Most Interesting People 2011: Dr. James Levine

Why he's interesting ... At the Mayo Clinic, Levine focused on obesity studies and experimented with design for the sake of health inside corporate offices and schools (he's the inventor of the treadmill desk). He left his prestigious post in the fall of 2010 to pursue a new line of work in Cleveland with a goal of creating a healthier community.

His Cleveland Project pitch ... Look in designated neighborhoods for a series of what Levine calls exercise streets, which will be run by community volunteers who have been trained by him and other health and wellness experts. Volunteers will go door to door, finding out what people like to do. Then, they will create a tailored solution. "It will be driven by the community for the community."

Walk this way ... The treadmill desk, which Levine invented in 2005, allows workers to walk at a leisurely 1 mph pace. It's slow enough to type on the attached computer but enough exercise to result in significant weight loss.

Sense of adventure ... "I love exploring. I drive out to places and walk around. That said, of course, the other thing I do really want to do is some fencing in Cleveland." It's something he learned while growing up in England and would like to continue.

Book notes ... Levine is also an author, most notably penning The Blue Notebook in 2009 about a child entrapped in prostitution in India. "It's reflective of the incredible power of children and their strength and adversity." He's working on his next novel about Kenya, which he's pitching to publishers this month.