Cleo, the support benefit for working families has announced a new Clinical Advisory Board consisting of five industry leading health professionals. Collectively, the board brings a progressive and holistic approach to areas including neonatal development, pediatric care, better Medicaid support for marginalized communities, and improved Black maternal health outcomes.
Joining Cleo’s Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Chitra Akileswaran, MD, on Cleo’s Clinical Advisory Board are:
Dr. Monica R. McLemore, RN, PhD, FAAN: Dr. Monica R. McLemore is a tenured associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco in the Family Health Care Nursing Department, an affiliated scientist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, and a member of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health.
Adimika Arthur: Adimika Arthur is a healthcare executive with significant leadership experience in serving vulnerable populations. Trained as a clinical epidemiologist, Adimika is now a successful healthcare administrator with a proven record of developing innovative strategies to improve the delivery and quality of health services, increase access to care, and stabilize struggling organizations.
Dr. Seth Bokser, MD: Dr. Seth Bokser has two decades of experience caring for working families as a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco Medical School. He is a Board Certified Clinical Informaticist and has led many digital-health innovations throughout his career in the domains of telehealth, electronic medical records, and connected medical devices. Dr. Bokser is also a leader in Patient Experience, recently holding the position of Chief Medical Officer for Oneview Healthcare, an international digital patient experience company.
Dr. Pamela J. Simms-Mackey, MD, FAAP: Dr. Pamela J. Simms-Mackey, MD, FAAP is the Chair of Pediatrics and Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Alameda Health System. Prior to her role at AHS, Simms-Mackey was the director of Graduate Medical Education and Pediatric Residency Program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. She also holds an appointment as a clinical professor of Pediatrics with University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, educating medical students as well as pediatric residents.
From mental health to chronic illness, today’s families face a range of challenges that call for more specialized support. As reported, Cleo’s latest survey of working parents found that more than half of families are dealing with some type of pediatric health concern, a third of which is a neurodivergent or mental health condition.
Cleo’s new Clinical Advisory Board brings together diverse experts across pediatric and family health to drive forward sustained, positive health outcomes for its member base during what has become a historical 18 months for working parents. These results are proven with 30% of members reporting that Cleo support and preventative care has helped them avoid a medical or clinical escalation and 92% of women returning to work compared to an industry average of 60%.
“Providing holistic support for working families across all facets of health and wellness has been a core priority for Cleo since day one,” said Chitra Akileswaran, MD, MBA, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Cleo. “The biggest threats to family health are much more than illness or injury; they are mental health and burnout, lack of logistical support, unreliable childcare and incomplete recognition at work from managers and colleagues – all of which continue to be exacerbated by the pandemic. I’m proud of the model we’ve developed and excited to replicate this success as we expand our clinical programs and team. I’m thrilled to welcome a new slate of healthcare experts to our team as we continue to advocate for a holistic, adaptable approach to family health.”
