As a Chief Technology Officer, Prashant Gharpure leads the execution of the company’s technology strategy and is responsible for the management of software development, informatics, and infrastructure operations. Prior to Valera Health, he served as the CTO at Phynd (acquired by symplr). With over 30 years of experience in software product architecture and development, Prashant helmed technology leadership and consultative positions at various startup companies. He currently lives in the Atlanta area and is a passionate wildlife photographer.
Naomi is passionate about using technology to improve mental healthcare, accessibility and the patient experience. She believes in the interdisciplinary nature of creative problem-solving, reflected in her time incorporating music, fitness and social/mental health at Drums Alive. Prior to Valera, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, using her product and engineering background to drive virtual and digital care initiatives spanning several clinical specialties across the Southern California region.
Lauren Mills began her career as a clinical social worker providing counseling to children and families in a community-based mental health program at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. Lauren later became a Clinical Supervisor and oversaw operations of a Medicaid funded program for children and adolescents and owned a private psychotherapy practice. Through this work, Lauren became passionate about increasing access to mental health services through technology and joined AbleTo, where she helped develop and scale a telemental health program and national provider network serving thousands of patients as Clinical Director. Following AbleTo, Lauren joined Aetna and led new product development as the Strategy and Product Management Director for National Account Commercial Business. Lauren holds a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and is currently pursuing an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Lauren lives outside Providence, RI with her husband and three year old daughter.
Larry Ozowara is a psychiatrist who specializes in the collaboration between inpatient and outpatient care. He attended Stanford Medical School, completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Columbia University and is a former Assistant Professor at NYU School of Medicine where he supervised and trained medical students, residents and fellows in psychiatry. He has extensive experience in working with patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and patients with serious and persistent mental illness. Dr. Ozowara directs Valera’s psychiatry program and HEDIS improvement program for healthplans and hospitals.