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S03|02: Reimagining Healthcare Access: Joella Almeida’s Vision for Pharmacy-Led Clinics
In this episode, Joella Almeida of MedEssist reveals how a simple realization that patient questions are a sign of trust, sparked her journey to radically shift the role of pharmacies. What began with late nights coding Shopify sites evolved into a tech platform that now supports over 650 pharmacies across North America. MedEssist is not just digitizing healthcare, it’s changing how and where people access it.
Joella walks us through her origin story, the early startup grind (complete with garbage bags and pharmacy backrooms) and a pivotal COVID-era moment when her five-person team matched 30,000 patients with vaccines. She opens up about burnout, purpose, and why MedEssist’s true mission is to make “pharmacies” obsolete by helping them evolve into pharmacist-led clinics. Topics include regulatory roadblocks, startup culture, healthcare equity, and what it means to grow as a Founder while staying rooted in meaningful human impact.
About Joella Almeida
Joella Almeida is the Co-Founder and CEO of MedEssist, a platform that empowers community pharmacies to operate as pharmacist-led health clinics. With a background in ecommerce and a passion for democratizing access to care, Joella has grown MedEssist from a grassroots effort into a vital healthcare technology provider used by over 650 pharmacies in Canada and the U.S.
Joella is a champion for collaborative care and believes strongly in breaking down traditional hierarchies in healthcare. Her work reflects a deep understanding of both human connection and scalable systems design. She is driven by a desire to help healthcare practitioners, especially pharmacists, step into their full potential as front-line care providers.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Mars 101
- Alberta Pharmacist Prescribing Scope
The Founder Mindset is Sponsored By:
- ATB
- API
- Artemis
- OCIF
—
Contact Thin Air Labs:
- Website: ThinAirLabs.ca
- LinkedIn: Thin Air Labs
- X: Thin Air Labs
- YouTube: Thin Air Labs
Contact Joella Almeida:
- Website: MedEssist
- Linkedin: MedEssist
- LinkedIn: Joella Almeida
- Instagram: MedEssist
- Twitter: MedEssist
- Facebook: MedEssist
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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By Leah SarichIn this episode, Joella Almeida of MedEssist reveals how a simple realization that patient questions are a sign of trust, sparked her journey to radically shift the role of pharmacies. What began with late nights coding Shopify sites evolved into a tech platform that now supports over 650 pharmacies across North America. MedEssist is not just digitizing healthcare, it’s changing how and where people access it.
Joella walks us through her origin story, the early startup grind (complete with garbage bags and pharmacy backrooms) and a pivotal COVID-era moment when her five-person team matched 30,000 patients with vaccines. She opens up about burnout, purpose, and why MedEssist’s true mission is to make “pharmacies” obsolete by helping them evolve into pharmacist-led clinics. Topics include regulatory roadblocks, startup culture, healthcare equity, and what it means to grow as a Founder while staying rooted in meaningful human impact.
About Joella Almeida
Joella Almeida is the Co-Founder and CEO of MedEssist, a platform that empowers community pharmacies to operate as pharmacist-led health clinics. With a background in ecommerce and a passion for democratizing access to care, Joella has grown MedEssist from a grassroots effort into a vital healthcare technology provider used by over 650 pharmacies in Canada and the U.S.
Joella is a champion for collaborative care and believes strongly in breaking down traditional hierarchies in healthcare. Her work reflects a deep understanding of both human connection and scalable systems design. She is driven by a desire to help healthcare practitioners, especially pharmacists, step into their full potential as front-line care providers.
Resources discussed in this episode:
- Mars 101
- Alberta Pharmacist Prescribing Scope
The Founder Mindset is Sponsored By:
- ATB
- API
- Artemis
- OCIF
—
Contact Thin Air Labs:
- Website: ThinAirLabs.ca
- LinkedIn: Thin Air Labs
- X: Thin Air Labs
- YouTube: Thin Air Labs
Contact Joella Almeida:
- Website: MedEssist
- Linkedin: MedEssist
- LinkedIn: Joella Almeida
- Instagram: MedEssist
- Twitter: MedEssist
- Facebook: MedEssist
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.