Bio: Jannine Versi is the CEO and Co-Founder of Elektra Health. She has spent her career in healthcare, tech, and government, including roles at Google and in the Obama Administration. Prior to Elektra, she was on the founding team of Cityblock Health, a health tech unicorn that pioneered a value-based care model integrating the social determinants of health. She’s an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Business School, and was a Fulbright Scholar. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and twins.

Org Info: Elektra delivers virtual medical care and wraparound services—including education and community support—to women navigating menopause and overall midlife health. Today, Elektra is partnered with EmblemHealth, Mass General Brigham Health Plan, UPMC, and over 20 in-network health plans. As the first virtual menopause clinic to welcome Medicare and Medicaid-insured patients, Elektra drives improved health outcomes and access to specialty care for a large, diverse, aging female population.

What motivated you to pursue your current work?

Early on, I was inspired by new solutions offering greater access in the women’s health milieu, particularly in fertility, maternity, and family building. At the same time, I was astonished by how our healthcare system overlooks women in midlife and beyond. As a society, we neglect many facets of women’s health—but especially as women age. This has begun to shift as menopause has moved more mainstream; however, access to high-quality care remains elusive for the vast majority, and especially for less affluent women. All women deserve to age well and without unnecessary suffering. That is why I pursue this work.

What distinct value does your work bring to the digital health field?

Elektra applies a population health approach to deliver transformative menopause-centered midlife care. Our digital platform enhances evidence-based clinical care by providing patient education and peer/doula support between visits. This approach meets patients with empathy, lived experience, and psychosocial support, while extending and amplifying care delivery. Uniquely tailored to midlife women, Elektra’s model addresses the often-overlooked intersection of menopause and chronic disease risk, setting a new standard in comprehensive, proactive care. By fostering self-efficacy and informed decision-making in collaboration with a multidisciplinary care team, Elektra drives effective symptom management and improves preventive health outcomes during these pivotal decades.

How does your work impact your target end-users or stakeholders?

Elektra bridges a critical gap in women’s healthcare by making specialty menopause and midlife care accessible to underserved patients, including those with employer-sponsored, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance. This inclusive approach addresses significant disparities, as research shows that Black and brown women often experience more severe symptoms that begin earlier and persist longer. By ensuring access to evidence-based care, Elektra advances public and population health imperatives, empowering all women to manage symptoms, reduce suffering, and improve quality of life and health outcomes during this transformative stage and beyond.

What is one exciting update or near-term opportunity that you would like to share with the digital health community?

At the start of 2024, Elektra had zero in network contracts. A year later, we are now over 20 and growing rapidly. This includes a number of managed Medicaid plans, representing a major expansion of access to care for patients with limited financial resources.