The Breakfast Club INTERVIEW: CEO Dennis Pullin Talks Virtua Health, Affordable Healthcare, NYC Nurse Strike + More
Feb 16, 2026
Dennis Pullin, President and CEO of Virtua Health, leads an academic health system focused on community care. He discusses health literacy and why education matters. He talks about mobile clinics and local access. He addresses bias, board diversity, staff safety, labor relations, and the high cost of healthcare.
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Health Literacy Drives Costs
- Dennis Pullin identifies health literacy as the number one problem in healthcare today.
- He links poor navigation skills to expensive ER use instead of cheaper primary or virtual care.
Use Trusted Local Sources
- Find reliable local sources and build relationships with community physicians or health systems for accurate health info.
- Avoid relying on social media like TikTok for critical medical guidance.
Zip Code Beats Genes
- Social determinants (zip code, food access, housing, transport) shape about 80% of health outcomes.
- These nonmedical factors produce huge life-expectancy gaps across nearby communities.