In the world of scientific innovation and biotechnology, few individuals have made as profound an impact as Dr. Rahm. With a career spanning pharmaceutical research, entrepreneurship, and groundbreaking advancements in health and wellness, she has dedicated her life to bridging the gap between science and practical solutions for better living. From being awarded multiple patents as a scientific formulator, to founding successful ventures like DRC Ventures and acting as corporate advisor of The ROOT Brands®, Dr. Rahm’s journey is a testament to resilience, passion, and a commitment to improving global health. In this exclusive interview, she shares insights into her inspiration, challenges, and the future of biotechnology, entrepreneurship, and healthcare.
Challenges in Bringing Biotech Innovations to Market
Bringing biotech innovations to the global market is no easy task. We were interested in hearing from Dr. Rahm about the biggest challenges in this process.
Dr. Rahm: Clearly, the biggest challenges in a general sense, of bringing biotech products are the high costs of research and development, complex regulatory compliance, public perception and ethical concerns, and varying healthcare infrastructure. Of course, intellectual property comes into play, while accessing talent in diverse markets, and reimbursement models, all of which can impact the feasibility and speed of innovation. At DRC Ventures, we focus more on the alternative and holistic sides of health and wellness, so we do not host traditional healthcare reimbursement models but do offer compensation to those customers who choose to share our line of products.
Building a Global Business Network
Expanding a global business network across 89 countries is an incredible achievement. We asked Dr. Rahm what inspired her to build such a vast international presence.
Dr. Rahm: I’ve been in biotech and pharma and worked as a principal investigator in research trials in multiple aspects of healthcare; I’ve also written and created some of the first research registries for tracking quality and cost improvement in healthcare in the United States. Those experiences have allowed me to see the good, the bad, and the ugly of the health space. Upon instituting the first research registry in the United States for spine surgery and reviewing the data, I did a presentation and a speech that I would not do today. What I said on stage in front of the government and most of the major principles in the healthcare space was that 60% of spine surgery shouldn’t be done because of the lack of benefits. While the data showed that, I wouldn’t say it again. But that experience, as well as my personal life experience, has shown that the health space had to change. It was my opportunity to take what I have learned from my life experience and my education to apply all aspects of health care to reforming the industry of health and wellness.
Because of my “evidence-based medicine” background, I do what I do today with DRC Ventures and The ROOT Brands®. Operating online with a custom-designed algorithmic ecosystem, the company aligns with technological advancements and utilizes principles of quantum physics for product creation. We consistently introduce new products, from detoxifying formulas to anti-aging innovations, under both organizational umbrellas. Clean Slate focuses on detoxification; Give Me Back My Youth, a collagen supplement; also, under the Ella Pure product line includes RENO to address skincare needs and an expansive line of collagen peptide products, while Envirem Skin Defense aims to protect from environmental stressors. Additional offerings include anti-inflammatory formulas like Restore, and Natural Barrier Support, bolstering overall well-being, and Relive Greens for heavy pre-and pro-biotic support. Expanding beyond skincare, Rahm Roast offers clean coffee, and Merci Dupre Clothiers provides sustainable clothing options with Enviremware technology.
The Inspiration Behind Becoming an Author
Beyond her scientific and business accomplishments, Dr. Rahm is also a published author. We wanted to know what inspired her to share her knowledge through books.
Dr. Rahm: My first book, ‘Cure the Causes’ weaves us through why illness can happen to anyone, and how healing can take place by zeroing in on the root cause instead of the symptoms. Cure the Causes Cookbook was my second book, following four more books including Be Your Own Inspiration and The ROOTS of Military Science.
Overcoming Challenges as a Woman in Science and Business
Leading in both science and business as a woman comes with unique challenges. We asked Dr. Rahm about the obstacles she has faced and how she overcame them.
Dr. Rahm: In my opinion, most women have encountered gender-related barriers in most industries, but especially in science and business. I began my career as a grant researcher in the pharmaceutical industry and then transitioned to multiple entrepreneurial roles. The pharmaceutical industry was male-dominated, at the time. Just as patent ownership in this country is also male-dominated, with women only hosting 10% of patents across the US, however, I have been awarded multiple patents for innovation. So, my career has consistently been confronted with gender-related barriers.
Solving a Major Global Issue Through Science
Scientific advancements have the power to solve global problems. We were curious—if Dr. Rahm could tackle one major global issue through science, what would it be?
Dr. Rahm: I would work to solve our country’s healthcare system. The system as it’s constructed is a business. And it’s important for people to understand the business of healthcare. We’re in Nashville, Tennessee, the center of the healthcare industry in the United States. Doctors are trained to treat in accordance with how they’ve been taught, and they’ve been taught how to do things that create companies more money but often fail to focus on the actual wellness of a patient.
The identification of symptoms, the diagnosis, and the prescription of medications are clearly important, but they should not be primary. It should be secondary. The focus of a practitioner, if they’re educated, needs to be on the identification of issues, the understanding of the causes of the issues — not just the symptoms and a prescription that can be written. They should better focus on how to address the causes and cure the causes to get a patient well. And then if the need arises for allopathic care and prescriptions or surgery, they can be used if nothing else is working.
A large portion of the healthcare industry needs reform. We think that a lot of times change starts at the bottom and will work its way up. But in the healthcare space, you have top-down and bottom-up. The payers, the health insurance companies, want change. Simply, healthier clients cost less money. Consumers want to be healthier. They don’t want to be continually sick and medicated. In the middle of that, you have the crux of the issue of where the money flows through health care systems, from hospital systems to the pharmaceutical industry. When the top and the bottom both want to change, the middle is going to have to adjust. The change won’t be made from the inside; it will have to be made from the outside.
However, changes cannot be made instantly. And consumers also need to have data because they must be able to trust what they’re getting into. These things haven’t been available until now. I’ve created collaborations with the International Science Nutrition Society to start tracking quality and outcome information and data in case studies and series to show clinical outcomes and clinical efficacy using what would be termed as nutritional supplements or nutraceuticals to improve health and quality of life, the same way that the pharmaceutical industry is required to. That way we can show consumers what works but also show payers what works so we can get payers to adapt to covering real health care. Hoping with the new administration in place and the new vision for Making America Healthy Again, we will make strides in cleaning up the healthcare system in this country.
For more information, go to drc-ventures, or therootbrands /purelivingroot
