About Innovator Health
The Reason is Simple.
We want to improve access to high quality medical care for rural and underserved populations.
How it all began
Innovator Health was inspired by Dr. Sommer’s service in Afghanistan. In 2006, Dr. Sommer completed his residency in Internal Medicine and then subsequently joined the 82nd Airborne Division to support the Global War on Terrorism. Dr. Sommer spent more than a year in Afghanistan caring for injured US military and local nationals. Having access to medical colleagues around the world through the Army’s telemedicine infrastructure allowed Dr. Sommer to deliver a higher level of care, while reducing the impact of battlefield injuries and illnesses to our servicemembers. Now, he is bringing that knowledge and experience to ensure patients in every community here at home have the same great access to high-quality personalized care.
Darren J. Sommer
DO, MBA, MPH Founder and CEO
As both a practitioner of telemedicine and a technology executive, Dr. Sommer understands the importance of creating telemedicine systems that exceed expectations. With a focus on reliability and simplicity, Dr. Sommer’s vision is to deploy Innovator Health technologies so that all Americans have access to the highest level of care.
Dr. Sommer received his Doctor of Osteopathic degree and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Sommer also has more than 20 years of military service and two combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. It was his work in these austere environments that generated his passion for telemedicine. Dr. Sommer went on to earn his Master’s in Business Administration from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and he is a Health Policy Fellow of the American Osteopathic Association.
John Edwards
IT Development & Support
- Joined in 2020; IT Development & Support
- IT Director at TelePresence Tech developing 3D telepresence with eye-to-eye contact using minimum bandwidth
- Regal Research Technology Specialist deploying and integrating telepresence collaboration configurations
- University of Kansas Technology Manager
- Blockbuster Entertainment founding design & database architecture team. 20+ years Blockbuster Corporate and Franchise
Frazier Edwards
Chief Commercial Officer, Innovator Health
Frazier Edwards serves as Chief Commercial Officer of Innovator Health, where he leads strategic growth initiatives, business development, and partnerships that expand access to high-quality, technology-enabled care. With over 15 years in healthcare leadership, Frazier brings deep experience in rural health, medical education, and nonprofit management.
He previously served as Executive Director of the Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association, where he led the effort to establish two osteopathic medical schools in Arkansas. He has also held leadership roles with the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership, Rural Health Association of Arkansas, and the OneHealth Education Group, where he helped launch the state’s first dental and veterinary schools.
Frazier holds a Master’s in Public Administration and a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and a bachelor’s in Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
Lucas Walker
IT Development and Support
Lucas Walker plays a key role on the Innovator Health team, supporting IT development and providing comprehensive technical support across the organization. With a background in Computer Information Systems and a focus on networking, Lucas brings both academic training and hands-on experience to his role. He sources components and builds custom telemedicine equipment tailored to the unique needs of healthcare environments, ensuring seamless functionality and reliability.
Before joining Innovator Health, Lucas earned his associate degree from Pulaski Technical College and gained valuable experience as an IT intern at ARDOT, where he assisted with network upgrades and system troubleshooting. He is proficient in Windows, macOS, TCP/IP networking, and hardware/software diagnostics. Lucas is passionate about problem-solving and is dedicated to delivering innovative, dependable IT solutions that enhance the future of healthcare.
