This book is an exploration of the awkward, often inefficient communication between the healthcare establishment and the people it serves. It examines the entrenched barriers that have held all stakeholders hostage and proposes a simplified, inclusive path forward—recognizing that any sustainable solution must leave no one behind.

My name is Dr. O’Neil J. Pyke, and I am the author of Informed & Engaged: Our Journey To Better. I wrote this book because after decades of watching countless examples of healthcare failure amidst so much promise, I was compelled to lend my voice and experience to furthering the solution. It is easy to succumb to the cynical viewpoint that “nothing will ever change” and this is exactly correct if no one tries. But what if we all try to do our part? What if patients and people alike raise their collective voice to say “enough is enough?”

My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover the magic and power of your voice. The impact of any single person can often be drowned by the loud yelling of cynicism and doubt. But if we all convert our yearning for better into actions when we interact with the health systems, the message is impossible to ignore.

In this book, my intention is to ignite in you the same passion I carry—for breaking the cycle of poor communication in healthcare. The true magic isn’t found in more interventions or medications. It lies in something far simpler, yet profoundly powerful: a clear, unambiguous understanding of information that compels genuine engagement.

Ultimately, I want you to see Informed & Engaged as permission to question the status quo. To recognize that better health cannot come in the form of annual 10-15 minute sessions with a healthcare provider. To fully recognize that your role in navigating to better health is not only central, it is crucial.

You’ll learn about health information and why it can miss the mark of its intended target so often. You will also learn about patient engagement (or lack thereof) and why it is vital for us to get beyond the barriers—purposeful or inadvertent—and own our health journey.

Informed & Engaged draws on real stories from my career in clinical medicine, using patient experiences to highlight both successes and missed opportunities. These moments serve as powerful lessons, each one helping to strengthen the foundation for our next steps toward a better, more responsive healthcare system.

• One of the stories I share is particularly difficult to recount. It involves my maternal grandmother, who suffered a devastating stroke. Despite having several family members in healthcare, including physicians, we found ourselves overwhelmed, struggling to navigate the maze of hospital communication. The gaps were glaring, and the experience left an indelible mark on me.
• Another story speaks to the quiet power of persistence. It involves a patient who, at first, seemed distant and disengaged. But everything changed when I stepped beyond the walls of the hospital, and outside my own comfort zone for a single home visit. In that moment, I finally saw the person behind the patient.
• Then there’s the story of an unlikely friendship—one that began in the haze of what seemed like racism, yet was ultimately shaped by a shared humanity and the quiet strength of service. What started with tension evolved into something far more meaningful.

You will love this book…

• If you are seeking additional validation that something is wrong—you will love this book.
• If you enjoy hearing stories of defeat without staying defeated—you will enjoy this book.
• If you desire to learn about the truth and be encouraged and empowered to know that your small crack in the glass ceiling (like mine) makes a difference—you will love this book.

Informed & Engaged is a nonfiction book that speaks to the everyday person who has been pushed down the rabbit hole of relentless hustle, leaving little room for reflection, let alone transformation. This is your rallying cry, but more importantly, this is your megaphone.

This book explores the often unnecessarily awkward intersection between health information delivery and patient engagement. I explore the barriers to improve the persistent gap in our health delivery and discuss ways to improve if we are to ever realize improved health outcomes.

The Book is written in three parts:

The Information Gap

Part One of the book focuses on health information—both the challenge of verifying its accuracy and the many barriers to effectively delivering it.

The Patient’s Role: Engagement and Ownership

Part Two shifts focus to the patient, emphasizing that engagement and personal ownership of one’s health are just as vital as the care itself.

Toward Better: Challenges, Clarity, and a Path Forward

Part Three explores key insights through specific challenges and begins to outline my optimistic vision for the healthcare of tomorrow, bringing the journey toward better into sharper focus through real-world examples.

My Publishing Journey: Where Your Support Goes

I’m publishing Informed & Engaged with the support of Manuscripts Press, an innovative publisher that provides me with a full publishing team to bring this book to life. This summer, I’m working closely with:

• A revisions editor, copy editor, and proofreader to refine and elevate every story in the book
• A marketing strategist to help me connect with new audiences and make the book’s message reach those who need it most.
• A cover artist and layout editor who will ensure the final product is visually stunning and professionally produced.

Other Ways to Support Me

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

• Please share my presale campaign on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn with your friends, family and network. Please use #InformedAndEngagedBook and tag me so we can help amplify your efforts.
• Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

O’Neil Pyke

About the Author 

Dr. O’Neil J. Pyke is a board-certified physician and seasoned healthcare executive with nearly three decades of clinical and leadership experience. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for a major public health system in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Prior to this role, he spent a decade as Chief Medical Officer for a national staffing and consulting organization.

Dr. Pyke began his professional journey with a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, CUNY, followed by a Doctor of Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. After years of clinical practice and holding leadership positions across several healthcare organizations, he went on to earn an MBA with a concentration in Strategic Management and Data Analytics from Villanova University in Philadelphia.

Driven by a deep passion for clinical medicine, Dr. Pyke continues to maintain a small but active clinical practice while also teaching the next generation of physicians at two major medical schools in Florida.

When he’s not teaching about cultural humility in healthcare or shaping clinical policy, Dr. Pyke finds solace in the pursuit of perfection on the golf course, drawn to the serenity and challenge of the ever-elusive game.