guts
A Story of Hope and a Practical Guide to Healing
“I have known Chris for more than a decade. I have watched him walk this journey with honesty, strength, and uncommon courage. This book is not theory or platitudes; it is lived experience, hard-won insight, and hope offered generously to others facing their own moment of fear.
— Gerald Maccioli, Intensivist, Anesthesiologist, & former F-500 C-Suite Executive
About Chris
Cancer survivor, Girl Dad, Healthcare Executive, and Change Agent
Chris Goldsmith is a seasoned healthcare executive with over 15 years of executive experience in operations, strategy, and leadership. He has held multiple executive roles including Co-Founder, CEO, President, and COO for such companies as Belong Health, Landmark Health, AbsoluteCare, Vault Health and Optum.
About GUTS
An unflinching view of my personal journey and a concise guide that shares everything I know and learned a long the way about how best to address not only the medical side of cancer as a lay person, but the emotional, administrative, and financial challenges that come along with this type of diagnosis.
Praise for guts
“As a physician, I know how frightening a cancer diagnosis can be, and how confusing our healthcare system can feel. This book provides an antidote to despair, giving families compassion and courage. GUTS offers
both reassurance and a clear, practical way forward. It reminds you that even in uncertainty, you are not powerless.”
— Dr. Anoop Raman, Asst Professor Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
“A courageous and eye-opening account from someone who has spent years trying to fix the inefficiencies in our healthcare system only to experience them firsthand during his own battle with cancer. More than just a personal story, GUTS offers invaluable insights for clinicians, policymakers, patients, and anyone committed to transforming care.”
— Dr. Greg Foti, Chief Medical and Transformation Officer AbsoluteCare
“I have walked alongside Chris Goldsmith and witnessed the fear,
the questions, the setbacks, and—most importantly—the fierce
determination to live with intention and hope even when the road was
darkest. Chris doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of cancer, but he also refuses
to surrender to it—and that balance makes GUTS both grounding and
empowering. If you or someone you love is on this journey, this book
feels like a steady hand on your shoulder reminding you that you are not alone and that hope is still possible.”
— Dr. Alex Pastuszak, Associate Professor of Surgery (Urology); Chief, Section for Surgical Innovation; Faculty Director, School of Medicine Innovation Unit
University of Utah School of Medicine
Chris Goldsmith 