Kari Cao, PA-C, MHS, NFC
Kari Cao, PA-C, MHS, NFC, is a pioneering healthcare professional and the CEO and founder of RenewRx, a tech-enabled platform transforming maternal health. Her career began in clinical care, providing compassionate, high-quality care to uninsured, Spanish-speaking patients in family practice and obstetrics settings. Over more than a decade, she gained expertise in patient-centered care, chronic disease management, and holistic wellness, including her training as a natural foods chef, which informs her integrative approach to health and nutrition. Kari’s experience in high-volume clinical environments gave her a firsthand understanding of the gaps in patient support between visits, particularly for pregnant individuals with diabetes.
Recognizing the need for systemic change, Kari founded RenewRx to bring remote patient monitoring and coaching into standard care, improving outcomes for both patients and providers. The platform has demonstrated tangible success, reducing C-section and NICU rates among diabetic mothers while generating over $200,000 in new revenue for partner practices. Kari has also implemented innovative approaches using biometric data to guide patients toward health goals, expanding beyond diabetes care to support lifelong metabolic health. Her leadership focuses on onboarding new practices, fundraising for a $5 million seed round, and implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to align the company’s vision and values.
Kari’s journey from clinical provider to CEO exemplifies humility, perseverance, and vision. She emphasizes the importance of grace, focusing on the long-term mission of guiding over 100 million lives toward better health, starting with mothers. Through RenewRx, Kari combines clinical expertise, technological innovation, and patient-centered care to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, while inspiring a new generation of healthcare leaders to prioritize both compassion and measurable impact.
• Drexel University College of Medicine- M.H.S.
• University of Colorado Boulder- B.A.
• Nutrition Therapy Institute
• Keynote speaker for the American Academy of Physician Associates
• WBL / AAPA / MEDTECH INOVATOR / CBSA
• Clinica Pardo and Clinica San Jose
• Moving To End Sexual Assault
• Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women not to feel pressured to do it all alone—find people who share your vision, learn alongside them, contribute meaningfully, and build experience before trying to create something of your own.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Purpose over pride guides both my work and personal life—I strive to create meaningful, health-focused impact while staying grounded in service to others. I value balance and growth as I navigate life as a company founder, a professionally trained chef, and a mother of two, supported by my husband and our au pair, while embracing creativity, wellness, and learning alongside my children.