Public Health Leader Dr. Umair Shah Joins AI Firm Jaan Health

NEW YORK, NY – January 12, 2026 – In a move that signals a powerful convergence of public health leadership and private sector innovation, nationally recognized health executive Dr. Umair A. Shah has been appointed Chief Medical Officer of Jaan Health. The company, known for its AI-powered proactive care platform Phamily, is embarking on an aggressive expansion following a recent $25 million fundraise, aiming to redefine how chronic diseases are managed for millions of Americans.

Dr. Shah’s transition from a distinguished career in public service to the helm of a fast-growing healthtech firm underscores a pivotal moment in the healthcare industry. As health systems grapple with financial pressures and the monumental shift toward value-based care, technology companies are increasingly recruiting seasoned public health veterans to guide their strategy and scale their impact. Jaan Health's appointment of Dr. Shah is a clear declaration of its ambition to not only innovate but to integrate its solutions deeply within the complex fabric of the nation's healthcare ecosystem.

From Public Crisis to Private Innovation

Dr. Shah brings a formidable record of leading large, complex health systems through periods of profound crisis and transformation. Most recently, he served as the Secretary of Health for the State of Washington, a role he stepped into during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. There, he oversaw a $3 billion agency with 3,000 employees responsible for the health and well-being of 8 million residents, navigating the immense challenges of pandemic response and vaccine rollout.

Before his tenure in Washington, Dr. Shah led the health agency for Harris County, Texas—the nation's third-largest county—for seven years. His leadership was tested by numerous public health emergencies, including Hurricanes Harvey, Ike, and Katrina, as well as outbreaks like Ebola, Zika, and H1N1 influenza. Under his guidance, the agency was lauded for its focus on innovation and health equity, earning the prestigious Local Health Department of the Year award from the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in 2016. His two-decade career as an emergency physician at Houston's VA Medical Center further grounds his executive experience in the realities of frontline clinical care.

His decision to join Jaan Health is driven by a long-held belief in the need to support patients outside traditional clinical settings. "Millions of Americans living with chronic conditions need consistent, meaningful support beyond the healthcare setting," said Dr. Shah in the company's official announcement. "Because only a small portion of life is spent in the clinic, healthcare organizations must help people stay connected between visits and as they go about their lives. Phamily helps extend care outside the clinic and strengthen prevention and wellness. After decades of public service, I am excited to join the Phamily team to advance this work."

A Growth Playbook Fueled by Capital and Expertise

Dr. Shah's appointment is a cornerstone of Jaan Health's ambitious plan to triple in size in 2026. This growth is fueled by a recent infusion of over $25 million in capital, led by a significant investment from Level Equity's structured capital fund. The financing is particularly noteworthy as Jaan Health has demonstrated impressive growth for over a decade without significant prior institutional funding, a testament to the market's demand for its solutions.

The company is strategically assembling a leadership team with a proven track record of scaling enterprise health technology. CEO Nabeel Kaukab emphasized the strategic vision, stating, "As we scale our platform to serve all people in the United States and globally, he brings deep experience connecting healthcare delivery systems, clinical stakeholders, and innovative technology to build a stronger, healthier America."

Joining Dr. Shah are several other seasoned executives poised to drive the company's expansion:

• Zach Mortensen, as VP of Product, brings a 30-year career with leadership roles at healthtech giants like Rhapsody, Parexel, Hillrom, and Microsoft. His deep expertise will guide the evolution of the Phamily platform.
• Brian Yarnell, the new Head of Enterprise and Strategic Partnerships, is a serial entrepreneur who has successfully founded, scaled, and exited multiple healthtech startups, including Bluestream Health (acquired by eVisit) and Starling Health (acquired by Hillrom).
• Kimberly Ta, appointed VP of Talent Management, has a history of building scalable, data-driven talent strategies for high-growth startups, a critical function as the company prepares for rapid expansion.

"We've built a highly-experienced, growth-focused leadership team with multiple exits from start-ups and experience developing meaningful commercial partnerships with the country's largest healthcare organizations," Kaukab added, highlighting the blend of startup agility and enterprise experience the new team embodies.

Reimagining Care Between Visits with 'Phamily'

At the core of Jaan Health's strategy is its Phamily platform, an AI-powered proactive care solution designed to manage patient health between doctor visits. For over a decade, the company has partnered with health systems, medical groups, and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to manage chronic conditions, close preventative care gaps, and improve patient outcomes.

The platform offers an end-to-end solution that combines a proprietary AI Care Copilot with a team of experienced clinical and operational staff. This hybrid model allows healthcare organizations to extend high-quality, concierge-style care to their patient populations without overburdening their existing resources. The system is designed for massive scale, enabling a single care manager to effectively support up to 500 patients with personalized check-ins and automated outreach.

This model is especially critical as the healthcare industry accelerates its transition to value-based care, where providers are compensated based on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services. Phamily provides a tangible path for organizations to succeed in this new paradigm by improving patient access, ensuring adherence to care plans, and demonstrating meaningful clinical outcomes—all while generating substantial financial results and alleviating margin pressure.

Navigating the AI Frontier in Chronic Disease Management

Jaan Health's expansion comes at a time when artificial intelligence is poised to fundamentally reshape chronic disease management. AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to predict health risks, personalize treatment plans, and engage patients in their own care more effectively than ever before. This shift from reactive to proactive, continuous health management is seen by many as the future of healthcare.

However, the path to widespread adoption is fraught with challenges. Integrating AI into legacy IT systems, ensuring data privacy, and mitigating algorithmic bias are significant technical and ethical hurdles. Perhaps most importantly, gaining the trust and buy-in of clinicians, who are ultimately responsible for patient care, remains a critical barrier.

This is where Jaan Health's strategy—combining its AI engine with human clinical staff and now, the leadership of a trusted public health figure like Dr. Shah—may provide a key advantage. The company's model emphasizes augmenting human caregivers, not replacing them, which can help bridge the trust gap. By bringing a leader with deep experience in public health policy, equity, and large-scale implementation, Jaan Health is positioning itself to navigate these complexities thoughtfully. The company's ambitious journey is not just about deploying technology, but about integrating it responsibly to build a more connected and preventative healthcare system.