Last month, we were thrilled to welcome Ben McElhiney to Alto as our new Head of Retail. We recently sat down with Ben to learn more about his journey, what drew him to Alto, the impact he hopes to make in fertility care, and his life outside of work.

Congratulations on your new Head of Retail role! We’re so excited to have you on board. To start, we’d love to get to know you a little more. Tell us a bit about yourself and your background. 

I have been in healthcare and healthcare services for over 25 years, serving in roles ranging from individual contributor to senior level management. Much of this time has been in specialty pharmacy but I have also worked in pharmaceuticals, as well as the management side of a medical provider organization. Like many that work in healthcare, I have always derived great fulfillment by knowing that what we do is helping people that really need that help. Outside of work I have been married for 25 years and have two daughters, one a junior in high school, and one a junior in college. I have been a lifelong hockey and tennis player and enjoy almost anything outdoors and particularly enjoy golfing during the warmer months. 

What drew you to Alto, and what excites you most about joining the team at this stage of our journey? 

I was drawn by the opportunity to return to a more focused role than what I have had over the last nine years. It’s also a role that aligns well with my background in specialty pharmacy and fertility. I have always been drawn to opportunities that allow for individuals to make significant impact and Alto’s startup culture aligns well with that. Additionally, I like being around others that feel the same way and are also drawn to Alto for the same reason. 

What’s one big thing you’re excited to tackle in your role, and how do you see it contributing to Alto’s mission of transforming pharmacy care?  

I’m excited to significantly increase the number of fertility patients that Alto serves. To accomplish this, we’re creating innovative technology solutions that increase access to care and reduce friction throughout the fertility journey. This can touch on many components of the process including streamlining communication with clinics and patients, simplifying medication management, providing personalized education and support and improving insurance navigation and cost transparency. 

What’s something people are surprised to learn about you? Any hobbies?

I am not sure what would surprise people but I have many interests outside of work. I love sports and have played hockey, tennis and golf the better part of my life. I enjoy gardening and cooking, especially for groups of friends and family. I also enjoy the outdoors and any opportunity to enjoy the mountains or the beach. 

Any career advice you swear by? 

There are a few principals that I have learned over my career. One is that if you aren’t failing some of the time, you aren’t trying hard enough and the other is to always be yourself which is another way of saying, don’t try to be something that isn’t true to yourself. 

What’s one healthcare trend you're keeping an eye on? 

Now more than ever, public focus is on how healthcare will evolve to balance improved outcomes with the system's financial challenges. This is highly complex and will require collaboration between the government and private sector to alleviate the push and pull between payers, patients and providers.