Healthspan and the Future of Longevity

Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH, MPA

Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH, MPA, is a physician executive, geriatrician, and innovator. As managing director of the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions (DCHS) and co-dean of the Physician Leadership Academy (PLA), Dr. Bhatt directs the research agenda across life sciences and health care leading to actionable insights for client executives and their teams. Dr. Bhatt also drives high-impact collaborations and to equip key decision-makers; address place-based change; and innovate to create opportunity and advance optimal health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. He is a prominent thought leader on the issues of population health, innovation, health span, public health, artificial intelligence, and digital health. Passionate about patient care, Dr. Bhatt practices medicine and serves on the Board of Directors for Cook County Health and Goodwill Industries of Greater Milwaukee and Chicago, while in his leadership role at Deloitte. 

Dr. Francesca E. Duncan

Dr. Francesca E. Duncan is a nationally recognized reproductive biologist and aging researcher whose pioneering work has reshaped scientific understanding of how ovarian aging influences women’s overall healthspan. She is the Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Reproductive Science and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she also co-directs the Center for Reproductive Science.

Dr. Duncan’s research has helped establish that ovarian aging is not solely a fertility issue, but a critical driver of long-term health outcomes affecting cardiovascular, skeletal, cognitive, metabolic, and immune health. Her laboratory has made groundbreaking discoveries showing that aging ovaries become increasingly inflamed, fibrotic, and mechanically stiff — changes that impair hormone production and reproductive function.

Her work has opened promising new avenues for therapies aimed at preserving ovarian function and extending women’s healthy longevity. Widely regarded as a leader at the intersection of reproductive science and aging biology, Dr. Duncan has authored more than 110 scientific publications and received numerous honors for innovation in reproductive medicine and women’s health. Her research continues to advance a new paradigm recognizing ovarian health as central to lifelong vitality and healthy aging.

Dr. Douglas Vaughan

Dr. Vaughan is currently the Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine Emeritus at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute, where he leads interdisciplinary efforts to extend healthy years of life and reduce the burden of age-related disease. He also is Physician in Chief of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Previously, Vaughan was the chair of the Department of Medicine at Feinberg. 

A renowned cardiologist and translational researcher, Dr. Vaughan’s groundbreaking work has focused on the biological mechanisms of aging and their impact on cardiovascular health, metabolism, inflammation, and chronic disease. His pioneering research identified key molecular pathways linking cellular senescence and age-related decline, helping establish the scientific foundation for today’s rapidly advancing longevity field.

Dr. Vaughan has been a national leader in reframing aging itself as a modifiable risk factor rather than an inevitable consequence of time. Through his research, clinical leadership, and public advocacy, he has advanced a vision of medicine focused not only on lifespan, but on preserving vitality, function, and independence throughout life.

Christy George

Christy George is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, a public private partnership focused on global business development for the State of Illinois. She oversees all aspects of the organization, including marketing, sales, financing, and personnel.

Most recently, Christy served as Executive Director of the Chicago 2024 Host Committee for the Democratic National Convention. In this role, she oversaw the Host Committee’s successful fundraising and civic engagement efforts, and served as the primary liaison between the Democratic National Convention Committee, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois to create a world-class experience for all convention attendees and residents.

Before leading the Host Committee, she served as First Assistant Deputy Governor for Budget & Economy in Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office. During her time in the Governor’s Office, she spearheaded the state’s business attraction and engagement efforts, led on workforce development priorities, crafted the Reimagining Energy & Vehicles (REV) Act, and oversaw the operations of multiple state agencies, boards, and commissions. Before joining the Governor’s Office, George served as the Executive Director of the Illinois Commerce Commission and several roles at the City of Chicago including Deputy Budget Director for Public Safety, Assistant Commissioner at the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, and Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Department of Law.

Christy obtained her J.D. at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Ohio Wesleyan University. A native Californian, she currently lives in the Beverly-Morgan Park neighborhood of Chicago with her husband and daughters.