We must find a way to shift ourselves toward a culture that enables, rather than suppresses, healthy living.  A study circle of 13 diverse health care providers met from May to August, 2005 to explore how the health care profession can help guide our community into more sustainable and healthy ways of working and living.  

Members of the circle explored local health issues as they relate to the pursuit of a more sustainable culture.  Selected readings were given in advance of each session to stimulate a deepened inquiry into the systemic and cultural roots of current and escalating health challenges.  A primary focus of the circle sessions was to apply various tools for systems thinking to a health issue.  Circle members decided to use the topic of obesity as their focus, and the last three circles were used to explore the application of concept maps, systems dynamics, social network analysis, and knowledge transfer to the problem of obesity in Tompkins County.