World Telehealth Initiative (WTI), a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit working to expanding access to quality healthcare in vulnerable communities worldwide, has appointed Dr. Tom Richards to its Board of Directors.

“A physician, healthcare executive, investor, and board leader, Dr. Richards has built a distinguished career at the intersection of healthcare delivery and transformative innovation that will help guide WTI through its next phase of growth,” WTI officials said.

His appointment comes at a pivotal moment as WTI continues to scale, connecting volunteer medical specialists with frontline clinicians via telehealth in some of the world’s most resource-constrained settings, they said.

“Dr. Richards represents the kind of visionary leadership that will help WTI shape the future of global healthcare,” said Sharon Allen, CEO/co-founder of WTI.

“His rare ability to navigate the clinical, ethical and business components of healthcare, combined with his passion for advancing patient care, makes him an invaluable addition to our board,” she said.

WTI’s corps of some 1,700 volunteer physicians and nurses provides medical training and clinical support to colleagues in low-resource hospitals and clinics.

Dr. Richards’ career began in investment banking at firms including Lazard Frères and UBS. He later pursued medicine, earning his medical degree and specializing in emergency medicine.

He holds degrees from Yale University, the University of Sydney, and Harvard Medical School. He served on clinical faculties of Stanford University and the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Richards served as board chair of WittKieffer, an executive search and leadership advisory firm for healthcare and life sciences organizations.

“Organizations like WTI demonstrate how technology can exponentially extend existing healthcare resources to save lives and create lasting change,” Dr. Richards said.

“I am honored to join the board and support WTI’s efforts to strengthen healthcare systems worldwide and improve care for communities without access to essential health services,” he said.

For more, visit www.worldtelehealthinitiative.org or email Allen at SAllen@worldtelehealthinitiative.org.