Executive and Clinical Team

Shawn Fry

Founder & CEO

Healthcare Executive - Hospital Administration

Shawn Fry provides a unique career path of over 25 years of hospital administration, clinical data analytics and medical billing expertise. His industry "insider" knowledge drove him to create OptimalMD as a private medical network to allow access to healthcare 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

Database and AI Development

Database Architect

Emon's expertise in pharmacy management helped lead our team of code developers and database architects, delivering quality technical innovation, integration 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

Shawn Fry is the founder of OptimalMD, a private healthcare network designed to transform cost and access to medical care. Shawn has held key roles as Chief Information Officer and strategic advisor for major and regional hospital systems across the United States. In these positions, he honed his expertise in delivering coordinated, patient-centered care that prioritizes cost efficiency and quality outcomes.

Leveraging his deep industry knowledge and expertise in revenue cycle, clinical analytics and his unique neurodivergent perspective, Shawn has successfully investigated and pioneered disruptions to traditional healthcare models. His passion lies in dismantling barriers to provide immediate, affordable medical access for all individuals, regardless of background.

OptimalMD's mission is to make healthcare truly affordable and put care back in the hands of the doctor-patient relationship.

This innovative approach is reshaping the landscape of cost, outcomes, and accessibility in healthcare. Shawn's entrepreneurial and care strategies have earned him invitations as a featured speaker at our top medical schools, universities and accolades from prominent industry publications for his commitment to inclusive solutions that address the diverse needs of patient communities.

The necessity of a privately owned healthcare network was forged during his 15 years as Executive Chairman and CEO of Prevalent, Inc. (Prevalent Health), where Prevalent was granted access to the sensitive healthcare information of over 60 million Americans across hundreds of major, regional, and community hospitals. This unparalleled experience allowed him to see the root dysfunction created at at every level of the clinical and claims process and provided him with deep insights into the complexities and inefficiencies of the overall healthcare system.

At OptimalMD, his nearly 30 years of experience and unwavering dedication to patient advocacy and fairness ensure a trustworthy, professional resource for individuals and organizations seeking better healthcare outcomes.

Background & Leadership

Hospital Administration & Board Advisory
CIO of Multiple Regional Hospital Systems
Former CEO of Prevalent, Inc. (Prevalent Health)
Founder of Neurodiversity Foundation (Autism Research)
Holds Multiple US Patents on Data Structure
Pioneer of Clinical Analytics and Data Science

Notable Awards & Speaking Engagements :

Frequent TV Appearances as Healthcare Expert
Speaker, Stanford Medical School (2025, 2024, 2021)
Presenter, McGovern Medical School (2020)
Lecturer, Columbia Business School (2022)
Honored as Diversity Champion (2021)
Fierce Healthcare Award - Patient Design Experience

— 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 was chosen to be Chief Medical Officer of OptimalMD because she is a seasoned physician with extensive experience in emergency and family medicine. She incorporates functional and integrative medicine principles alongside evidence-based primary care to address gaps in traditional, insurance-driven healthcare and help members get more complete, personalized outcomes.

Board Certified in Family Medicine
20+ Years in Emergency Medicine (Stroke, Cardiac Events, etc.)
Proven Medical Leader (Medical Director, Physician Groups)
Women's Health Expert and Community Champion

Dr. Richardson has also completed specialized training in Anti-Aging and Weight Loss Management. Her judgement and care strategies bring clinical excellence 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.