Thread by @process_x

Kognito simulations "allows PCPs to learn through role-play conversations with emotionally responsive virtual patients how to build trust, collaborate on a treatment plan, and address the patient's request for antibiotics." Except for this pitch, it'd be simulations for #opioids.

Also from LinkedIn: "Ron was the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Simulation Strategist of Kognito, a virtual human health simulation company acquired by Blackstone Private Equity."

Blackstone Private Equity: "As of 2020, the company's total assets under management were approximately US$619 billion."

blackstone.com/wp-content/upl…

Blackstone is also an important player described by @wikileaks. There are connections between Blackstone and John Podesta, a power player in the Democratic party. Blackstone also appears to be plundering countries with an emerging middle class like Brazil.
wikileaks.org/gifiles/docs/2…

Ron Goldman was listed on one of the emails in Pat Anson's FOIA request (17-00547) along with what appears to be a redacted name. Goldman via his company Kognito, specializing in simulations, had "joined forces with PROP" on a project funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ...

"to develop, disseminate, and evaluate a professional development simulation for primacy care professionals (PCPs) on the appropriate and inappropriate uses of opioid pain relievers." ...

He explains this in an October 2016 email to Debra Houry (found via FOIA), the Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at CDC at the time (2016), whom Andrew Kolodny had encouraged Goldman to email about providing a demo of the project to CDC.

Kognito simulations "allows PCPs to learn through role-play conversations with emotionally responsive virtual patients how to build trust, collaborate on a treatment plan, and address the patient's request for antibiotics." Except for this pitch, it'd be simulations for #opioids.

Remember, this is a "joining of forces" between Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), Kognito, and a potential business opportunity with the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC). It's unclear if the meeting was held.

Regarding the simulations, Goldman says: “Of course, we know that sometimes it’s fun to intentionally play in a way to make the patient mad,” Goldman said. “You can see that to a certain degree, it can be enjoyable to mess with someone.”

mobihealthnews.com/content/robert…

These "simulations," if ever completed for opioids, would have been for doctors and other healthcare providers to practice denying opioids to patients in pain through role-play. This is a form of behavior modification.

The company said the simulations are engaged in by providers "to help his or her patients (and their family members) identify motivation for and ultimately support behavior changes."

mobihealthnews.com/news/docs-get-…

It's unclear how extensive Kognito's relationship with PROP was or is, but this should provide some information on their opioid simulations.

kognito.com/blog/tackling-…

All of this appears to link Kolodny with Goldman, whose company Kognito was acquired by Blackstone, a massive private equity firm with its hands in a lot of different pies, including health. Maybe someone with a WaPo sub can pdf this article for me.

washingtonpost.com/business/2021/…

The partial documentation provided by Pat Anson in response to his FOIA Request (17-00547) can be found here:

cdn.muckrock.com/foia_files/201…