A father and Stage 4 cancer survivor has chronicled his medical journey in a book to help others and built a nonprofit to empower change in an industry he knows well.
Chris Goldsmith titles himself “Healing from Cancer, Girl Dad, Author, and Healthcare Change Agent,” a series of words that speak volumes about the kind of person he is.
He is a survivor of Stage 4 cancer, who personally battled as a patient in the healthcare system, and has now made it his mission to battle for others as a healthcare leader. His message is this: hope is real, but it must be paired with action, knowledge, and a determination to challenge the system.
Goldsmith has authored the book GUTS, which details his battle with cancer and offers personal advice to others struggling with similar health issues, and runs a nonprofit, Fix the System or Die Trying, which is fighting for healthcare reform by collecting patients’ stories and experiences.
Through his endeavors, he seeks to comfort and assist those afflicted by cancer and build a better healthcare system for everyone, while empowering others to join his cause.
The Life-Changing Diagnosis
Around three years ago, Goldsmith was diagnosed with GIST, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. GIST is a rare Stage 4 cancer diagnosis that affects less than 4,000 people each year in the US.
Initially, doctors discovered five spots in his intestine, one of which was approximately the size of a potato, and 15 spots in his liver. This was the first time he faced death in his journey, but the cancer went into remission.
Next, he had a public psychotic episode at a meditation retreat, as a result of losing control of his mind and his body. The moment was a reckoning for Goldsmith and a deep challenge to heal from.
The last time he faced death was when the cancer came back aggressively, and he required surgery to survive. After 7+ hours, the surgeon removed over 80 tumors from Goldsmith, and he once again survived.
A Unique Perspective from Inside and Outside the System
Goldsmith has been a patient of the healthcare system during an incredibly trying time in his life, but he has also been a healthcare leader for several years, dating back to before his diagnosis.
He has a combined experience of over 15 years, and has held a variety of positions, including an executive role at UHG’s Optum subsidiary, COO of a large COVID testing company during the pandemic, president of a provider group serving very sick Medicaid patients, and more.
He has seen the ins and outs of the system and gone through it over the last three years to stay alive, so he understands how the system works and how it does not. In his experience, “Something as simple as getting an appointment can become a herculean task.”
His dual perspective shows a critical gap between how healthcare is designed and how it is actually experienced.
From Experience to Action: Writing GUTS
Goldsmith published a book, GUTS: A Healthcare CEO’s Bold Battle Against Stage 4 Cancer – And Your Handbook for Healing, combining his personal narrative with practical guidance for others struggling with similar issues. The content includes:
- Navigating Western medicine systems effectively
- Understanding alternative and Eastern therapies
- Managing emotional, financial, and administrative burdens
- Maintaining hope through uncertainty
His goal is not just to tell a story, but to equip others with tools he wishes every patient had from day one.
Beyond the Book: Fix The System or Die Trying
All of Goldsmith’s cumulative experiences with the healthcare system have led him to the conclusion that it is fundamentally broken because it is hard to navigate, afford, and survive when its purpose is to help people feel better.
He began the nonprofit Fix The System or Die Trying to share his story, let others tell theirs, and drive change and revolution in the US healthcare system.
The website is a space for people to share their stories with the healthcare system, good and bad, to be used later in distinct business processes that are patient centric. Goldsmith says these processes, which will be consolidated using AI, will then be shared publicly so that any healthcare system can adopt them. His end goal is to show the industry what people really want from healthcare, and he is willing to put in the effort to make the process of gathering information for the change much easier.
A Call for Patient Advocacy and Systemic Change
At its core, Goldsmith’s message is direct: patients must become active participants in their care. The healthcare system is complex and often flawed, but there are practical steps individuals can take to improve their outcomes.
At the same time, lasting change requires collective voices pushing for a better system. He is starting with himself, by sharing his experiences with cancer, pushing through the system, and ultimately pulling through.
Copyright © 2026 California Business Journal. All Rights Reserved.
For California Business Journal Disclaimers, go to /terms-conditions/.