Powering the future of healthcare logistics through technology 

An interview with MedSpeed’s CPTO  

January 28, 2026

At MedSpeed, technology is more than a tool. It is a strategic driver of better healthcare experiences. As our new Chief Product and Technology Officer (CPTO), Dhiraj Patkar brings more than two decades of healthcare, startup, and enterprise experience that will help shape how MedSpeed leverages technology to deliver smarter, more seamless last-mile logistics. We sat down with Dhiraj to learn more about the journey that led him here, the role technology will play in the future of health (as well as MedSpeed’s future), and what inspires the work ahead. 

The journey to MedSpeed 

Tell us about your career journey and what led you to MedSpeed. 

I was drawn to healthcare in grade school. It started with taking my grandmother to all her doctor appointments. Even at that early age, I sensed how important healthcare is to the human experience. Over the past 20+ years, I have shaped a career focused on making healthcare better for everyone. 

The path started with cofounding my first startup, Medtelligent, in 2005 to address the care crisis facing seniors. From there, I spent 12 years at Health Care Service Corporation, one of the largest payers in the market, during a period of major growth – expanding the self-insured business and entering the Affordable Care Act marketplace. 

Those insights inspired my second startup, Wishbone Club, which focused on empowering consumers to take charge of their health. That eventually led me to AVIA Health, where we worked with health systems and digital health companies to transform the care delivery experience by bringing scale, access, and quality to patients and providers. 

And now, I’m excited to bring all those experiences together to help shape what’s next at MedSpeed. 

What excites you most about stepping into the role of CPTO at MedSpeed? 

Almost all businesses are profit- and customer-oriented. But it’s rare to find business leaders who take their responsibility to their employees and their communities as seriously as profits and market share. MedSpeed has that orientation. And at the center of it all is a last-mile logistics solution that sets a new standard for healthcare delivery. 

Healthcare trends and projections 

What emerging healthcare IT trends do you find most noteworthy? 

There’s a lot happening in healthcare IT right now, but a few trends really stand out to me.  The adoption of AI in healthcare is exciting as it’s starting to deliver real value in decision-making and everyday workflows. I’m also encouraged by the continued innovation aimed at reducing healthcare administrative burden. And finally, I’m excited about the continued traction of direct-to-consumer healthcare models, which are making care more accessible and personalized.  

How do you see healthcare IT evolving in the next five years? 

Healthcare IT tends to move more slowly than other industries, but I think we’ll see meaningful progress in a few areas. Data sharing among major players like payers, providers, regulatory entities, and government should improve. I also expect that the digital health landscape will stabilize after the COVID-era surge and that winners and losers will emerge. Medicare and Medicaid funding will drive how much liquidity is available for innovation. There is a lot of uncertainty coming from that direction. It’s early to predict the full impact, but it will play a significant role in shaping what’s possible. 

The role of technology at MedSpeed 

How do you see technology shaping the future of MedSpeed? 

Technology is reshaping every industry, and MedSpeed will be no exception. We’re making significant investments in technology to elevate the customer experience and provide seamless, transparent, and efficient fulfillment of logistics needs. Digitization, automation, robotics, and AI are all parts of the toolbox that will help us provide the level of service our customers need and deserve. We’re proud to serve as an innovation partner to our customers, working alongside them to codevelop tailored solutions that address their unique needs. 

How do you encourage your team to stay innovative?  

To me, innovation is one of the smartest ways to drive results and can mean many things. First and foremost, it is a mindset. It’s also the discipline of selectively applying a technological breakthrough or a best practice from one domain to another. Finally, it gives permission to experiment. All of these things are essential for creating best-in-class products and experiences. 

So, I encourage the team to stay curious, be bold, and constantly look for opportunities to combine ideas or technologies in new ways to bring breakthrough value to our customers. 

With Dhiraj’s vision guiding the way, MedSpeed is well positioned to leverage the unmatched combination of people and technology to deliver meaningful impact within the organization and across the broader healthcare ecosystem.