Blog:

Why Systems Thinking Matters in Health

(This article reflects my clinical perspective and experience.)

When I was studying engineering, I spent a lot of time working through complex problems — how heat moves through materials, how forces interact, and how systems respond when one variable changes. At the time, I didn’t expect any of that to relate to healthcare.

As I moved through clinical training and into practice, the connection became clear.

Health rarely comes down to a single symptom or lab value. It reflects how multiple systems interact over time — how stress affects sleep, how sleep influences hormones, and how digestion, movement, and mood all contribute to energy and resilience. In engineering, this approach is known as systems thinking: understanding how parts interact rather than viewing them in isolation.

Some of my friends and colleagues in engineering and construction like to imagine the body as something rigid and predictable — almost like wood or concrete. But the body doesn’t behave that way. It’s adaptive, dynamic, and constantly responding to its environment. It functions much more like a living ecosystem than a static blueprint.

Here are a few ways systems thinking continues to shape how I approach clinical care.

1. The body is connected

In engineering, no component exists in isolation. The same is true in health. Fatigue, for example, may involve sleep quality, stress load, digestion, movement, or a combination of factors rather than a single cause.

2. Small changes can have meaningful effects

In complex systems, small adjustments can create noticeable shifts. In health, simple changes — such as hydration, pacing, stress regulation, or movement — can sometimes influence symptoms more than expected.

3. Health is dynamic, not static

Systems change over time. What works at one stage of life may need adjustment later. Follow-up and reassessment aren’t signs that something failed — they’re part of working with a living system.

4. There isn’t always one right answer

In school, we’re often trained to look for the correct solution. In real-world systems, progress usually comes from trying something, observing the response, and adjusting accordingly. Health care often works the same way.

I’m still early in my career, but I’m grateful for a technical background that encourages structured thinking, calm problem-solving, and respect for complexity. As my practice continues to evolve, I aim to blend that systems mindset with attentive, human-centred care — because meaningful healthcare isn’t just about fixing isolated problems, but about understanding the whole picture.