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.
Dennis Kopp
COO
Dennis Kopp serves as the Chief Operations and Strategy Officer of Innovator Health. Dennis joined the company in 2017 after spending the previous 30+ years working at large corporations in a variety of leadership and executive positions. Most recently, Dennis was the Innovation and Product Development Director at Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, and Global Director of Avery Dennison Performance Polymers Division. He also spent nearly 20 years with GE as the General Manager of GE Petrochemicals, Global Director of Procurement and the General Manager of GE Energy Services Strategic Marketing.
Dennis has commercialized numerous new product lines, launched and lead new businesses like the Johns Manville Subsea Insulation Division and is listed on multiple patents. He grew up in a military family as both parents served in the USAF, grew up in Chicago and graduated from Northern Illinois University. Dennis enjoys traveling globally and meeting new and interesting people. On his spare time, he plays golf, works outdoors, and helps others that need it the most.
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
