THE OFFICIAL
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A RATING
Dr. Rita Roy
From Physician to Advocate: The Journey of Dr. Rita Roy
In 1995, Dr. Rita Roy was on a clear path toward becoming a surgeon when she recognized a deeper calling. While training as a physician, she saw systemic issues in healthcare communication and education that she believed needed to be fixed. Choosing a path less traveled, she stepped away from clinical practice to become an entrepreneur, determined to change the system from the outside. Just one year later, in 1996, she and her husband, Jon—whom she had met in medical school—launched one of the first healthcare website on the Internet, blending medicine with emerging technology. That early step marked the beginning of a career dedicated to bridging gaps in healthcare through innovation.
Over the next two decades, Dr. Roy built and grew two healthcare companies, successfully leading them through exit. Along the way, she became a national voice in patient advocacy, combining her clinical background with expertise in medical education and technology. Her work consistently focused on empowering patients with the knowledge they need to make informed choices, while also supporting the healthcare professionals tasked with guiding them.
In 2019, Dr. Roy became CEO of the National Spine Health Foundation (NSHF), headquartered in Reston, Virginia. Founded originally in 2002, NSHF is the only patient advocacy organization dedicated to spinal health in the United States. Its mission is threefold: to provide trusted patient education, conduct clinical outcomes research, and champion advocacy initiatives that improve access to spine care. The foundation also advances strategic initiatives in bone health and osteoporosis, opioids and pain management, motion preservation and disc replacement, and military and veteran spine health.
Dr. Roy’s leadership is shaped by her thirty years of experience in medical and patient education using technology to connect providers and patients. She has a keen understanding of today’s shared decision-making model in healthcare, where patients are expected to evaluate complex treatment options without always having the tools to do so. She believes that providing authoritative, unbiased information is essential—not just to empower patients, but to support the physicians and surgeons who lack time to explain every option in detail.
At NSHF, Dr. Roy and her team have built a trusted platform where patients can access resources, join communities, and learn about treatments ranging from minimally invasive procedures to regenerative medicine. By helping patients understand their choices, NSHF strengthens the dialogue between patients and providers, leading to better outcomes and more confidence in care decisions.
As a public charity, NSHF also advocates for change at the policy level. Dr. Roy frequently takes the foundation’s message to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to support coverage and policies that improve access to spine care. By giving patients a voice in Washington and across the healthcare system, Dr. Roy continues to drive progress that ensures better outcomes for patients and providers alike.
Dr. Rita Roy
CEO
National Spine Health Foundation
Website: https://spinehealth.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/national-spine-health-foundation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/spinehealthfoundation