Part 2: J.D. Rockefeller and the Transformation of the Healthcare System

1. Funding the Flexner Report (1910)

• Rockefeller funded the Flexner Report, which evaluated medical schools across the U.S. and Canada.
• The report led to the closure of many schools, especially those teaching homeopathy, naturopathy, and other alternative practices.
• It promoted standardized, science-based medical education, favoring allopathic medicine.

2. Establishing Medical Institutions

• He founded the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research (1901), now Rockefeller University.
• This became a leading center for biomedical research, influencing how medicine was taught and practiced.

3. Promoting Pharmaceutical Medicine

• Rockefeller’s investments in petroleum-based pharmaceuticals aligned with the new medical model.
• His funding helped shift medicine toward drug-based treatments, sidelining holistic and preventive approaches.

4. Global Public Health Initiatives

• Through the Rockefeller Foundation, he supported public health campaigns worldwide, including efforts to combat hookworm and yellow fever.
• These initiatives helped professionalize public health and spread Western medical practices globally.

5. Reshaping Medical Education

• Rockefeller’s philanthropy led to the creation and expansion of elite medical schools like Johns Hopkins and Harvard Medical School.
• These institutions became models for rigorous, research-driven medical training, further entrenching the pharmaceutical approach.

Rockefeller’s legacy is a healthcare system that emphasizes scientific rigor, institutional control, and pharmaceutical solutions. While this brought many advances, it also marginalized alternative healing traditions and created a system heavily reliant on drugs and procedures.

In this new world many have a “Give me a pill to fix my problem”. Is this how we should truly live or should we live our life on Earth to the fullest, healthy and happy until we reach our eternal reward through Jesus Christ Sacrifice.

How the U.S. Healthcare System Compares Globally

Despite spending more than any other country on healthcare—about $14,885 per person in 2024—the U.S. ranks poorly in key health outcomes:

• Life expectancy in the U.S. is nearly 5 years shorter than in peer nations like Canada, Germany, and Japan.
• The U.S. has higher rates of infant mortality, unmanaged diabetes, and maternal deaths than other wealthy countries.
• Access to care is limited by cost, with many Americans skipping treatment due to financial barriers.
• Other countries, such as Australia, the Netherlands, and the U.K., offer universal coverage, better equity, and more efficient care delivery.

This disparity reflects a system focused on treatment over prevention, with pharmaceuticals at the center, a model heavily influenced by Rockefeller’s reforms. The Evolution of Alternative Medicine Post-Rockefeller

The Evolution of Alternative Medicine Post-Rockefeller

After the Flexner Report (1910), Rockefeller-backed reforms led to the closure of hundreds of schools teaching homeopathy, naturopathy, and herbal medicine. But alternative medicine didn’t vanish—it adapted and evolved:

• 1970s–1990s Revival: Rising interest in holistic health, yoga, acupuncture, and herbal remedies sparked a cultural shift.
• Integrative Medicine: Many hospitals now offer complementary therapies alongside conventional care, including chiropractic, acupuncture, and nutrition counseling.
• Consumer Demand: Wellness trends, organic living, and distrust of Big Pharma have fueled a resurgence of natural remedies and functional medicine.
• Regulatory Recognition: Some alternative practices, like chiropractic and acupuncture, gained licensure and insurance coverage, though others remain marginalized.

Despite Rockefeller’s attempt to monopolize medicine, public interest in holistic healing has grown, challenging the dominance of pharmaceutical-driven care.

Comparative Healthcare Systems Overview

Country	System Type	Coverage	Cost per Capita (2024)	Life Expectancy	Key Features
🇺🇸 United States	Private/Public Hybrid	Not Universal	$14,885	~76 years	High costs, pharma-driven, limited access
🇨🇦 Canada	Single-Payer (Public)	Universal	~$7,500	~82 years	Free at point of care, long wait times
🇩🇪 Germany	Multi-Payer (Public/Private)	Universal	~$7,000	~81 years	Insurance-based, efficient, strong primary care
🇯🇵 Japan	Universal Insurance	Universal	~$4,800	~84 years	Low cost, preventive focus, long life expectancy
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	National Health Service (NHS)	Universal	~$5,500	~81 years	Tax-funded, free care, strong public trust
🇫🇷 France	Statutory Health Insurance	Universal	~$5,700	~82 years	High satisfaction, mix of public/private

U.S. System: Rockefeller’s Legacy in Action

• Pharmaceutical-centric: Heavy reliance on drugs and procedures over prevention.
• Fragmented access: Insurance coverage varies widely; millions remain uninsured.
• Profit-driven: Healthcare is a major industry, with high administrative costs and corporate influence. My father always told me that the two most powerful and richest organizations in the world were the insurance industry and the Catholic Church. (Both are still and a joke)

Other Models: Emphasis on Prevention and Equity

• Countries like Japan and the U.K. prioritize preventive care and public health.
• Germany and France blend public and private systems with universal access.
• These models often achieve better outcomes at lower costs, with less emphasis on pharmaceuticals.

Sorry so much information, I will continue in next post.

Check out our first two posts on this ongoing research:

My Journey Through Biblical Wellness in Holistic Medicine

J.D. Rockefeller Transformed American Healthcare

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for our newest book on our Journey through Holistic Medicine