The OptimalMD Team

Shawn Fry

Founder & CEO

Healthcare Executive - Hospital Administration

Shawn Fry brings over 25 years of expertise in hospital administration and medical billing. He utilized this expertise to design OptimalMD to give members the same services at a much lower cost by navigating around insurance barriers, pharmacy limitations and cost controls.

Karen Richardson, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Board Certified - Family Medicine

Dr. Richardson brings over 20 years of experience in both hospital and private practice, blending family medicine, emergency medicine, and functional medicine. Her holistic approach emphasizes comprehensive, patient-centered care that addresses both immediate health needs and long-term wellness.

Clifton Thomas, MD

Medical Director

Board Certified - Surgeon

A board-certified surgeon with expertise in bariatric and metabolic medicine, Dr. Thomas focuses on giving the body what it needs to heal and thrive. Beyond weight loss, his holistic approach addresses the full spectrum of metabolic conditions, helping patients restore balance and achieve long-term health.

Jeff Harmening

VP of Operations

Insurance Agent - Operational Workflows

Jeff combines deep expertise as a former insurance agent with extensive experience in the technical operations of health technology systems. He bridges the gap between healthcare delivery and benefits strategy, ensuring members and employers gain maximum value from our private healthcare network.

Jewel Rana

General Manager

Customer Services and Pharmacy

Jewel has led customer service and technology support for healthcare and pharmacy organizations.

He is most diligent in engineering customer satisfaction and maintaining our strong business partnerships.

Lindsey Rhoads

Executive Assistant

Customer Experience

Lindsey's career has focused on building opportunities through precise action. Her attention to detail, focus on objectives, and general discretion make her the perfect fit for this role.

Sandi Wright

Social Impact Director

Government and Institutions

Sandi's career has spanned more than 25 years and has focused on building opportunities that have a positive social impact via strategic partnerships. She also serves as the Director of the Tamer Institute at Columbia University and steers our alignment with noble causes and disadvantaged communites.

Rececca Elliot

Enterprise Accounts

Government and Institutions

Rebecca brings 20 years of expertise in medical sales to hospitals and healthcare entities. Rebecca has valuable insights into the background processes that complicate and inflate the cost of care. She is a key driver of our value proposition..

Md Emon

Senior Developer

Database Architect

Emon leads our team of expert code developers and database architects, delivering premier-quality technical innovation and support to our enterprise technology platforms.

Gene Stewart

National Sales

Customer Services and Pharmacy

Gene expertise is business development with enterprise healthcare organizations. He focuses on strategic sales partnerrhips on a national level.

Matthew Rhoads

Director of Marketing

Sudhir Attri

Network Administrator

Bruce Johnson

National Accounts

— Hospital Administration

Shawn Fry

Founder & CEO

With more than 25 years of experience in healthcare administration, Shawn Fry is the founder and driving force behind OptimalMD. Throughout his career, Shawn has served as Chief Information Officer and strategic advisor for several regional hospital systems, where he developed a deep expertise in delivering coordinated, patient-centered care.

Shawn’s blend of technological expertise, extensive industry experience, and neurodivergent perspective has allowed him to disrupt traditional healthcare models. He is dedicated to eliminating insurance barriers and expanding immediate, affordable medical access to everyone.

OptimalMD was established with a clear mission: to prioritize patient needs and bridge the gaps between cost, quality, and access to care. Shawn’s recognition as the Houston Business Journal's Diversity Champion further reflects his dedication to developing inclusive healthcare solutions that serve the needs of all patient communities.

As the former CEO of Prevalent, Inc. (Prevalent Health), Shawn managed sensitive healthcare data for over 50 million Americans across hundreds of hospitals. This unparalleled experience gave him deep insight into the complexities and inefficiencies of the healthcare system, inspiring him to found OptimalMD—an organization focused on realigning the doctor-patient relationship without insurance company interference.

At OptimalMD, his decades of experience and unwavering dedication to patient advocacy ensure a trustworthy, professional resource for individuals and organizations seeking better healthcare outcomes.

Background & Leadership

Hospital Administration
CIO of Multiple Hospital Systems
Former CEO of Prevalent, Inc. (Prevalent Health
Founder of Neurodiversity Foundation
Holds Multiple US Patents
Pioneer of Medical Data Science

Notable Awards & Speaking Engagements :

Frequent TV Appearances as Healthcare Expert
Speaker, Stanford Medical School (2024, 2021)
Presenter, McGovern Medical School (2020)
Lecturer, Columbia Business School (2022)
Honored as Diversity Champion (2021)

— Our Team

Karen Richardson, MD

Dr. Karen Richardson, MD, Medical Director of OptimalMD, brings extensive experience in emergency and family medicine. A proponent of holistic and functional medicine, she integrates these approaches with primary care to address gaps in traditional healthcare.

Medical Director
Functional Medicine
Family Medicine
Women's Health Expert

As a Medical Director of OptimalMD, Karen Richardson, MD brings a broad expertise working in emergency medicine as well as family practice. Her judgement and care strategies bring clinical excellent to our to our team. Dr. Richardson recognized a need for change in traditional models to improve upon the "standard of care" that is failing so many people. She champions a holistic approach that integrates the principles of functional medicine with comprehensive primary care. 

