David Craig

CEO and Co-Founder, GRYT Health

Years in current role: 6

What was your biggest success in 2021?

GRYT Health successfully completed its 3rd funding round and grew from 10 to 30 full-time employees in 2021. Our people are the most important part of our success. One of the hires we made in 2021 was Kevin Beckford, in the Chief People Officer role. Together, our team is co-creating meaningful and tangible support for patients and caregivers while working with half of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies to improve medicines development and ensure that all people have the same chance or a positive outcome. One example is through our collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb https://news.bms.com/news/details/2021/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-and-GRYT-Health-Evolve-Virtual-Patient-Advocacy-Experience/default.aspx

What are your expectations for 2022?

In 2022, GRYT Health will add another 10 full-time employees. This will enable us to expand the work that we’re doing to support patients and caregivers today, while working closely with the Health Economics and Outcomes Research and Patient Engagement & Experience teams at Pharma. The collaborative work is moving health, healthcare and health equity toward improving outcomes for all people facing a diagnosis.

What is your biggest takeaway from dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic?

How important authenticity is. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people into a new and uncertain experience while simultaneously highlighting issues that were hidden by the speed and intensity of the status quo. COVID-19, while creating real human and organizational stress, is also a catalyst for how we foster a culture of authenticity, equity and inclusion, to do what’s right to support every individual to be seen, heard and valued.

What is your favorite thing about the Rochester community?

The genuine passion and dedication for tackling big challenges and building others up. GRYT Health is what we are today and is part of the future we are creating for tomorrow because of the humans in Rochester who make impossible things, possible!

If time were no issue, what would you do to help the community that you aren’t already doing?

Listen. The more we can listen to the real-life experiences of the community members and what matters most to them – the more we can create meaningful outcomes together.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 100 list for 2022. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.