Luis Suárez
Founder + CEO, Sanarai
Bio: Luis Suárez is originally from Mexico City and came to the U.S. to pursue his MBA at Duke University. He is an engineer by training and worked as a management consultant at Kearney focusing on Digital Transformation and M&A for three years before launching Sanarai with the mission to increase the access of Spanish-speakers to high quality mental health services.
Org Info: Sanarai is a managed marketplace that connects the Latino community to mental health professionals in Latin America and the U.S. to offer culturally sensitive, Spanish-language emotional support at accessible prices.
What motivated you to pursue your current work?
In 2020, my personal search for Spanish-speaking mental healthcare in the U.S. (after moving from Mexico City for my MBA and working in consulting) revealed a critical gap. The Latino community faces significant barriers in accessing culturally competent support.
What distinct value does your work bring to the digital health field?
Many digital health solutions try to be one-size-fits-all, but this simply doesn’t work in the United States’ diverse population. At Sanarai, we recognized that there was a huge gap in care for Spanish-speakers, and built our product with them in mind from the ground up. Our goal is to address the unique needs of the Hispanic community, and provide a platform that meets the cultural, linguistic, and technological preferences of our clients. By understanding the specific needs of the population we serve, we can create a solution that helps them access high-quality, affordable healthcare.
How does your work impact your target end-users or stakeholders?
For the 42+ million Spanish speakers in the U.S., accessing affordable mental health services in their native language is often a significant challenge. This lack of access frequently results in individuals either forgoing treatment altogether or settling for less effective English-language services. Sanarai provides a convenient and affordable solution, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to receiving quality mental healthcare.
What is one exciting update or near-term opportunity that you would like to share with the digital health community?
We aim to integrate further into the existing healthcare infrastructure, recognizing the challenges players face in finding Spanish-speaking providers, engaging Spanish-speaking communities, and addressing the growing priority of health equity.
Bio: Luis Suárez is originally from Mexico City and came to the U.S. to pursue his MBA at Duke University. He is an engineer by training and worked as a management consultant at Kearney focusing on Digital Transformation and M&A for three years before launching Sanarai with the mission to increase the access of Spanish-speakers to high quality mental health services.
Org Info: Sanarai is a managed marketplace that connects the Latino community to mental health professionals in Latin America and the U.S. to offer culturally sensitive, Spanish-language emotional support at accessible prices.
What motivated you to pursue your current work?
In 2020, my personal search for Spanish-speaking mental healthcare in the U.S. (after moving from Mexico City for my MBA and working in consulting) revealed a critical gap. The Latino community faces significant barriers in accessing culturally competent support.
What distinct value does your work bring to the digital health field?
Many digital health solutions try to be one-size-fits-all, but this simply doesn’t work in the United States’ diverse population. At Sanarai, we recognized that there was a huge gap in care for Spanish-speakers, and built our product with them in mind from the ground up. Our goal is to address the unique needs of the Hispanic community, and provide a platform that meets the cultural, linguistic, and technological preferences of our clients. By understanding the specific needs of the population we serve, we can create a solution that helps them access high-quality, affordable healthcare.
How does your work impact your target end-users or stakeholders?
For the 42+ million Spanish speakers in the U.S., accessing affordable mental health services in their native language is often a significant challenge. This lack of access frequently results in individuals either forgoing treatment altogether or settling for less effective English-language services. Sanarai provides a convenient and affordable solution, ensuring that language is no longer a barrier to receiving quality mental healthcare.
What is one exciting update or near-term opportunity that you would like to share with the digital health community?
We aim to integrate further into the existing healthcare infrastructure, recognizing the challenges players face in finding Spanish-speaking providers, engaging Spanish-speaking communities, and addressing the growing priority of health equity.