Rushika Fernandopulle

Dr. Rushika Fernandopulle is a practicing physician and a prominent figure in American healthcare reform, recognized for co-founding Iora Health, a national primary care group focused on relationship-based medicine. Fernandopulle earned his A.B., M.D., and M.P.P. from Harvard University and completed clinical training at the University of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts General Hospital. Prior to Iora Health, he served as the first executive director of the Harvard Interfaculty Program for Health Systems Improvement and as managing director of the Clinical Initiatives Center at the Advisory Board Company.

Fernandopulle co-founded Iora Health, a value-based primary care provider dedicated to reducing healthcare costs and improving outcomes. The Iora model reimagined healthcare delivery, moving away from fee-for-service payment structures and introducing innovations in staffing and IT systems. Each patient was assigned a personal physician and a health coach from the community, who maintained close contact during and between office visits. Fernandopulle pioneered the use of health coaches, who worked alongside physicians to support patients in maintaining healthy habits, adhering to medication regimens, and preventing hospitalizations. He also advocated for early adoption of digital communication, enabling practices such as emailing and texting patients and providing patients with access to their complete medical records.

Iora Health was acquired by One Medical for over $2 billion, and One Medical was subsequently acquired by Amazon. Following these acquisitions, Fernandopulle served as chief innovation officer at One Medical. Throughout his entrepreneurial career, he continued practicing medicine, maintaining a direct connection to patient care while developing business strategies. His work has been recognized by the UCSF Health Hub Digital Health Awards, where he was inducted into the Founders Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the Albert Schweitzer, Ashoka, Aspen, and Salzburg Global Fellowships.

Fernandopulle is co-author or editor of several publications, including "Health Care Policy," a textbook for physicians and medical students, and "Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity." He serves on the staff at Massachusetts General Hospital, on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, and on the boards of Families USA and the Schwartz Center for Compassionate Care. His academic and civic work reflects a commitment to systemic change in healthcare.

Fernandopulle is CEO of Liza Health, a company developing an AI-enabled platform for primary care. In this role, he explores new structures to support patient-centered care, leveraging artificial intelligence to empower patients. His career spans startups, academia, corporate acquisitions, and clinical practice, consistently focusing on person-centered care and healthcare systems innovation. As a keynote speaker on healthcare, medicine, and business leadership, Fernandopulle draws on clinical experience, entrepreneurial expertise, and a vision for the future of American healthcare.