Our Founding Team
Dr. Rayya Saadiq, Founder/CEO
Dr. Rayya Ahmed Saadiq is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and a Consultant in both the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. She has been with Mayo Clinic since 2011, completing her residency and fellowship training in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine.
Her academic journey began with undergraduate studies in Texas, earning a BA in Biology from the University of Texas at Dallas. She went on to receive an MMSc from Drexel University College of Medicine and a Doctor of Medicine from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Saadiq further specialized through residency and fellowship training at Mayo Clinic, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic, Rochester.
Dr. Saadiq holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and Vascular medicine and has pursued additional training in medical education and leadership development. Beyond her clinical work, she is actively involved in international volunteer efforts, educating doctors in Vietnam, Kenya, and Ghana, contributing to the development of medical education globally.
She has received numerous honors, including the Arnold P. Gold Humanitarian Award, the Mayo Clinic Diversity Scholarship, and the Clinical Excellence Award. Her commitment to education and service has been recognized with accolades such as the Resident Teacher of the Year and the Outstanding Humanitarian Award. Her dedication to medical education, clinical excellence, and humanitarian work reflects a distinguished career committed to advancing healthcare and mentoring future medical professionals.
Martha (Marty) Aleman, MAN, PHN is a dedicated public health nursing professional and educator with strong focus on transcultural nursing and health equity. With extensive experience working in diverse communities, she brings a deep understanding of how culture, values and the social determinants of health shape patient care and population health outcomes.
Marty is Professor Emeritus of Nursing at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she taught for over 20 years in public health nursing where she integrated cultural awareness and advancing health equity into nursing practice, education and research. During her career in public health nursing at a local health department, Marty worked in the community to address health disparities and adverse health outcomes in marginalized populations. She has actively engaged in numerous Community Based Participatory Research initiatives in these communities.
Marty Aleman, Co-Founder/CAO
Daniel Waugh, M.B.A, Co-Founder/CFO
Dan’s commitment to healthcare equity stems from his roots in the rural Midwest, where he witnessed the disparities that often exist in community health. This early experience ignited a lifelong passion for bridging these gaps, a goal that has defined his professional path and personal mission.
His career was forged at the intersection of health and technology. For 23 years at Mayo Clinic, Dan became an expert in the complex systems that underpin modern healthcare. His work focused on healthcare IT, informatics, data transformation and delivery, and the strategic implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology, giving him a deep understanding of how to leverage information to improve care.
To complement his technical expertise, Dan earned an MBA from the University of Minnesota where he focused in finance and personnel development. This combination of business acumen and deep industry knowledge provides him with a unique, strategic perspective on organizational management and growth.
A dedicated world traveler, Dan’s interest in learning about diverse cultures expanded his view of healthcare challenges, revealing them to be a shared global issue. He co-founded this organization to unite his professional skills with his personal vision, driving the mission to deliver essential health education to underserved communities around the world.