David Ricks Leads Eli Lilly as Healthcare Innovation Accelerates Globally 

Atop TIME’s 2026 list for health changemakers sits David Ricks – steering Eli Lilly into new medical frontiers. His tenure marks sharp turns in how drugs reshape lives, especially for those managing diabetes or obesity. Alzheimer’s research shifts direction under his watch, mirroring deeper moves toward tailored therapies. Biotech leaps forward when leaders back science that listens closely to individual bodies.  

Rob Davis shows up too, guiding Merck through similar waves of change. Victor Bultó represents Novartis US, adding another thread linking big pharma to real-world impact. Then there is Karan Singhal – not from a drug lab but deep inside OpenAI, shaping how machines understand sickness. Together they form an uneven line of thinkers – one foot in molecules, the other in algorithms. Recognition here does not crown individuals so much as signal where healing seems headed next. Medicine now breathes differently, synced with data, learning faster, reaching further than before. 

Out of nowhere, stars have begun funneling cash into medical startups – telehealth, emotional well-being apps, even digital fitness tools now carry celebrity names behind them. More than three dozen public faces support these efforts, quietly shifting influence beyond red carpets. Take Chris Hemsworth – he’s not just lifting weights anymore but pushing science-forward health tracking gear.  

Jesse Eisenberg trades punchlines for prevention programs, aligning with groups that tackle anxiety early. Eric Dane shows up on panels instead of premieres, talking screenings and stress signals. They’re part of a fresh TIME100 Health roster spotlighting those using fame to highlight gaps in care. Meanwhile, government figure Robert F. Kennedy Jr. steps into the role of Health Secretary, stirring debate wherever he goes. Alongside him stands Joe Sachs, doctor by training, writer by habit, connecting bedside truths to broader audiences. Together, they prove reach isn’t only built through scripts or statutes – but often where both collide.