Dr. Dawn Mussallem, DO, DipABLM, has always been drawn to the promise of a long, vibrant life. As a child, she aspired to become the oldest person in the world. That vision, forged through extraordinary personal challenges—including a stage IV cancer diagnosis just months into medical school and becoming the first person worldwide to complete a full marathon one year after a heart transplant in 2021—now propels her as Chief Medical Officer of Fountain Life, the award-winning longevity platform recognised as Longevity Clinic of the Year 2025. Compare Retreats founder Dervla Louli caught up with the health pioneer.
After more than 25 years as a Mayo Clinic consultant in hematology/oncology and assistant professor of medicine, where she founded the Integrative Medicine and Breast Health Programme, Dr. Mussallem joined Fountain Life in late 2025. Co-founded by Dr. Peter Diamandis, Tony Robbins, and Dr. William Kapp, Fountain Life represents a paradigm shift in healthcare: moving from reactive treatment to proactive, AI-powered prevention and healthspan optimisation. The platform combines advanced full-body imaging, multi-omics biomarkers, genome sequencing, and personalised restorative therapies to detect risks like cancers or aneurysms early and deliver tailored interventions.
“What drew me to Fountain Life is its commitment to precision, using data to personalise care, not generalise it,” Dr. Mussallem explains. Her goal is “to design and operationalise a scaleable precision-health ecosystem that makes healthy ageing, longevity, and peak existence visible, measurable, and achievable.” In her role, she is scaling this model to make world-class preventive care more accessible, blending cutting-edge diagnostics with evidence-based lifestyle medicine.
This mission gains even greater reach through Fountain Life’s strategic partnership with The Estate, a revolutionary luxury hotel and residences brand founded by Sam Nazarian, Tony Robbins, Marc Anthony, and Richard Attias. The collaboration aims to create the world’s largest ecosystem of longevity-focused resorts and urban centres—planning 15 global hotels and residences alongside 10 preventative medicine and longevity clinics by 2030. Guests and residents will experience seamless integration of high-end hospitality with Fountain Life’s AI-driven diagnostics, coaching, and therapies, embedding proactive health optimisation into transformative travel and living experiences.
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Dr. Mussallem’s personal journey deeply informs this work. “I learned a lot in medical school, but I learned everything about how to be a doctor as a patient,” she reflects. Her resilience highlights the power of combining medical innovation with daily habits, empowering others to thrive rather than merely survive. 
At the heart of her philosophy are the six pillars of lifestyle medicine, which she champions with equal rigor to pharmaceuticals. She emphasises that 70-80% of chronic diseases are preventable, urging people to treat nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances, and—crucially—positive social connections as foundational.
Food as medicine remains central: a predominantly whole-food, plant-based diet rich in colourful vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, beans, seeds, and nuts. “Food is medicine,” she stresses, highlighting antioxidant powerhouses like berries, anthocyanin-rich produce, and kiwi while minimising ultra-processed foods and processed meats.
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Movement is “profoundly underutilised,” with consistent activity—such as brisk walking after meals or resistance training—reducing risks and building resilience against sarcopenia.
Restorative sleep, which Dr. Mussallem calls one of the most overlooked medicines, is non-negotiable. She advocates for seven to nine hours nightly, ideally with regularity (aiming for bed around 10 p.m. for optimal restorative windows), as sleep clears brain toxins, supports metabolic health, and reduces dementia and chronic disease risks. “Sleep is a big, important contributor to restoration,” she notes, rejecting the cultural badge of honour associated with skimping on rest.
Community and connection form another vital pillar. Dr. Mussallem frequently highlights how positive social bonds combat loneliness, reduce stress physiology, and enhance healing. “It starts with love—love self, love others,” she shares. “If you don’t love yourself enough to show up for yourself… you’re not going to be able to do it.” Meaningful relationships, community belonging, and shared purpose are biological game-changers that support immune function, emotional resilience, and long-term vitality.
She reframes prevention as empowerment: “We are not trying to make you perfect. We are trying to make you powerful.” Sustainable, joy-aligned changes—paired with Fountain Life’s data insights—yield profound results.
Through Fountain Life and its partnership with The Estate, Dr. Mussallem is helping democratise this proactive model, turning luxury experiences into opportunities for measurable health transformation. Her guidance is both evidence-based and deeply human: start small, stay consistent, nourish your body with plants, move daily, prioritise deep sleep and restorative rest, manage stress through breathwork and nature, and invest in real human connections.
Dr. Dawn Mussallem’s story and leadership remind us that longevity is not just about adding years—it’s about infusing them with energy, purpose, and community. In a world shifting toward preventive flourishing, she and Fountain Life are lighting the way. For more, explore fountainlife.com or The Estate’s upcoming properties.
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