The Future of Medicine: What Every Educator Needs to Know
A few days ago I attended an inspiring and thought-provoking seminar on The Future of Medicine with Professor Grant Schofield, Dr James Muecke and Louise Schofield, organised by PREKURE. It was packed with insights that made me pause, reflect, and re-imagine how we can care for ourselves as educators and how we can help our students thrive too.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the seminar that every teacher and school leader needs to hear:
Mental Health in Crisis- and What’s Fueling It
Rates of mental health challenges in young people have skyrocketed, from just 5.6% in 2012 to nearly 25% today. What’s changed? One major culprit: screen time.
Non-educational screen use averages up to 9 hours a day in the U.S., and likely 7+ hours in NZ. The result? Shorter attention spans, pleasure-seeking, addiction, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms when we disconnect.
The fix? Limit digital distractions. Get outside. Move. Connect face-to-face. Choose your hard, because comfort isn't always our friend.
Ultra-Processed Foods Are Killing Us—Literally
Almost 50% of the modern diet consists of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), designed to make us overeat and packed with sugar, seed oils, and refined carbs. These contribute to insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even cancer.
The solution? Real food. Whole food. Simple food. Not perfection, just progress.
"Prevention is cure." – Prof. Grant Schofield
Type 2 Diabetes Is Reversible
Dr James Muecke’s talk was around research and clinical experience that proves that type 2 diabetes is a late-stage, lifestyle-driven disease, and it can be reversed in many cases with a low-carb, whole-food approach.
Start small:
Ditch sugary drinks
Move more (even just walking!)
Get outside in the morning sun
Sleep better, stress less
Reduce carbs (under 50g a day)
Studies show measurable improvement in less than a month when people adopt these changes.
Reclaim Your Power Through Habits
Louise Schofield’s message was powerful and personal. She reminded us that:
You are your best health advocate.
Your body is always whispering feedback; are you listening?
Change is messy and nonlinear but always possible.
“Healthy habits beat motivation every time.”
Whether it’s cutting back on alcohol, improving sleep, or saying yes to more joy—small, consistent actions matter more than perfect routines.
The 7 Habits of Healthy People (That Actually Work)
Eat – Have 5–6 go-to healthy meals. Make decisions easy.
Move—snack activity. Build movement into your day.
Breathe — nasal breathing to regulate your nervous system.
Rest—Prioritise sleep. Your body needs recovery.
Align – Live with purpose. Teaching is your ‘why’—let it guide you.
Connect – Other people matter. Celebrate joy together.
Engineer – Make your environment support healthy choices.
What Does This Mean for Educators?
You can’t pour from an empty cup. When we’re well, physically, mentally, and emotionally—we’re better for our students, our families, and ourselves.
Let’s shift the conversation in schools from treating illness to teaching health. Let’s model resilience, nourishment, and joy. Let’s lead the next generation not just to academic success—but to long, vibrant, meaningful lives.
You matter. Your health matters. And the future of medicine? It starts with us.
