CommunityRising Stars

Rising Stars
in Healthcare Innovation

A recognition list spotlighting physicians in founder and co-founder roles who are transforming healthcare through early-stage ventures.

2026 Inaugural List

Ann Wu, MD MPH

Ann Wu, MD MPH

Founder, GeneSprout. Pediatrician and former Harvard Medical School professor building solutions to deliver accessible, actionable genetic insights for families.

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Anurag Gupta, MD, MBA, MMSC

Anurag Gupta, MD, MBA, MMSC

Dr Gupta is the Founder & CEO of Tembo Health, a national dementia care company helping patients and caregivers navigate one of healthcare’s most complex and underserved journeys.

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David Johnson, MD, MPH

David Johnson, MD, MPH

Chief Physician Executive, Atlas Oncology Partners. Urologic oncologist and physician operator building value-based care models and oncology platforms.

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Jasen Gundersen, MD, MBA

Jasen Gundersen, MD, MBA

CEO & Co-Founder, CardioOne. Physician executive building practice management solutions to support independent cardiologists and advance value-based care.

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Kalie Dove-Macquire, MD

Kalie Dove-Macquire, MD

President & Chief Product Officer, Evidently. Emergency physician and clinical AI leader building EHR-native tools that surface critical patient insights at the point of care.

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Kristin Andruska, MD, PhD

Kristin Andruska, MD, PhD

Cofounder & CMO, Olivo Sciences, a physician-led AI company turning multimodal brain health data into precision tools that de-risk drug development for biopharma — from discovery to post-marketing.

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Kyle Lavin, MD, MPH

Kyle Lavin, MD, MPH

Co-Founder, Cerula Care. Palliative care psychiatrist and psycho-oncologist building scalable behavioral health integration within cancer care.

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Michael Fang, MD

Michael Fang, MD

Founder, Ryze Health. Physician entrepreneur and former CEO of BASE10 building innovative health plan solutions for independent practices.

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Michael V. Smith, MD

Michael V. Smith, MD

Founder & CEO, Marti Health. Physician entrepreneur building value-based care models for adults with sickle cell disease.

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Muthu Alagappan, MD

Muthu Alagappan, MD

Founder & CEO, Counsel Health. Physician executive and former CMO of Notable Health building AI-native clinical services for modern healthcare delivery.

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Osama Hashmi, MD, MPH

Osama Hashmi, MD, MPH

Co-Founder & CEO, Impiricus. Physician entrepreneur building AI-powered platforms to improve how physicians access critical medical information.

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Rachita Navara, MD

Rachita Navara, MD

Founder, SafeBeat. Triple board-certified electrophysiologist and bioengineer building AI-driven tools to guide atrial fibrillation treatment and monitoring.

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Saamer Siddiqi, MD

Saamer Siddiqi, MD

Founder & CEO, LIVEMED Telehealth. Physician entrepreneur building AI-powered technology to modernize hospital care delivery and improve clinical communication.

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Sipra Laddha, MD

Sipra Laddha, MD

Co-Founder & CEO, LunaJoy Health. Psychiatrist and entrepreneur building modern mental health care solutions for women.

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Victor Sadauskas, MD

Victor Sadauskas, MD

Founder, Kivo Health. Emergency physician building AI-powered virtual care for seniors with chronic disease, starting with COPD.

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Eligibility criteria

No recognition program in healthcare focused on the physician as founder.
Until this one.

  1. 01

    Physician (MD/DO)

    The nominee holds an MD or DO degree.

  2. 02

    Co-founder role

    The nominee serves as a founder / co-founder of a healthcare startup.

  3. 03

    Founded since 2020

    The venture was founded in the U.S. in 2020 or after.

  4. 04

    Meaningful traction

    The venture demonstrates measurable progress: revenue, clinical evidence, equity funding, or patient impact.

Selection Council

Reviewed by people who see
physician-led innovation from every side.

Alison Curfman, MD

Council Chair

Alison Curfman, MD

Founder & CEO, Startup Physicians. Practicing pediatric emergency physician. Co-founded Imagine Pediatrics (multi-nine-figure valuation).

Kimberly Sharp

Council Member

Kimberly Sharp

Chief Capital Officer, Thinkhat Venture Studio. 30 years in healthcare and life sciences capital strategy, investor pipeline development, and deal structuring.

David Strickler

Council Member

David Strickler

Operating Partner, Chicago Pacific Founders. CEO, Qoros Health. Former CEO of Imagine Pediatrics, HarmonyCares, and Evergreen Nephrology. Healthcare operator and growth strategist.

Peter Alperin, MD

Council Member

Peter Alperin, MD

Co-lead, DxAngels. Former commercial and product leader, Doximity. UCSF faculty physician. Digital health leader with 25+ years of experience.

Free webinar · Thursday, 22 October

From clinical insight to company:
a founder's roadmap.

A free session for physicians exploring the path from idea to healthcare startup, led by Alison Curfman, MD, MBA. Learn what it takes to move from clinical practice to co-founder, and how to create momentum before raising capital.

Register for the webinar

Ready to build what comes next?

The Incubator.

A six-month program for physician-founders ready to move from idea to execution. Cohort 2 starts in January 2027.

Explore the Incubator