Partnering with seven corporate giants to enhance healthcare for Black employees

In 2022, Included Health formed the Black Community Innovation Coalition with seven employers to co-design care concierge and navigation for Black employees.

The research uncovered persistent distrust, frequent negative experiences tied to race, and the effort it takes to “armor up” just to get care.

Over six months I helped lead the research and turned it into a plan leadership could act on.

• Scoped the research with partners and clinicians and facilitated sessions.
• Ran synthesis across 14 focus groups (43 participants) and a 3,203-response survey.
• Produced the final report and executive readout.
• Aligned product, clinical, sales and engineering on an action plan.

• Co-design, don’t survey and leave. Employer partners shaped the questions and the messaging, so the program launched with trust at the center.
• Turn findings into product. Insights became concrete direction: a vetted provider directory, a dedicated coordinator experience and plain-language education.
• Measure it. I worked with product on success measures and with engineering on data for adoption and follow-through.

• 37% of participants reported race-related negative care experiences, and more than half delayed care as a result. These findings set the focus on trusted advocates and culturally competent providers.
• 47% wanted culturally competent providers and better education, which shaped the product direction.
• Created a repeatable model for partnering with large employers.

The coalition laid the foundation for Included Health’s equity investments.