Vault Health began in 2019 as a telehealth company focused on men’s health, offering diagnostics and treatment through virtual care. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the company moved quickly to respond to the growing public health emergency. With a national network of medical providers, lab partners, and delivery infrastructure already in place, Vault was uniquely positioned to scale up testing fast. The team launched the first FDA-authorized at-home saliva COVID test, which allowed users to take the test under live supervision from a Vault clinician. This helped people across the country get back to work, school, sports, and other activities safely. Vault partnered with employers, schools, state and local governments, and major organizations, and played a key role in public health reporting. The company also made the first known detection of the Omicron variant in New York City.

At the same time, Vault was building out its life sciences division to tackle deeper problems in the clinical trial process. Many trials weren’t accessible or diverse enough, and that slowed down how quickly new treatments could reach the people who needed them. Vault used its existing systems to support decentralized trials that people could take part in from home, making the process more inclusive and efficient. My role during this time was to help tell Vault’s evolving story. I worked closely with clients and communities using our services, managed communications with the media, and helped keep the public informed when COVID cases were identified.