SERIES
HAVE YOU MET…
Photo courtesy of Qunomedical
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the doctor behind the health tech business making quality healthcare more accessible? Dr Sophie Chung believes that it is possible to democratize access to healthcare. And she is making this happen with Qunomedical, a Berlin-based global digital medical travel platform.
Sophie specialized in cardiology and stem cell research, starting her medical career in Austria, further practicing medicine in Australia and Cambodia as part of her NGO work. With the continued focus in healthcare, she took her medical experience and worked in McKinsey & Company’s healthcare practice and then at Zocdoc. |
Before joining Zocdoc, she had already been thinking about an idea of where she believed improvements in the healthcare system could be made. It was during her time at Zocdoc when her belief in the possibility of offering patients better medical accessibility became clearer. It was a solution that went beyond the facilitation of making doctor appointments.
Choosing a doctor is habitually a local process, which limits the options. A further three common issues impact the choices available, which are high cost, long waiting time and poor quality. What if a patient could have access to the right specialist no matter where they are located? The answer is where Qunomedical sits.
When addressing the question “can I get treated somewhere else?” the answer is – yes. Qunomedical has made it possible by pulling together high quality medical care and making these options affordable and accessible to patients worldwide.
Choosing a doctor is habitually a local process, which limits the options. A further three common issues impact the choices available, which are high cost, long waiting time and poor quality. What if a patient could have access to the right specialist no matter where they are located? The answer is where Qunomedical sits.
When addressing the question “can I get treated somewhere else?” the answer is – yes. Qunomedical has made it possible by pulling together high quality medical care and making these options affordable and accessible to patients worldwide.
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Sophie is an inspiration not only because of the company’s mission but also how she is building and running it. You’ll find her sitting amongst her team ensuring she is always approachable. This enables her to remain at eye level, which reflects the responsibility she has towards her staff. And because all of this work is about the patient, every decision made is done with the patient’s interest first. This is particularly vital when working in healthcare as trust is the major factor.
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Photo courtesy of Masterplan
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And her advice for those thinking about starting a business: Go for it! But remember it is a hard job. She is open when it comes to sharing what it’s really like to be a founder. This is refreshing to hear especially as the founder and start-up world are commonly idealised as one that is full of “killing it” and fun. Yes, this does happen but what is missing from these discussions is what it really means to build a company and the responsibilities towards your employees and society. This willingness to share these truths is not a surprise since one of Qunomedical’s values is no bullshit.
Photo courtesy of Qunomedical
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Sophie is an inspiration not only because of the company’s mission but also how she is building and running it.
But Sophie is not only about Qunomedical. She is also an advocate in the importance of taking care of one self. Working non-stop in the first year of building the business, she noticed her only-work lifestyle wasn’t sustainable. From that moment, she made a conscious decision to schedule in time for activities outside of work. She has a love for the mountains and has so far climbed four of the seven summit ranges in the world. Her commitment to staying physically active is not only about physically climbing mountains but also the mental benefits. |
The best way of seeing what Sophie is up to is by following her on Instagram. You’ll see her journey in being a stem cell donor, keeping physically fit, climbing Mount Denali and her many invitations to share her work as a founder.
Published June 2019.