Maria Bartiromo, anchor of then-CNBC's Closing Bell, interviewed Mike along with Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, FDA deputy commissioner, and Dr. Gail Cassell, Eli Lilly & Co. vice president for scientific affairs, about preventing chronic disease, investing in innovation and putting a value on developing cures for life-threatening diseases. The 2009 interview took place at the first Partnering for Cures conference in New York sponsored by FasterCures. Unless America takes dramatic action, Mike said, the combined impact of obesity and aging could overwhelm America's health resources. He called for a renewed focus on medical research and effective prevention.