Kiteboarding Taking Steps Toward Olympic Inclusion

 The recipient of a medical degree from the University of California, Davis, Dr. Nathan Gunn is a healthcare consultant who spent three years in a leadership role with Valence Health. Having since left Valence Health, Dr. Nathan Gunn enjoys kiteboarding in his free time.

The International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) is pushing for the inclusion of kiteboarding as an Olympic sport. An important step has been taken toward this goal, as it will be featured at the Youth Olympic Games. In 2015, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) and the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Executive Board confirmed the sport as one of four sailing events to be part of the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. With an emphasis on growing the sport, it will also be part of the program at the 2019 World Beach Games.

IKA President Mirco Babini said the sport's selection by the ISAF and IOC gives young athletes serious goals to strive toward. The 2018 Youth Olympics kiteboarding event will include preliminary heat races leading up to a winner-takes-all final. In total, 24 participants (12 male and 12 female) between the ages of 15 and 18 will represent their home countries.

Safety Release Systems for Kiteboarding

Dr. Nathan Gunn, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley who holds an MD from the University of California at Davis, is a health care executive with experience as the president of Valence Health. In addition to his professional work at Valence Health and other health care firms, Dr. Nathan Gunn has become an experienced kiteboarder after learning the sport in Costa Rica. 

Kiteboarding is a water sport that makes use of an airborne kite to pull an individual along the water’s surface. Since kiteboarding can pull a rider into the air, safety equipment such as a helmet and a safety release system are required when participating in the sport. 

A safety release system includes a leash, which is also known as a bypass or handlepass leash, to keep a kiteboarder safely connected to the kite. In addition, the equipment features two releases. The first is the chicken loop release which decreases the kite’s power. If that release fails, the safety lease quick release can be employed which jettisons the kite from the kiteboarder.

Kiteboarding 101 - Riding Upwind

A health care executive based in Chicago, Nathan Gunn most recently served as president of the Population Health Division of Valence Health. Outside of work, both before and after his tenure with Valence Health, Nathan Gunn has enjoyed kiteboarding in his free time. 

If you are a beginning kiteboarder, learning to ride upwind is one of the most difficult skills to master. Riding upwind enables you to track back toward where you started, eliminating the need to go ashore and walk back upwind. 

At the most basic level, riding upwind requires you to generate enough power in the kite to keep it in one position as you move upwind. Start by keeping your front leg straight while slightly bending the back leg, and use your heels to lean backward and fight against the pull of the kite. Position the kite slightly outside of your front foot, which will allow you to slowly “edge” around and face the wind. The key to riding upwind is maintaining a balance between board speed and the edging of the board against the pull of the kite.

Basics of Kiteboarding

The former president of population health and risk services for Valence Health, Dr. Nathan Gunn is an avid kiteboarder in his free time. Although Dr. Nathan Gunn pursues this hobby primarily in the Bay Area, the former Valence Health executive was first introduced to it approximately 10 years ago as a vacationer in Costa Rica.

Perhaps best described as a hybrid between kite flying and wakeboarding or surfing, kiteboarding, also known as kitesurfing, features a flat board attached to the participant’s feet via bindings and a harness around the waist attached to a steerable kite. The kite also attaches to a handlebar, which the kiteboarder uses to steer the kite.

The kite moves with enough power to lift the boarder 50 to 60 feet in the air, if the boarder has developed enough skill. The wearable harness bears the brunt of the resultant force, so the boarder’s arms are free to direct the kite in ways that let him or her perform tricks and maneuvers. This also means that the sport is accessible to athletes with no more than average strength or fitness.

The sport does have a significant learning curve, in that it requires a diverse skill set simply to stand on the board and direct the kite. Competent instruction helps the boarder prepare to practice independently while ensuring the development of technique that supports safe riding.

The Most Popular Guitar Chord Progression

Nathan Gunn, the former chief operating officer of Verisk Health, has spent several years as president of population health at Valence Health in Chicago. Beyond his work with Valence Health and other healthcare services providers, Nathan Gunn enjoys playing the guitar.

You can spend years learning to play the guitar and a lifetime perfecting the instrument’s techniques, from strumming to picking. However, the vast majority of popular songs draw on the same group of basic chord progressions. 

The I-V-vi-IV guitar chord progression is arguably the most widely used among modern musicians. While the G, D, E minor, and C chord group is among the most commonly used, the I-V-vi-IV progression can be transposed to other keys, such as C, G, A minor, F.

“No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley, “Let It Be” by The Beatles, “When I Come Around” by Green Day, and “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey are a few of the well-known rock songs that use the I-V-vi-IV chord progression.

Drilling into Health Care Data Sets to Improve Coverage and Outcomes

Dr. Nathan Gunn is a technology-focused health care executive who engaged in a turnaround position as Valence Health’s president of population health. He oversaw a consistent increase in client satisfaction and profitability by enabling scalable growth in Valence Health’s software division. Dr. Nathan Gunn was featured in a 2011 New Yorker article titled “The Hot Spotters - Can We Lower Medical Costs by Giving the Neediest Patients Better Care?”

The article featured his efforts with Verisk Health to drill into data sets for clients that manage employers’ health care benefits. Against a backdrop of sharply increasing coverage outlays, he identified the top 5 percent of spenders. Among more than 100,000 covered lives, these accounted for 60 percent of total medical spending. This brought to sharp relief those people who did not receive adequate care when they got sick, which Dr. Gunn called “the sweet spot for preventive care.”

