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.
Mark Lienhart, MPS
Chief Commercial Officer
Mark Lienhart is a results-driven leader with a proven record of building high-performing teams and driving sustained revenue growth. At Innovator Health, Mark applies his expertise in leadership, operational efficiency, and client engagement to expand access to innovative healthcare solutions for rural and underserved communities.
Immediately prior to joining Innovator Health, Mark served as Director of Sales at a K12 technology startup. Earlier in his career, Mark worked to support senior leadership in both the private and public sectors.
Mark holds a Master of Public Service from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Arkansas.
Jessica Taylor, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Jessica Taylor, CPA, is a Consulting Executive in HoganTaylor’s Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) practice, based in Little Rock. With more than 10 years of experience in accounting and finance, she works closely with clients in the healthcare and nonprofit sectors to streamline operations and support confident financial decision-making.
Before joining HoganTaylor, Taylor served as controller for both a large nonprofit organization and a property management company, where she led financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, and internal control consulting. She began her career in assurance, serving clients in the construction, healthcare, and nonprofit industries, building a strong foundation in audit and assurance. Taylor earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arkansas State University.
HoganTaylor provides full-time CFO services for Innovator Health, LLC
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.
