Sleep expert leaves Apple for Dr. Oz JV and more digital health hires and departures

By Jonah Comstock
11:34 am
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Roy J.E.M. Raymann, who, as we reported yesterday, left Apple's sleep team a month ago, has moved to SleepScore Labs, a joint venture between ResMed, Dr. Oz Media, and Pegasus Capital Advisors. He will serve as Vice President of Sleep Science and Scientific Affairs.

First announced this year at CES, SleepScore Labs is "currently in the process of examining how people sleep by compiling and analyzing the most comprehensive and accurate collection of consumer sleep data on the planet," the group writes on its website. "SleepScore Labs will use this data to deliver ultra-personalized insights, coaching, and validated solutions that enable you to make informed decisions about the behavioral and environmental factors that affect your sleep."

“SleepScore Labs is on a mission to not only educate and help people with their sleep, but to share holistic solutions that can change the way people feel and live,” Raymann said in a statement. “Measuring your sleep will be comfortable and effortless, your data will be actionable and insightful, and the solutions offered will be easy to use and effective – I look forward to bridging the gap between consumer awareness and effective solutions to maximize the benefits of a healthy night of sleep.”

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Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong's NantHealth has hired a new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sandeep Reddy. Reddy has been with NantHealth since late last year in the role of senior executive director of medical affairs.

“Appointing Dr. Reddy and his experience to our leadership team will be highly valuable to the evolution of the GPS Cancer initiative,” said Soon-Shiong said in a statement. “With extensive background in hematology, medical oncology and therapeutics research, Dr. Reddy will play a key role in helping NantHealth achieve victory in the war against cancer.”

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Scott Gottlieb was officially confirmed this week as commissioner of the FDA. As we reported back in March, Gottlieb has a history with the mobile health space, having written multiple editorials arguing that the agency should take a lighter regulatory role with health apps. Our sister publication Healthcare IT News has more on the hire.

HITN also reports that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has tapped a new leader: Gopal Khanna, Minnesota’s first statewide chief information officer. Khanna’s most recent role was the development of a statewide Healthcare and Human Services Innovation Incubator for Illinois, which is a secured data pool from all statewide HHS, other government agencies and open data for a complete view of the patient.

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In other government news, Dr. Thomas Insel, former director of the National Institute of Mental Health, has left Verily after a little under two years. Insel will be starting a new startup called Mindstrong that will be focused on using smartphones to detect mental health conditions. More.

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Health system innovation network Avia has also landed a former government heavyweight: former CMS director Andy Slavitt. Slavitt will serve as senior advisor to the company.

“We’re thrilled to have Andy on our team,” Avia CEO and cofounder Eric Langshur said in a statement. “Avia and its network are propelling the healthcare industry forward through collaboration and on-the-ground care transformation at scale. Andy brings unparalleled experience and insight at a time when leadership and innovation in healthcare have never been more important.”

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Digital nutrition platform Zipongo has added a new VP of Sales to its ranks: Kevin Smith, who has previously led sales at digital health companies WellTok and Predylitics.

"I am thrilled to be joining Zipongo, a company I have long admired for its ability to transform the nutritional science into a digital platform with broad appeal, and I look forward to helping to grow its base of health plan customers," Smith said in a statement. "Health plans are under immense financial pressure to improve the health of their members with chronic disease, yet the typical approaches have failed to produce long-term improvement in outcomes. Zipongo provides a low-cost path to drive sustainable improvements in their members' health by gradually transforming the one thing studies have shown to have the greatest impact on health—what and how they eat."

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