TOP 100 MAGAZINE

Donald “DJ” Hart 

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Donald “DJ” Hart isn’t just transforming healthcare—he’s redefining its very foundation. With over two decades in the healthcare and post-acute sectors, DJ saw a glaring gap in personalized medicine and had the vision, strategy, and tenacity to fill it. In 2023, he founded Telos PGX, a cutting-edge pharmacogenomics (PGX) company based in Addison, Texas, dedicated to optimizing drug therapy through genetic insights. But DJ didn’t just build a company—he built a movement.

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Thirteen months after launching Telos PGX, DJ successfully scaled, sold, and secured—divesting the company to Principle Health Systems while retaining leadership as director of pharmacogenetics. For most, an acquisition signals an exit, but for DJ, it marked a launchpad. Principle Health Systems didn’t just acquire a business; they aligned with a visionary leader whose mission was already shaping the future of patient care. “Being able to envision it, grow it, sell it, and still lead it at a national scale is an incredible honor,” DJ shares. “This wasn’t just a business deal—it was the perfect fusion of values, innovation, and impact.”

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PGX—the study of how genetics influence drug response—is revolutionizing healthcare through precision medicine, and Telos PGX is at the forefront. By leveraging advanced genetic testing, the company helps healthcare providers match the right drug to the right patient at the right dose, reducing adverse reactions and optimizing treatment outcomes.

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But DJ’s proudest accomplishment isn’t just scientific—it’s people-driven. “I’ve built a culture of leaders who push for excellence,” he says. “Without them, none of this would have been possible.” And now, with Principle Health Systems as the jet fuel, Telos PGX is set to expand nationwide, bringing its game-changing solutions to facilities across the country.

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From startup to scale-up, DJ Hart isn’t just making waves—he’s shaping the future of healthcare through innovation in PGX. We sat down with him to discuss how Telos PGX and Principle Health Systems are transforming patient care with cutting-edge testing.

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DJ, can you tell us what inspired you to start Telos PGX?

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I saw a critical gap in post-acute long-term care, particularly in nursing homes where patients lacked access to modern testing. While you and I could afford it, this underserved community was being left behind. I built Telos PGX to change that. Helping others has always been in my DNA—my father started an outreach ministry for the homeless in Dallas, and I grew up immersed in service and impact. My career in healthcare sales fueled this passion, but as an employee, my ability to effect change was limited. In 2018, I took a leap into entrepreneurship, acquiring various healthcare entities. Some ventures failed, others thrived, but each lesson sharpened my vision.

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I spent eight years in Houston working with podiatrists before shifting to the post-acute sector in Dallas-Fort Worth. There, I discovered a deep connection to serving the elderly and in 2019 I saw the transformative potential of pharmacogenetics. The outdated model of “Take this medication and see how you feel” was no longer acceptable. PGX guides providers toward targeted, effective treatments. I became committed to educating doctors, nursing home operators, and healthcare providers on how we could reduce rehospitalizations caused by adverse drug reactions. Telos PGX was founded with one mission: to revolutionize patient care through genetic-driven medication management—a mission that continues to drive me today.

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What makes Telos PGX unique?

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PGX is a rapidly evolving field, revolutionizing how medications are prescribed. Traditionally, medicine follows a trial-and-error approach: “Take this pill and let me know how it works.” But with over 2 million adverse drug reactions (ADRs) annually in the U.S., leading to 100,000 deaths, this approach is outdated and risky.

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We’ve also unlocked access to personalized medicine for an entire demographic that was previously underserved. The reality is, a drug that works for one person may not work for another, yet traditional medicine often takes a one-size-fits-all approach. Telos PGX is changing that. When PGX testing is integrated into healthcare systems, we ensure that medications are tailored to each individual, making treatments safer and more effective.

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What sets Telos PGX apart—and the key to our success—is our proprietary Telos PGX program, developed through direct partnerships with nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Unlike any other lab in the nation, we don’t just provide PGX testing—we embed ourselves within these facilities, working with payors & alongside healthcare teams to improve patient outcomes in real time. This hands-on approach is what truly differentiates us. No other lab can offer this PGX program, which is why it caught the attention of Principle Health. They saw the tangible impact we were making in healthcare and wanted to bring this innovation under their umbrella.

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Now you’re leading Telos PGX as Principle Health Systems’ director of pharmacogenetics. Why was it important to you to stay on?

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I didn’t need to sell the company, but my vision was always to scale Telos nationally and impact as many lives as possible. Principle Health Systems provided the opportunity to take that vision further, offering the resources to grow exponentially while maintaining the mission that started it all. Our cultures and goals aligned seamlessly. They saw the value in what we built and wanted me to continue leading Telos within their organization. Retaining an equitable stake in PHS allows me to drive each of our visions forward, expanding Telos PGX in ways that wouldn’t have been possible alone.

 

Our time on this earth is finite. What matters most is the impact we make, the people we help, and the legacy we leave behind. Staying on means I get to keep doing what I love—changing lives through pharmacogenetics and advancing healthcare for the better.

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What do you enjoy most about your work? Or what continues to drive you?

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The relentless pursuit of improving people’s lives. What drives me is seeing real results—the tangible impact on patients' health and the positive changes we help create. It’s the continued success stories, the breakthroughs, and knowing that persistence and determination are making a real difference in healthcare.

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Donald “DJ” Hart 
Founder of Telos PGX; Director of Pharmacogenetics for Principle Health Systems
Website: https://telospgx.com/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/donald-hart-755b6534/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554170360561&sk=about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/telospgx/