The Wellie Way Building a Values-Driven Culture at Interwell Health

At Interwell Health, everything we do begins with a set of values that shape our culture, guide our actions, instill in us a sense of purpose that goes beyond our daily work, and define what it means to be a team member—or “Wellie,” as we like to say.

We see and hear the influence of our core values every day: in how our teams interact, in the care we take to go above and beyond to serve our partners, in our recent recognition as a Modern Healthcare Best Place to Work in Healthcare for the second year in a row, and, most importantly, in our commitment to improving the lives of our patients. Our values-driven approach has created an organization where people thrive not just as professionals, but as individuals striving for excellence and impact.

What makes Interwell a great place to work?

Our five core values shape everything we do—from how we approach our work to how we develop our benefits and policies.

1. We care deeply about the people we serve

At Interwell, every decision is anchored in a profound commitment to patient well-being. Our teams evaluate each process through the lens of its impact on individuals living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their families.

To remind team members across the organization of just how much our mission makes a difference in people’s lives, we start every company meeting with a patient story. For instance, a recent company event began with the story of a woman in her late seventies with stage 4 CKD who was feeling overwhelmed and scared. Through education, mental health support, and connections to resources including a dietitian and social worker, the woman’s care manager helped her avoid the emergency department, lower her blood pressure and blood glucose levels, and regain control of her health.

Our commitment to serving patients starts with taking care of our own team members. We offer comprehensive health benefits, including mental health resources, fertility support, and caregiver leave. We also offer paid parental leave to team members who have recently given birth, adopted a child, or are placed with a foster child to ensure ample time to adjust and focus on family.

2. We are better when we work together

Collaboration across diverse perspectives, disciplines, and backgrounds is essential for addressing complex healthcare challenges. We value our differences and learn from each other and our partners so that we are equipped to address the wide-ranging and complex challenges faced by people living with CKD.

As part of the technology and security team, Javier Gonzalez-Flaherty frequently collaborates cross-functionally with colleagues across the organization. “My favorite part of working at Interwell is the people,” says Javier. “All of my interactions are positive, and I’m always met with understanding and willingness to collaborate.”

Some Interwell team members find a sense of belonging by joining one of the company’s eight employee resource groups. These voluntary, employee-led groups help Interwell foster a supportive, welcoming culture through networking, community-building, and learning. “We truly are a diverse group,” says Naureen Khan, assistant general counsel at Interwell and one of the co-founding members of ARC (which stands for “Asians, Represented, Connected”). “It’s amazing being able to talk to others who have a shared history, even though it may be different in many ways.”

3. Humility is a source of our strength

Our teams actively seek feedback and view learning as continuous. By questioning the status quo, we discover improved ways to support both patients and our partners. If there is a better way, we will create it.

To encourage and support lifelong learning and professional development, Interwell offers tuition reimbursement and student loan assistance as part of its comprehensive benefits package. We also hold monthly lunch and learns on topics ranging from population health and health information exchanges to effective project management and product updates. In addition, employees can take advantage of resources such as clinical training, role-based professional development, and opportunities for personalized learning through our virtual learning platform.

In her role leading patient marketing strategy, Jessica Stein is constantly exploring the best ways to engage people living with CKD who might be eligible to join our patient program, Interwell 360. “I have led marketing campaigns for more than 20 years and I’m still learning new ways to connect with audiences, especially as people increasingly look for health information online or even using AI,” says Jessica. “I recently attended the Association of National Advertisers Brand Masters Conference in L.A., and I especially enjoyed hearing from brands on how they are personalizing customer experiences. It was also an amazing opportunity to network with professionals across different industries.”

4. We bring joy to our work

We approach our work with a positive attitude and with gratitude for each other and the people we have the privilege to serve. We are all about celebrating achievements and finding ways to foster a shared sense of purpose.

This philosophy of positivity and appreciation starts from the top down and is reflected throughout the entire organization. Open any one of the company’s Slack channels or our employee recognition platform—where team members earn rewards for getting shout-outs from their peers—and you will find numerous acknowledgements from the leadership team. To share just a few examples:

• “You all make my day with how you take care of patients. Thank you!” – David Pollack, president and chief operating officer
• “Thanks for looping me in on opportunities to work together to drive our teams to work even smarter. I’m looking forward to continuing to collaborate!” – Amy McKinley, senior product manager, physician practice solutions
• “Thank you for a fantastic support to a very scared patient!” – Jessica Demaline, senior vice president of healthcare operations
• “Thank you for sharing your perspective, thoughts, and ideas in our session yesterday! I had so much fun (#Joy) working together to breakdown some critical definitions in how we operate!” – Leslly Matznick, director of healthcare operations
• “That’s a great capstone to the week! Fantastic work!” – Robert Sepucha, CEO

Interwell also cultivates a culture of joy by recognizing the importance of life outside of work and creating opportunities for meaningful community involvement. In addition to regular paid time off, employees receive a paid volunteering day to use as they wish—such as packing meals for medically tailored food programs.

Interwell also offers 100 percent remote work for most positions, giving employees increased flexibility to manage their time and create a work environment that suits their individual needs. Team members find remote work allows them to not only avoid commuting stress, but also to better balance their personal and professional responsibilities.

In her previous role in interventional radiology, Nattalie Burns found it difficult to manager her son’s medical needs. “I reached a point where I needed to balance my career with being available for my family. For me, a remote position at Interwell was life changing,” says Nattalie.

5. We deliver on our promises

Our patients, colleagues, and partners trust us to deliver results and follow through on our commitments. We take pride in the strength of our relationships, we hold each other accountable, and we push ourselves to achieve excellence.

Kyle Oldfield understands the importance of delivering for patients on a deeply personal level. After being diagnosed with CKD in his 30s, he received a transplant from a cousin who was a match and offered to become a living donor. Today, as manager of partner implementation at Interwell, Kyle works closely with healthcare providers and payers to build innovative kidney care programs that truly support patients’ needs.

“Patients need tailored care plans, access to education, and, critically, someone who will advocate for them when the healthcare system becomes overwhelming,” says Kyle. “We focus on the end goal—better patient outcomes. And when challenges come up, we work together to overcome them. The work is too important not to.”

Recognition earned through intentional action

Our repeated acknowledgment as a best place to work is no coincidence. Interwell’s commitment to upholding our core values—in our policies, benefits, and mission—is the driving force behind both our internal culture and our impact in healthcare. By living these values daily, Interwell fosters a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and motivated to contribute at their highest level.

To learn more about our culture and view open positions, visit our careers page.