Disease Risk Management Startup - Pioneering Health Tech

Charity Dean and Early Pandemic Warnings

Charity Dean recently gained national recognition as a key member of a group of doctors, scientists, and tech entrepreneurs who proactively alerted the public to the impending pandemic. Her insights are highlighted in Michael Lewis’s new book, “The Premonition,” detailing the U.S. response to the crisis.

While surgery remains a core passion, Dean’s background also includes the study of tropical diseases. This unique combination of expertise allowed her to apply her knowledge during the pandemic’s initial stages. She also identified a critical gap in the U.S. government’s ability to monitor viral spread and mutation.

Developing a Disease Tracking Model

Recognizing the need for improved surveillance, Dean spearheaded the development of a model designed to prevent, detect, and contain future disease outbreaks. This model has now been transformed into subscription-based software, offering a proactive approach to costly public health challenges.

This technology is particularly relevant for companies operating on a global scale, prompting increased interest and investment. The Public Health Company, Dean’s 20-person organization, has secured $8 million in seed funding from Venrock, Alphabet’s Verily unit, and Sweat Equity Ventures.

Dean’s Path to Public Health

TC: Your educational background includes both medical school and a master’s degree in public health and tropical medicine. What drew you to the latter field?

CD: My parents did not have the opportunity to pursue college degrees. Growing up in rural Oregon, we faced financial hardship. A full scholarship enabled me to pursue a pre-med track.

As a young girl, I was deeply moved by stories of disease outbreaks in Africa shared at our church. I declared my intention to become a doctor specializing in disease, a goal that remained unwavering throughout my life.

From Residency to Public Health

How did your career path lead you to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, rather than a private practice?

During the completion of my residency – initially in general surgery, then transitioning to internal medicine – I received recruitment offers from numerous private practices due to the shortage of female physicians.

Simultaneously, the county public health department’s medical director approached me, recognizing my master’s degree in tropical medicine. He proposed a role as deputy health officer, overseeing communicable disease control, tuberculosis, HIV, and homeless healthcare services. This opportunity aligned perfectly with my aspirations.

The Importance of Public Health Infrastructure

Was the limited attention given to these public health concerns a key factor in your decision?

The opportunity to address communicable diseases and tuberculosis particularly resonated with me. My experiences living in Africa exposed me to diseases less common in the United States, such as HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and vaccine-preventable illnesses.

This position allowed me to serve as a safety net for vulnerable populations – those without health insurance, undocumented individuals, and those lacking access to healthcare. Serving these communities was where I felt I could make the greatest impact.

Early Recognition of the Pandemic Threat

Your expertise in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis informed your early understanding of the impending U.S. outbreak. How so?

My understanding of pathogen transmission – whether airborne, surface-borne, or spread through bodily fluids – was crucial. Observing reports from China in January, it became apparent that the novel virus possessed characteristics of highly contagious diseases like tuberculosis, measles, and influenza.

The virus’s ability to spread rapidly, cause severe illness, and prompt the rapid construction of hospitals in China signaled a potentially devastating pandemic.

Forming The Public Health Company

You played a role in convincing California Governor Gavin Newsom to implement lockdown measures. Could you elaborate?

My contributions were part of a collaborative effort. In March, a team of experts from the private sector – including Todd Park, DJ Patil, and Bob Kocher – joined forces to develop modeling efforts that projected the pandemic’s trajectory for the state of California.

What motivated the formation of The Public Health Company last August?

The Public Health Company integrates genomic variant analysis – tracking viral mutations – with epidemiological investigations and traditional public health data. This integrated platform provides readily accessible tools for informed decision-making.

Our aim is to automate these tools, eliminating the need for extensive expertise in mathematics, data science, and infectious disease to effectively respond to public health crises.

Targeting Customers and Future Applications

Who constitutes your customer base? Government entities, or international organizations?

Our tools are valuable for government agencies, and we are actively engaged in partnerships to provide these services. However, they are equally, if not more, beneficial to the private sector, which historically lacks these capabilities.

Many companies have had to create their own internal public health departments to navigate the pandemic, and the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.

What types of customers might be unexpected?

One area that may not immediately come to mind is risk management for large enterprises with global operations, such as warehouses or factories. Managing the risk of COVID-19 varies significantly based on local viral mutations, employee demographics, activities, and facility ventilation.

We provide a comprehensive solution that combines technology, expertise, modeling, and genetic analysis to address these complex factors.

Disease control risk management is becoming increasingly important, similar to cybersecurity. Following numerous high-profile cyberattacks, businesses recognized the need to incorporate cybersecurity into their risk management strategies. We believe disease control will become equally critical for business continuity, an understanding that was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.