Vital Signs - JPM 2025 Edition

Hello from the other siiiiiiiide…

I’m back in athleisure today, and boy does it feel GREAT. Another trip around the JPM sun – actual sun this year! This one felt really… nice. Not boring nice, like “he seems… nice” but actual nice. Lovely, in fact. The opposite of soggy, cramped, greedy and surly, which seemed to characterize prior conferences. The sun helped, of course, and I think we have a newfound appreciation for meeting in 3D. Everyone – literally everyone – is better in person. (Remember that during interviews!)

I got lots of requests for another Vital Signs (thanks for reading), so I’m back in your inbox. 😊 Rather than rehash industry news, which you can get elsewhere, I’ll share a few observations and experiences.

Jackie’s Hot Takes from JPM 2025

• San Francisco is a truly beautiful city. We locals know it, of course, but I can’t tell you how many visitors said this out loud, with the same tone as one might say, “Have you flown JetBlue Mint?!” or, “Did you know you can get jeans hemmed?!”

• Our hearts break for those impacted by fires in LA. So many homes and memories lost. We missed you this year and are thinking of you.

• There are soooo many Waymos in San Francisco! And while riding inside of a Roomba is highly entertaining, a car without human judgment, hands and eye-contact is not capable of merging into traffic. The result: Gridlock. They sit. And sit. And sit. And sit. I do not recommend during JPM next year! (Incidentally, do you sit in the front or back seat? I think this says something about you…)

• If you are wondering if I’m talking to you, yes, it’s time for a new headshot.

• I got a free coffee this year. I’m not kidding. The restaurant directed me to a coffee station, and then (brace yourselves) let me sit at the bar with someone at NO CHARGE. Humanity is not dead.

I’d love to hear your reflections on the week! Please chat back. As I’ve said many times, you guys are the engine behind Vital Signs. Please keep ideas and requests coming!

From our healthcare team to yours, thank you for another great week. We wish you a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I’m off to enjoy the long weekend. Hope you are, too!

Be well,

Jackie