Press Play: healtheo360

In this edition of Press Play we talked with Doug Lesko, Senior Director, Marketing

at healtheo360. The healtheo360 community includes patients, their caregivers, family members and friends who come to share their personal healing stories so that others may find motivation as they go through the journey of living with their condition.

Storytelling is a very important tool for those suffering from chronic conditions. Patients seem to have this amazing instinct to help make a difference in the lives of others.  In my eyes, they are the real superheroes. Not only are they going through a difficult journey themselves, but they also have the courage to share their story in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others like them. When a patient hears the story of someone else like them, they realize they are not alone and there are many others feeling what they are feeling. This becomes an extremely powerful weapon in their battle against their condition. - Doug Lesko

NYXT: Tell us how you got involved with healtheo360.

Doug Lesko: I joined healtheo360 in September of 2018 in search of a career change.  Having lost my brother to a rare cancer, I was drawn to healtheo360’s mission of providing encouragement, inspiration, and support for those suffering from chronic conditions.

NYXT: How did healtheo360 come to exist? What societal problems are you trying to solve?

DL: Our Founder, Dave Duplay, created healtheo360 after his mother and sister-in-law were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Breast Cancer respectively.  In his search to find support for them, he noticed challenges in attending physical support groups. As a result, he envisioned a safe and secure online place where patients can connect with one another to share their stories. 

NYXT: What have been the main changes throughout the history of the organization? 

DL: As a young company we have tried a lot of different things.  Many of them did not work, but we were able to learn from them and have achieved great success as a result.  Our continued focus on video has enabled us to mass a library of over 5000 health-related videos and stories. 

NYXT: Why do you think that storytelling is such an important tool? Can you share some results you have seen through your community?

DL: Storytelling is a very important tool for those suffering from chronic conditions.  Patients seem to have this amazing instinct to help make a difference in the lives of others.  In my eyes they are the real superheroes. Not only are they going through a difficult journey themselves, but they also have the courage to share their story in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others like them. When a patient hears the story of someone else like them, they realize they are not alone and there are many others feeling what they are feeling. This becomes an extremely powerful weapon in their battle against their condition. 

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