Navy SEAL Turned Hospital CEO: Jeff Mengenhausen Exposes Healthcare’s Failures

What do a struggling student, a decorated Navy SEAL, and a hospital CEO all have in common? The answer: Jeff Mengenhausen.
 

In this explosive episode of the Crackin’ Backs Podcast, we sit down with the only Navy SEAL in the country running a hospital—a man who’s rewriting the rules of leadership, resilience, and what healthcare should really be.
 

Jeff’s story is anything but ordinary. Once labeled a “poor student,” he went on to earn Navy SEAL honors, a Purple Heart, and combat commendations. Today, he’s transforming Montrose Regional Health into one of the most respected community hospitals in the nation. But his mission doesn’t stop there—Jeff is exposing the cracks in America’s hospital culture and challenging the grip Big Pharma and profit-driven systems have on patient care.
 

Inside this episode, we ask:

• Why isn’t the Navy SEAL ethos of “embrace the suck” translating into healthcare leadership?

• What behind-the-scenes SEAL lessons still drive Jeff’s decisions as a hospital CEO?

• Why are so many hospitals failing their patients—and how is Montrose setting a new standard?

• Has Big Pharma hijacked the direction of care in America?

• And after trillions spent on cancer and chronic disease, why aren’t outcomes improving?
   

This conversation isn’t just about medicine. It’s about survival, clarity under pressure, and the courage to flip a broken system on its head.
 

Learn more about Jeff Mengenhausen and Montrose Regional Health:

• Montrose Regional Health

We are two sports chiropractors, seeking knowledge from some of the best resources in the world of health. From our perspective, health is more than just “Crackin Backs” but a deep dive into physical, mental, and nutritional well-being philosophies.
 

Join us as we talk to some of the greatest minds and discover some of the most incredible gems you can use to maintain a higher level of health. Crackin Backs Podcast