How Aetna’s CEO Nearly Lost His Life to Chronic Pain—And Found a Path to Healing

Chronic pain can feel like a prison—relentless, isolating, and exhausting. But Mark Bertolini, former CEO of Aetna (now Oscar Health), discovered that the key to unlocking relief lay not in the body, but in the brain itself—and in the gentle practices of mindfulness and meditation.

A Life-Altering Accident and a Desperate Low

In February 2004, Bertolini suffered a catastrophic skiing accident—fracturing five vertebrae in his neck and disconnecting the nerves to his left arm. Doctors gave him last rites in the helicopter. It would take incredible will and multiple surgeries just for him to walk again; agonizing pain persisted every moment of every day.

Despite opioid medications and professional success, the pain continued to define his life—until, gradually, he discovered a practice that would reshape his experience from suffering to serenity.

Discovering Mindfulness

Bertolini turned to yoga and meditation almost reluctantly at first. But as he put it:

“I still have my pain, I’m aware of my pain, I am not my pain.”

He learned that while the physical sensation remained, his response to it could change. Meditation didn’t erase the pain—but it gave him the ability to observe it with distance and compassion, reframing suffering into presence.

Bringing Mindfulness Into the Workplace—and Life

His transformation inspired a bold idea: if this could help him, might it help others? At Aetna, he introduced yoga and meditation programs for employees—voluntarily, but thoroughly backed by data. The results were compelling:

• Stress markers dropped—employees showed significant reductions in cortisol and heart rate variability.

• Healthcare costs fell, productivity rose.

• Personal transformations happened, including stronger relationships, better sleep, and in one moving case, someone decided not to end their life.

  
  

Why Mindfulness Works for Pain—The Role of Neuroplasticity

Chronic pain isn’t just physical—it’s deeply rooted in the brain. Over time, pain signals can become wired into our neural circuits. The brain “learns” pain, amplifying even harmless stimuli. That's neuroplasticity in action—sometimes maladaptive.

But here's where the good news lies: Neuroplasticity is reversible. Mindfulness and meditation can soften those pain pathways and rewire how the brain perceives discomfort.

Studies show that just a few days of meditation can give up to 57% reduction in the unpleasantness of pain—an effect comparable to that of morphine (WIRED). The brain regions involved mirror those targeted by pain medications, yet meditation changes them naturally.

In another study, even when opioid receptors were blocked, meditators still reported about 21–24% less pain—demonstrating that meditation works independently of the body’s pain-relief chemicals (TIME).

Mindfulness-based interventions, such as MBSR and MBPM, teach acceptance and compassionate awareness of pain, turning down its volume, as it were, and reducing the suffering it causes.

From CEO to Human: A Journey of Compassion, Not Just Survival

Bertolini’s journey reminds us: chronic pain doesn’t mean the end of life—it can mark the beginning of a deeper, kinder relationship with ourselves. Meditation didn’t cure the pain entirely, but it gave him peace, purpose, and a new outlook on what it means to heal.

You don’t have to be a CEO to practice mindfulness. Even ten minutes a day can help you relate differently to pain. As many people share from lived experience:

“My lower back has been screaming… I did a ten-minute guided meditation. And afterward I noticed a massive decrease in lower back pain (Reddit).”

Closing Thoughts: You Are Not Your Pain

If chronic pain has ever told you that there’s no escape, consider Mark Bertolini’s path—from despair to mindful poise. Meditation didn’t erase the fire in his arm—but it taught him how not to burn with it.

You are not your pain. It’s real, it’s valid—but you also have the power to shift your relationship to it.

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This story is part of our ongoing series featuring real recovery journeys from people living with chronic pain conditions. Everyone's path is different, but sharing our experiences helps build hope and community for others on similar journeys.