Strategic Advisor, Verisk Analytics
Search every verified Neil Spector interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Neil Spector, a strategic advisor at Verisk Analytics and an oncologist, has spoken publicly about his experience with Lyme disease and his views on the medical community's approach to the illness. In a 2016 interview, Spector stated that the medical community has "failed patients" with Lyme disease, attributing this to a "dogmatic approach" that influences how doctors treat patients. He noted that after four years of being told he was stressed, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease and treated with antibiotics, but the damage to his heart was permanent. Spector also criticized Lyme disease testing, calling it "lousy" and stating that a negative test does not always mean a patient does not have the disease. He argued that the perception that Lyme disease is "easy to diagnose and easy to treat" has affected funding and priorities. In a separate 2016 TEDx talk, Spector discussed the tension between precision medicine and the art of medicine. He argued that doctors have become "so addicted to tests that they've forgotten to utilize their clinical skills," and that a thorough history and physical exam can lead to an accurate diagnosis 70 to 90 percent of the time. Spector stated that the average clinic visit in the US is 15 to 19 minutes and that patients are often interrupted after 12 seconds, which he said contributes to medical errors. He advocated for a healthcare system that allows physicians to practice both the art of medicine and precision medicine, rather than viewing them as a false dichotomy.
“The medical community in the Lyme disease world has failed patients. I don't blame my doctors — I blame the people that have created a dogmatic approach that influences doctors as to how they treat patients.”
“There’s this perception being communicated to the highest levels in Washington and to the funding agencies that this is a disease that’s easy to diagnose and easy to treat — so if you're making decisions about priorities, Lyme is not seen as a big deal.”
“After four years of being told I was stressed I was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease and treated aggressively with antibiotics — most of my symptoms resolved but the damage to my heart was permanent.”
“People are falling through the cracks because of dogmatic rules that have been established for reasons as a scientist that are beyond me — we've lost the art of medicine.”
“With 300,000 people diagnosed every year — more cases than MS and I believe breast cancer — I don't understand how the medical community has not come together to start there first and then move on.”
“If your doctor says 'your test is negative' don't accept that at face value — negative doesn't always mean what lay people think, so ask what the test result actually means and ask to see the test.”
“We’re starting to bring people in from immunology and cancer research — the lessons from transforming cancer treatment are relevant to Lyme disease, and better diagnostics and new approaches are coming.”
“The testing is lousy, the state of care for people right now is woefully in need — the reason cancer is far ahead is largely thanks to funding for cancer research.”
“If you suspect Lyme disease, be tenacious: overlay your symptoms with classic Lyme features, question physicians if necessary, and don't hesitate to get a second opinion — it's your life and your life is potentially at risk.”
“Doctors today are so addicted to tests that they've forgotten to utilize their clinical skills.”
“The test for Lyme disease is not a very good test — the state of Virginia passed a bill requiring clinicians to inform patients that a negative test does not mean they don't have the disease.”
“The lack of time to adequately communicate with patients and inattentiveness to detail is a contributing factor frankly in the 440,000 deaths that occur in the US each year for medical errors.”
“There are those who say that 80% of what clinicians do will be replaced by computers — computers play an important role in big databases, but what computers can't do is gauge emotional distress that patients experience, and we know that emotional distress adversely affects health.”
“Taking a thorough history and a complete physical exam leads to an accurate diagnosis 70 to 90% of the time, but who’s got the time — the average clinic visit in the US is 15 to 19 minutes and patients are interrupted and redirected after only 12 seconds.”
“Rather than getting the antibiotics that I desperately needed I instead had a permanent pacemaker-defibrillator implanted in my chest and I was given a diagnosis of idiopathic electrical problems in my heart.”
Renowned Oncologist Neil Spector, MD shares his own personal story of his transition from doctor to patient, and how Lyme disease led to an emergency heart transplant.
Imagine that Personalized Medicine is anything but personal, where healthcare is delivered according to apps and algorithms, relegating the Art of Medicine obsolete. Dr. Spector remains a strong proponent of Personalized Medicine but not at the expense of losing the valued practice of medicine as an art rather than an exact science. Dr. Neil Spector is the author of “Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician’s Search for True Healing.” Neil Spector, MD, is also the Sandra Coates Associate Professor of Medicine, and Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University School of Med…
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