Health equity is when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to pursue their best health. Yet, for millions, there are too many impediments, like cost, time, ease of access. For many people, the barriers might also be language barriers or a lack of cultural competence. During the pandemic, Luis Suarez sought care from a therapist, but had a hard time finding someone who could work with him in his native Spanish and have the cultural competency to understand some of his worldviews. He realized that there were whole populations like him struggling in silence and in stigma. He grappled with the personal and societal costs of doing nothing—then took action. Luis launched Sanarai, a health tech company that offers easy, affordable, and culturally responsive therapy through telehealth. What he created is far greater than a virtual therapists’ office. He demonstrates what it’s like to provide excellent care at an affordable cost. He also showed us that it is not only possible—but profitable—to build health equity.
Making Waves in Health Tech is brought to you by California Health Care Foundation’s Innovation Fund. It is created and hosted by Hilda Martinez and Janet Boachie.
Special thanks to Luis Suarez and everyone at Sanarai.
Today’s program was produced by Zosha Warpeha and Grace Norman of Mission Boom. Audio engineering is by Zosha Warpeha. Music was composed and performed by Cameron Kinghorn. Art by Moritat and design by Paula Ginsborg. Special thanks to Eric Antebi, Melissa Buckley, Vincent James, the Innovation Fund team, Holly Minch, and Amanda Kim.
The California Health Care Foundation helps Californians with low incomes get the health care they need. Learn more at CHCF.org.
This podcast is a production of the California Health Care Foundation Innovation Fund.
The California Health Care Foundation helps Californians with low incomes get the health care they need. We are an independent, nonprofit philanthropy that works to improve the health care system so that all Californians have the care they need. We focus especially on making sure the system works for Californians with low incomes and for communities who have traditionally faced the greatest barriers to care.
The Innovation Fund partners with emerging companies to bring innovations and technology to California’s health care providers, payers, and patients.