Cara Richardson
Cara Richardson is the Owner and President of Rich Health Solutions Inc., a Virginia-based, women-owned healthcare organization specializing in Medicaid waiver services and multidisciplinary therapeutic consultation. As a licensed occupational therapist, she leads clinical operations, program development, and regulatory compliance while overseeing a growing interdisciplinary team that delivers services ranging from occupational and physical therapy to behavioral and recreational support. Her work is rooted in creating practical, person-centered solutions that promote independence, safety, and meaningful community participation for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Cara’s career path is uniquely multifaceted, beginning with a business degree followed by a master’s in television and early work in Hollywood as a screenwriter. A pivotal turning point came through her personal experience with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and chronic pain, which inspired her to return to school and pursue a master’s degree in occupational therapy. This combination of storytelling and clinical expertise now informs her holistic approach to care, allowing her to connect deeply with clients and caregivers while developing innovative, non-opioid strategies for pain management and daily living.
Today, Cara is focused on expanding Rich Health Solutions through government contracting and broader service delivery, including growth into new markets like Florida. She remains committed to bridging the gap between clinical diagnosis and real-world application, emphasizing caregiver collaboration and sustainable, everyday solutions. Through her leadership, the organization continues to grow rapidly while maintaining a strong foundation of compassion, evidence-based practice, and community-centered care.
• Master's in Occupational Therapy
• Virginia Commonwealth University- Master's
• Boston University- Master's
• Tulane University - A.B. Freeman School of Business- B.S.
• Top 20 placement in Slamdance Screenwriting Contest (2009)
• American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
• Virginia Occupational Therapy Association (VOTA)
• Complete the Puzzle (autism charity)
What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just that internal drive. I just have a very strong drive to achieve and keep going, and it was instilled in me when I was a kid. You have to keep trying and have to keep going. I had started a professional organizing company before that was trendy, before there were shows on Netflix about organizing, and that didn't really go anywhere. So it was about picking yourself back up and keeping going, trying something else. You don't let failures put you down. I would say just sticking to my goals and continuing to follow them is an achievement - like finishing the book that I was writing. Starting this company and seeing it through.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is that you have to keep trying and have to keep going. You pick yourself back up and you keep going, and you try something else. You don't let failures put you down. I had started a professional organizing company before that was trendy, before there were shows on Netflix about organizing, and that didn't really go anywhere. So the advice was really about not letting one failure stop you - if you fall off the horse, you get back up and you keep going.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just keep trying. If you don't like how something is going, then you need to shift and try to make change. Try to break barriers. If you don't like something that you see going on, don't get stuck in a rut. Speak up for yourself, speak up. I was in some situations where I had to ask for help, and then help wasn't going to be given, so I left. And that's important - doing what you need to do for you. When I first started in occupational therapy, I had a woman that wanted to mentor me, and she was so controlling that I was like, I left Hollywood because of this, I'm not going down this road again. So in that situation too, I stepped away.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think there are a lot of challenges in healthcare. I think the current system is a challenge in and of itself. The monetary-driven insurance is a problem. I think people receiving the right care is just hard. I would say the whole model is just outdated. I know our system's good, but it's also very broken. That's why this Medicaid waiver is awesome, because this was created to keep people out of institutions. We're not like a regular Medicaid-based company. The waiver is a consult service for the caregivers, and this is an aspect where I enjoy working because you actually get to go spend time with people, and you're not in that time crunch that people are in a hospital or a clinic. So it is very different, a different model, and that's why it's working for us and for the people that we serve. You go to the doctor's office and they're just not listening. We try to listen to the caregivers and meet them where they're at with solutions based on what they experience every day. You're not going to get that in a clinic-based model.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is most important to me, along with a hard work ethic and sticking to it. I try to pick employees that exemplify the same characteristics that I have, so just very hardworking, trustworthy people. Problem solving is key - don't let one thing get in the way of finding solutions. That's my approach. One of my employees said the other day, 'I really love our team. Everybody's really open to collaborating.' And that felt really good. Just making sure everyone's collaborating on the clients so that we're giving them the best possible care.