About
Where personal patient experience meets professional expertise.
Meet Jacob
My journey through life has been shaped by both intellectual curiosity and personal health challenges, providing a unique perspective on aging.
Heart valve disease has run rampant through at least 4 generations of my family – 11 open-heart surgeries total, 3 of them being my own. I also have other complex medical needs and chronic back pain, and I’ve been a caregiver for both of my parents. My personal experiences have run parallel to my professional background, which has crossed multiple disciplines – a PhD in gerontology, along with expertise in social work, public health, biology, theology, and ethics.
I’ve used the intersection of my personal and professional journeys to create my 4D™ Aging framework. I use this model to demonstrate how one-dimensional understanding of aging falls short of the strengths-based, pro-aging approach we need now more than ever in our rapidly aging society.
Finally, I feed my wide-ranging curiosity through reading (from quantum physics to Edith Wharton), playing music, birdwatching, and exploring the world – 25 countries and counting. I live on Mobile Bay with my wife and our 2 children.
Jacob Kendall
Mission, Vision, and Values
Mission
To help health leaders develop forward-thinking, innovative strategies equipped for our rapidly aging society.
Vision
Transforming how we thrive in an aging world.
Core Values
Consistent with my belief that aging isn’t merely personal, biological, uniform, or chronological, I embrace the following core values:
Aging isn’t merely personal
Aging is more than an individual phenomenon. I advocate for systems that function across a continuum, comprising the person, in addition to the family, the community, the nation, and our shared global society – so that we embrace the interconnections between and within all levels.
Aging isn’t merely biological
Aging happens beyond just physical changes. I advocate for frameworks that embrace the full spectrum of aging experiences, including medical, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual – so that we don’t just reduce aging to decline and disease.
Aging isn’t merely uniform
Aging and context have a strong, two‑way relationship. I advocate for perspectives that account for how aging intersects with place, culture, religion, and polity – so that we see both shared threads and meaningful differences in health, intergenerational exchange, and insight.
Aging isn’t merely chronological
Aging involves more than simply counting years and birthdays. I advocate for initiatives that embrace the full spectrum of aging – so that we can challenge the myth of predetermined decline and celebrate the diverse and numerous ways that aging unfolds.
I use these core values to guide my work in helping health leaders see aging in all its dimensions. By recognizing aging as multifaceted rather than one-dimensional, we can develop more innovative, effective, and ethical approaches that transform how we understand and thrive in our rapidly aging world.
Media Appearances
Reframing Healthcare | Harnessing The Power of
4-Dimensional Thinking
Dr. Jacob Kendall: Demystifying Health(care) Through
4-Dimensional Thinking
Advocating for
4-Dimensional Health
with Dr. Jacob Kendall
Jacob is frequently invited as an expert guest for health and aging-related podcasts and conversations. Explore his 30+ appearances on Spotify.
Also Featured In:
"Turning His Pain into His Profession" - Wise and Well
“Navigating Your Career While Managing Chronic Illness” - Thrive at Work
“Confronting the Financial Burden of Healthcare: Practical Strategies from a Gerontologist’s Perspective” - Learning Center, Wills.com
What is 4D™ Aging?
While many approaches to aging-related challenges are one-dimensional, aging unfolds across multiple dimensions. 4D™ Aging brings these dimensions together by understanding the interactions between scale (individual to societal), diverse perspectives (clinical to cultural), the interplay of place and environment, and the difference between immediate and long-term needs. This comprehensive approach helps health leaders create solutions that are more effective, ethical, and sustainable in our increasingly complex world where demographic and epidemiological shifts are intersecting with every aspect of society.
The framework addresses health challenges across four critical dimensions to achieve the following goals:
Scale
Design interventions across levels — from the individual to the global.
Perspective
Develop models informed by the intersection of medical, research, and industry insights.
Context
Create strategies grounded in the interplay of place and culture.
Time
Address immediate needs with solutions that also account for lifelong and non-chronological aging.
By embracing the 4D™ Aging framework, we create systems that are robust in a rapidly aging world, and that are as comprehensive as they are empathic and ethical. I’m betting you share that aim with us. Let’s talk.
“Dr. Kendall’s talks were engaging and offered a compelling perspective on aging, an area that remains underrepresented in medical education. His expertise in Public Health and Gerontology enhances understanding of aging by challenging common myths and shedding light on health care disparities faced by older adults. His message is both timely and relevant to the education of future clinicians committed to equitable, evidence-based care.”
Joseph H Sewell III, MD
Associate Program Director - Internal Medicine Residency Program
UAB Heersink School of Medicine - Montgomery Regional Campus
Why Organizations Choose Jacob
Unique Perspective: Combines personal healthcare experience with professional expertise in gerontology and public health
4D™ Thinking Approach: Helps organizations see aging challenges from multiple dimensions, uncovering opportunities others miss
Bridges Research and Reality: Translates academic insights on aging into practical strategies organizations can implement
Addresses Modern Aging Challenges: Offers fresh approaches to chronic disease management, caregiver support, and healthcare navigation for older adults
Engaging Communication Style: Makes complex aging topics accessible and actionable for diverse audiences