Through looking at individual cases, he was able to find mismatches between conditions and steps taken to remedy them within the health care system. For example, one patient with chronic migraines would be prescribed medications that did not work and then make regular visits to the emergency room, where she would receive narcotic injections that eased the symptoms. The preferred treatment pathway would involve the physician guiding the patient in exploring the full range of prescription medications until one that actually worked was found. These individual inefficiencies often lead to the discovery of larger patterns that can be solved in ways that save money and improve health care outcomes.

A graduate of the University of California Davis School of Medicine, Dr. Nathan Gunn has served as COO of Verisk Health and as president of population health at Valence Health. Outside of work, Dr. Nathan Gunn enjoys kiteboarding, which he learned while on vacation in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica boasts a diverse mix of wildlife and beautiful beaches on both its Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Puerto Viejo, on the Caribbean side of the country, is world-renowned for its beaches, including Playa Negra, a beach named for its black sand, and Playa Cocles, a popular destination for surfers. Those looking for typical aquamarine Caribbean water and ivory sand should be sure to visit Punta Uva.

On the Pacific Coast, the most popular beach is Manuel Antonio. With white sands and a backdrop of the lush green forest of Manuel Antonio National Park, this beach offers opportunities for water sports such as surfing and snorkeling. Those looking for more adventure can trek to the last beach within the park, Playa Espadilla Sur, via a “tombolo,” or natural land bridge.

UC Davis School of Medicine Committed to Student Research

Nathan Gunn, MD, has experience not only as a physician but also as a leader in the health care technology field, having served Valence Health as president. Dr. Nathan Gunn earned his medical degree from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), School of Medicine, which remains dedicated to providing students with research opportunities. 

The UC Davis School of Medicine offers students a number of options to gain valuable exposure to research, including summer research programs and longitudinal studies throughout medical school. The following are a few opportunities for students to engage in more in-depth research: 

- T32 Pre-Doctoral Clinical Research Training Program. Designed for junior trainees, this program engages students in a year of research as they learn the skills necessary for multidisciplinary translational and clinical translational research in human health. By participating in this program, students can also earn a master of advanced studies in clinical research.

- Medical Student Research Fellowship. This fellowship program supplements students’ medical training through direct involvement in clinical investigation or research on health care delivery. 

- Physician Scientist Training Program (P.S.T.P.). Geared toward students who are pursuing a career in academia within a specific research field, this program allows students to earn both an MD and a PhD as they become physician scientists.

Kiteboarding 101 - Choosing the Right Inflatable Kite

A health care executive based in Chicago, Nathan Gunn is the former president of population health at Valence Health. He brought to Valence Health experience at McKinsey & Company and a background in medicine. Outside of his professional pursuits, Nathan Gunn enjoys spending time with his family and kiteboarding. 

When it comes to inflatable kites, the bow kite stands among the most popular types in the world. It features a relatively flat profile and bridles that attach to the leaning edge, allowing for easy relaunch and secure handling in a variety of wind conditions. A highly versatile kite, the bow kite is used by riders of all skill levels, from beginners to free riders.

Another common inflatable kite is the delta kite, which has earned a reputation for its automatic relaunch. Due to its short and fat profile, the delta kite is relatively slow to respond. Nevertheless, it excels in many different wind conditions.

Popular among freestyle kiteboarding enthusiasts, the C-kite offers riders considerable power and lift, as well as high performance in the proper wind range. The C-kite does not feature bridles and excels only in a short wind range, making it a poor choice for beginners.

Valence Health alumni leads Evam Partners

As the managing director of Evam Partners, LLC, Nathan Gunn oversees consulting services supporting Venture Capital and Private Equity diligence efforts. Nathan Gunn previously worked as president of population health for Valence Health in Chicago, overseeing its software division and charged with increasing growth.

Founded in 1996, Valence Health provides value-based care solutions for health systems and hospitals. The population health division provides data that measures and manages the actuarial risks within patient population groups. The population health division of Valence Health also measures the clinical quality and utilization characteristics of specific population groups, thereby assisting physicians to achieve lower costs and superior quality in value-based health care.

Valence Health was acquired by Evolent Health in July of 2016, bringing together two innovative companies that can offer providers of health care greater service in value-based care. The merger of the two companies enhanced the analytical and clinical capabilities of the new organization. The merger is expected to boost the revenue generated by Valence Health.

Kiteboarding Spots in the Bay Area

A graduate of the University of California Davis School of Medicine, Nathan Gunn, MD, has served in several executive roles, including as COO of Verisk Health and as president of population health at Valence Health. Outside of work, Dr. Nathan Gunn enjoys kiteboarding in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The San Francisco Bay Area offers several great spots for kiteboarding. Below are just a few:

- Crissy Field. Although not for beginners, the Crissy Field area is a popular spot for kiteboarding with its thermal west wind which blows from March to October. Crissy Field can be challenging, as strong currents can make it difficult for kiteboarders to get back to shore.

- Third Avenue. Third Avenue is more suitable for beginners, but they should still be cautious due to the currents at this beach. Third Avenue doesn’t have sandy beaches, but there are kiteboarding schools in the area.

- Crowne Beach. Located in Alameda, Crowne Beach also offers a thermal west wind but it's not as strong as at other beaches. The sandy beach makes this an ideal location for beginners, and the water is warm in the summer.