About the Summit
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About the Summit *
A transformative gathering for industry leaders, startups, and investors committed to advancing health equity and women’s health.
The Health Equity Innovators Summit is a unique, action-driven experience designed for those already contributing to improving health equity. Through thought-provoking discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and immersive wellness experiences, we’re shaping the future of healthcare together.
Who Attends?
Healthcare Leaders: Payers, providers, employers, consultants, and biotech companies
Innovators & Startups: Companies driving real solutions in health equity
Investors: Those actively investing in health equity or eager to deploy capital in the space
Policymakers & Experts: Visionaries committed to lasting change
The summit is hosted by Coyote Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in health equity & women’s health.
San Francisco | April 10-11, 2025
Key Speakers & Companies
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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Dr. Bayo Curry Winchell, known simply as Dr. Bayo, is a trailblazing physician and nationally recognized health equity advocate whose work is transforming healthcare conversations across America. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell's powerful TEDx talk "Do No Harm" has reached over 2 million viewers, sparking crucial discussions about maternal health equity. As founder of Beyond Clinical Walls Podcast and medical director at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno, she's become a trusted voice in healthcare, reaching millions through Instagram, TikTok, NBC, and ABC with vital health information. A graduate of the prestigious Goldman Sachs and NYU School of Business One Million Black Women In Business program, Dr. Bayo champions health literacy and accessible care through her roles as a medical correspondent and public speaker. Recently appointed to the CDC Community and Public Engagement Workgroup, she continues to drive meaningful change in addressing healthcare inequalities.
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Linda Goler Blount became the President of the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) in February 2014, steering the organization’s strategic direction to address critical health issues affecting Black women and girls in the U.S. Prior to BWHI, she was the Vice President of Programmatic Impact for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, focusing on eliminating inequalities across various sectors. Before that, she served as the inaugural National Vice President of Health Disparities at the American Cancer Society, where she developed strategies to reduce cancer disparities and crafted a nationwide health equity policy.
With over 25 years in public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Linda’s extensive career includes roles at The Coca-Cola Company and as an expert scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Her international expertise is marked by consultancy roles with government ministries across Germany, South Africa, and the Caribbean.
A recognized speaker and public health leader, Linda serves on several boards, including the Community Health Charities and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering/Operations Research from Eastern Michigan University.
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With over 15 years of experience in healthcare marketing and communications, I help teams grow authentically and get attention for their good work. As the founder and CEO of Uncommon Bold, a healthcare branding agency, I work with clients such as Blue Shield of California, Lyra Health, Elation Health, and Rock Health to craft compelling stories, design memorable brands, and launch impactful campaigns. I bring a uniquely humanist, data-driven, and creative approach to healthcare branding, combining my skills in brand strategy, data storytelling, public relations, social media, content, and co-marketing.
My second book, "Artists Remaking Medicine", is an award-winning No. 1 Amazon best seller, and showcases how diverse voices are working to change America's healthcare system through art, design, music, writing, and more.
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Milan Chavarkar has been a family nurse practitioner, women's health specialist, and midwife for 20+ years. She has faced her own health challenges over the years and understands what women face at every stage of life: maiden, mother, and mature goddess! She has seen that the conventional medical system has failed patients in achieving true healing and preventing disease. She is dedicated to helping women and their families improve their health and vitality through a collaborative and integrative approach. She uses functional medicine knowledge, natural therapies, health coaching, mindfulness techniques, supplements, and herbal treatments to treat her patients, specializing in women's health: fertility, menopause, weight loss, and sexuality. She firmly believes an integrative approach is the future of healthcare.
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Jessica Karr is Founder & Managing Director of Coyote Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in bold innovations in health equity & women’s health that drive health outcomes for overlooked populations. Jessica’s experience launching novel impact-focused products began when she joined Impossible Foods as the 12th employee, where she helped develop and launch the Impossible burger. She has worked with over a dozen startups as a consultant and advisor, she holds an MS in Biochemistry and an MBA.
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Maryam Sharifzadeh, founder of Office Yoga and ZaaS, is an entrepreneur, athlete, and wellness advocate with a passion for helping others thrive. When she's not helping employees maintain their well-being, she's swimming in the open water or taking her Chihuahua , Pinta, for a walk!
