“There is no respect for others without humility in one’s self.”
– Henri-Frédéric Amiel
Recently, Fogarty engineer-in-residence Jesus Magaña shared with me his take on the familiar teaching to “love thy neighbor.” His version was pragmatic: “You don’t have to love your neighbor,” he said. “But you do have to respect them.”
The conversation got me thinking. Respect is a simple idea, but its impact is huge. In an era where politics colors everything from science and education to personal relationships, respect creates space for genuine conversation and the honest exchange of ideas. It broadens our thinking as individuals and surfaces the diverse perspectives that make us stronger innovators.
Respect requires humility — the recognition that there is always more to learn. Most issues worth debating are complex. They have implications that aren’t immediately obvious, and seemingly good ideas can have unintended consequences. Listening to people whose experiences have shaped a different perspective helps us see what we might otherwise miss.
It also helps us separate ideas from people. We can disagree with someone’s position without disparaging the person or discounting everything they have to contribute. It reminds me a little of meditation: you learn to acknowledge a thought or feeling while recognizing that it doesn’t define you. In the same way, a person is more than any single belief they hold. And yes, I do meditate!
Finally, respect conveys dignity. It acknowledges the value of another person’s input and their right to be heard. People rarely reconsider deeply held beliefs when they feel dismissed or belittled. Respect doesn’t guarantee productive conversation, but it establishes an atmosphere where curiosity, listening, compromise, and the evolution of ideas are possible.
Those of you who know me know that my personal political views lean liberal. But the organization I lead has a much bigger and entirely inclusive mission: the advancement of human health. Achieving that mission requires working productively with people across the political spectrum and throughout the healthcare ecosystem.
Medtech innovation has always been hard, and while we work intensively with our entrepreneurs at Fogarty to improve their odds of success, the challenges are vast and cannot be solved with a singular point of view or experience-set.
The path forward starts with conversation, and respect is what makes those conversations possible. Progress in healthcare depends on bringing people with different expertise, experiences, incentives, and perspectives to the same table and finding ways to move forward together.
Perhaps because, as an Australian, I’m one step removed from some of the emotional heat of U.S. politics, I try to enter conversations with people whose views differ from mine with a simple goal: to connect and to learn. That takes curiosity, humility, and respect.
And preferably, a beer or two.
(The above is an excerpt from Andrew Cleeland’s column in Fogarty’s August-September 2026 newsletter.)