
https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize
X: @MayoHumanOpProj
Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj
YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube
Email: optimize@mayo.edu

Listening is free and no CME Credit is available for this series.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Success
Episodes
  • E46 How to Tell if You Are Healthy: The Highest Impact Health Metrics You Need to Know
    Jan 7 2026

    Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

    Guest: Stephen L. Kopecky MD, FACC, FAHA, MASPC, Professor of Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Division of Preventive Cardiology | Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN

    Straightforward question…are you healthy? Sounds like a simple question, but how in the world are we supposed to answer that? In the sea of health information out there, how do we define “healthy," and what simple metrics can we use to tell if we are hitting the mark? For those of us looking to be our best selves, we need to prioritize our health. And in order to do that, we need to know what we are aiming for, in our quest to become healthy. To answers those questions and more, our expert guest today is Dr. Stephen Kopecky.

    The three big questions we have for Dr. Kopecky are:

    1. What qualifies a person as “being healthy” and what should we measure?
    2. What are the most common distractors and metrics that take us away from focusing on what matters most?
    3. What are the simplest, sustainable steps to improve the metrics that matter most for our overall health?

    Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube

    Email: optimize@mayo.edu

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    54 mins
  • E45 How to Improve Performance and Increase Well-Being Simultaneously
    Dec 31 2025

    Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project

    Guest: Graeme Rosenberg, MD., Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery | Director of Performance & Wellness for the Department of Surgery | Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, CA

    We define “human optimization” as the ability to do “more” while simultaneously improving our well-being. One of the keys to that is, defining what “more” means to you, because it’s different for all of us. The other key is linking that “more” up with your well-being. Many people feel that in order to accomplish more, their well-being automatically has to suffer. We don’t think that’s the case, and we are going to tell you why in this episode with our expert guest, Dr. Graeme Rosenberg.

    The three big questions we are going to tackle are: 1. How do we define performance and well-being, and what is their relationship with one another? 2. Why does it seem like our performance and our well-being are in competition with one another? 3. What practical steps can we take right now to allow us to achieve more, while simultaneously improving well-being?

    How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action!

    Discussion Questions for this Episode:

    1) Dr. Rosenberg defines performance as an equation involving individual abilities, internal factors, and external environmental factors, all aimed at an "outcome of interest." How do you currently define "performance" in your own life or work? How might broadening this definition to include these components change your perspective? 2) The podcast emphasizes that "more" (in human optimization) is individualized and rooted in personal values and priorities. What does more mean to you? What steps could you take to better align your performance objectives with your core values? 3) Dr. Rosenberg argues that performance and well-being are intrinsically linked and synergistic, rather than being in competition. Can you recall a time when improving your well-being (e.g., better sleep, less stress) directly led to improved performance, or vice versa? 4) The discussion differentiates between "enduring" (suffering for suffering's sake) and "performing" (suffering linked to purpose). How often do you find yourself "enduring" rather than "performing?" 5) Dr. Rosenberg distinguishes "rest" from "recovery," defining wellness as a verb (actions taken to build well-being). What specific "wellness actions" do you intentionally incorporate into your routine? Or: Identify one or two to incorporate this week and record/ journal what you notice about your performance. 6) The episode suggests that well-being can serve as a "barometer" for whether you need to reassess your approach to performance. How attuned are you to your own well-being as an indicator? What changes might it be signaling for you right now? 7) The call to action encourages listeners to define their values, vision, mission, and purpose. If you were to start this process today, what's one core value or purpose that you believe would significantly impact both your performance and well-being? 8) Dr. Rosenberg states, "Perfection should be the engine, not the outcome." How does this reframe the concept of striving for excellence? Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: optimize@mayo.edu

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • E44 Building Blocks of Leadership: How to Find the Leader Inside You
    Dec 24 2025
    Host: Christopher L. Camp, M.D., Creator & Guide | Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project Guest: John C. Benson, MD, Neuroradiologist | Associate Professor, Radiology | Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN Regardless of your official role or job title, you are a leader. Leadership takes on so many different forms, and this is true both inside and outside of the workplace. Any time you are interacting with another human being, there is an opportunity for leadership. Fortunately, we all have leadership skills inside of us. The question is whether or not we fully understand them, work to develop them, and put them into practice in our everyday lives. In order to help you do just that, our expert guest today is Dr. John Benson, and the three big questions we are going to answer are: What makes someone a leader?Why do we often struggle to embody leadership qualities, or struggle to see them in ourselves?What practical steps can we take to become well rounded, fully formed leaders? How to start a Mayo Clinic Human Optimization Project “Pod-Club”: Step 1: Find 2-30 friends who want to get better Step 2: Choose your episodes (can be focused on specific themes or random) Step 3: Listen to/watch the episodes Step 4: Meet with your group to work through the provided discussion questions for each episode, and feel free to add your own! Step 5: Celebrate the fact that you are turning passive knowledge into action! Discussion Questions for this Episode: 1) How do you personally define leadership? What are the ideal qualities of a good leader? 2) Prior to reviewing this content, did you consider yourself to be a leader (independent of your professional title)? Why or why not? 3) What are some of the qualities you embody that allow you to have a positive impact on others? Do you view this as leadership? Why or why not? 4) What are some of the reasons that you haven’t considered yourself to be a leader in certain situations in the past? Do you feel like these qualities are legitimate reasons that you can’t lead others? To overcome them, do you need to change your behavior, change how you see yourself, or change your definition of what a leader is? Or is it a combination of all of these elements? 5) What are some of the obstacles you’ve experienced in being a young/new leader? Now, what are some of the benefits of being a young/new leader? 6) What are your leadership goals for yourself? Who, what, how, and why do you want to influence others? No wrong answers here as leadership goals can (and should) look very different for each of us. We have to cultivate our own definitions of success here, but you can refine that definition based on feedback from others. 7) Now you’ve defined your leadership goals, tell your group at least one new thing (action step) you are going to do or behavior you are going to adopt to improve as a leader. 8) After others list the "one new thing" or "action step" they are going to do, help them refine that to make it more: clear, objective, measurable, and simple. The more we can make our actions clear, objective, measurable, and simple, the more likely we are to do them and enjoy the process! Learn more about the Human Optimization Project at: https://ce.mayo.edu/optimize X: @MayoHumanOpProj Instagram: @MayoHumanOpProj YouTube: The Human Optimization Project - YouTube Email: optimize@mayo.edu
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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