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Reetu Gupt is a seasoned senior leader with more than 20+ years of experience in healthcare and finance. Her area of expertise are customer success, strategy, new program development, and corporate sustainability. She advises B2B and B2B2C start-ups and growth stage companies on customer success. Gupta also works with companies and sustainability teams on sustainability projects & strategy. She is passionate about leveraging technology and data to address core issues and opportunities within climate. She is interested in the intersection of impact of climate change on health and in decarbonization solutions. Gupta supports causes and organizations that are working to level the playing field for women professionals, founders and persons of color.
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25 years ago, I started on a path of bringing together my interests in the environment with health. I studied ecology and evolution in college, worked as an environmental scientist for several years before going to medical school. It was while I was in Mumbai working on an asthma collaboration between Mumbai public health officials and the Environmental Protection Agency that I had a light bulb moment. I was visiting a gymnasium that had been converted to the children’s asthma ward because the hospital didn’t have enough beds. Seeing the enormity of our failure to transition off fossil fuels in the form of a gymnasium packed with children struggling to breathe—it really hit home that this was our collective failing, and we were making children suffer for it. Since then, I've devoted my career to finding opportunities to work at the nexus of climate change and health.
Today, I work both as a pediatric hospitalist, caring for premature infants in our NICU, well newborns, and hospitalized children and as the Deputy Executive Director for the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health. In my ED role, I have the privilege of organizing a movement of passionate health professional advocates throughout the country who understand climate change to be a profound threat to health and health equity. Together, we're advocating for bold policy solutions that best protect the health of our people and the planet on local, state, and federal levels.
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After a successful NBA career, Mr. Thomas has transitioned from the basketball court to the boardroom.
Kenny Thomas is President and KT Legacy Consulting LLC, a dynamic and versatile multi faceted conglomerate. KT Legacy encompasses television and film production, sports entertainment and management and real estate development.
Kenny Thomas is also the Founder of The Kenny Thomas Foundation dedicated to helping the community youth by providing opportunities for under privileged youth experiencing financial hardship through higher education, college scholarships and helping families in need of assistance move from poverty to self-sufficiency.
Kenny Thomas is also a board member on both ALS New Mexico and the African American Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
Innovators Spotlight
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Nicole Cook is the Founder and CEO of Alvee, leveraging AI to help healthcare organizations identify and act on SDOH. Previously, she spent 7 years at Epic implementing EHR systems and was an early, key leader at SameSky Health, scaling the team and revenue by over 10x. Her expertise spans EHR integration, clinical environments, and startup growth, giving her a unique perspective on driving impact through technology.
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Current healthtech founder. Former founding team of Amazon Care. Former Grand Challenge product leader. Former Partnerships lead for Vesta Healthcare. Founding team for Venture for America. New Mom. Caregiver. Optimist.
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Founder of Malama, on a mission to improve maternal health outcomes, mom of two, world traveler.
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Thoughtful strategic and business development executive with 24 years experience in growth and change agency.
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Anu is the founder of Millie, a women's health company that is redesigning the current standard of maternity care with a hybrid model that combines OB/Midwifery care with modern technology to create more right sized, complete, and proactive care for better outcomes & experiences.
See Who's Going
April 9
Welcome Reception
April 10
Morning Meditation
Empowering Your Best Health
Removing Barriers to Health
Maternal Health - Innovation Spotlights
Climate Change x Health Equity
Social Barriers, Caregiving, & Community Health - Innovation Spotlights
Health Equity Through Sports & Youth Community Engagement
Roundtable Topics May Include:
How can healthcare providers better reach at-risk populations to improve health equity?
How can healthcare payers align incentives and innovate to prioritize health equity?
Venture Capital & Family Office funding towards health equity
Art x Healthcare
April 11
Morning Yoga
Walk/run
Swim + Sauna
Event Highlights & Agenda
Taking care of our bodies is essential—not just for personal well-being, but as a powerful statement of the connection between health, movement, and leadership. As we shape the future of health equity, we also embrace holistic wellness in this iconic landscape.
Why Attend?
Expand Your Network – Meet industry leaders and mission-driven investors
Actionable Insights – Skip the “why” and dive straight into solutions
Experience Holistic Well-Being – Engage in immersive wellness activities
Unparalleled Setting – San Francisco’s most breathtaking views
Sponsors
A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors & Partners Who Make This Possible