Dr. Richardson embarked on her distinguished medical career after earning her M.D. from McGovern Medical School, previously known as the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her residency at the Memorial Family Practice Residency Program, where she also excelled as Chief Resident. Her journey continued at Sugar Land Family Physicians, where she honed her skills in family medicine, marking the start of a highly successful career. 

Throughout her extensive career, Dr. Richardson has held several pivotal roles, including a decade as President of Rose-Rich EM Physicians, a democratic partnership comprising nine partners and 21 physicians. This role saw her expertly juggling administrative duties with a full-time clinical practice, showcasing her versatility and unwavering commitment to healthcare. For 14 years, Dr. Richardson also served as Assistant Medical Director at OakBend Medical Center, further enhancing her administrative and clinical expertise. At OptimalMD, Dr. Richardson applies her comprehensive knowledge and vast clinical experience to refine our patient-centered, innovative healthcare services. Her passion for identifying and addressing the root causes of diseases aligns seamlessly with our mission. 

On a personal note, Dr. Richardson’s empathy for patients is deepened by her own family's health challenges, including battles with brain cancer, eosinophilic duodenitis, and Celiac disease. These personal experiences have reinforced her commitment to delivering exemplary medical care that is both scientifically sound and emotionally supportive. 

Her leadership was particularly instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she provided vital, uncompensated care. Dr. Richardson’s dedication to functional and integrative healthcare, enriched by her comprehensive experience, uniquely positions her to lead OptimalMD in transforming the healthcare landscape for our patients.

— Board Certified Family Practice Physician

Karen Richardson, MD

Dr. Karen Richardson, MD, Medical Director of OptimalMD, brings extensive experience in emergency and family medicine. A proponent of holistic and functional medicine, she integrates these approaches with primary care to address gaps in traditional healthcare.

Medical Director of OptimalMD
Functional Medicine
Family and Emergency Medicine
Women's Health Expert

As a Medical Director of OptimalMD, Karen Richardson, MD brings a broad expertise working in emergency medicine as well as family practice. Her judgement and care strategies bring clinical excellent to our to our team. Dr. Richardson recognized a need for change in traditional models to improve upon the "standard of care" that is failing so many people. She champions a holistic approach that integrates the principles of functional medicine with comprehensive primary care. 

Dr. Richardson embarked on her distinguished medical career after earning her M.D. from McGovern Medical School, previously known as the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. She completed her residency at the Memorial Family Practice Residency Program, where she also excelled as Chief Resident. Her journey continued at Sugar Land Family Physicians, where she honed her skills in family medicine, marking the start of a highly successful career. 

Throughout her extensive career, Dr. Richardson has held several pivotal roles, including a decade as President of Rose-Rich EM Physicians, a democratic partnership comprising nine partners and 21 physicians. This role saw her expertly juggling administrative duties with a full-time clinical practice, showcasing her versatility and unwavering commitment to healthcare. For 14 years, Dr. Richardson also served as Assistant Medical Director at OakBend Medical Center, further enhancing her administrative and clinical expertise. At OptimalMD, Dr. Richardson applies her comprehensive knowledge and vast clinical experience to refine our patient-centered, innovative healthcare services. Her passion for identifying and addressing the root causes of diseases aligns seamlessly with our mission. 

On a personal note, Dr. Richardson’s empathy for patients is deepened by her own family's health challenges, including battles with brain cancer, eosinophilic duodenitis, and Celiac disease. These personal experiences have reinforced her commitment to delivering exemplary medical care that is both scientifically sound and emotionally supportive. 

Her leadership was particularly instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she provided vital, uncompensated care. Dr. Richardson’s dedication to functional and integrative healthcare, enriched by her comprehensive experience, uniquely positions her to lead OptimalMD in transforming the healthcare landscape for our patients.

— Our Team

Clifton Thomas, MD

Dr. Clifton Thomas is a distinguished Functional Medicine Doctor who brings a wealth of expertise to the realm of holistic healthcare. As a board-certified General Surgeon.

Medical Director
Weight Loss
Bariatric Surgeon

Dr. Clifton Thomas is a distinguished Functional Medicine Doctor who brings a wealth of expertise to the realm of holistic healthcare. As a board-certified General Surgeon, Dr. Thomas blazed a trail in the field by becoming the first to complete a mini-fellowship in Bariatric Surgery through Southwestern Medical School back in 1999.

Dr. Thomas embarked on his career journey as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Marshall University in West Virginia, where he honed his surgical skills and passion for patient well-being. Recognizing the transformative potential of minimally invasive laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery, he later transitioned into private practice, dedicating his efforts to this groundbreaking approach. 

What sets Dr. Thomas apart is his relentless pursuit of knowledge and his unwavering commitment to patient health. He has undertaken numerous advanced courses in nutrition and behavioral change, positioning himself as a leading figure in the field of Functional Medicine. 

Dr. Thomas is celebrated for his surgical precision and his ability to simplify complex health journeys. Often, nurses inquire, "Why do your patients undergoing weight loss surgery fare so remarkably well, experiencing minimal post-operative complications, pain, and nausea?" Dr. Thomas's response is consistently enlightening: "It's the accumulation of countless small adjustments and attentions to detail that make the difference." 

With Dr. Clifton Thomas as your trusted Functional Medicine Doctor, you can expect a compassionate, knowledgeable, and holistic approach to your health, where the "little things" truly add up to significant improvements in your well-being.