Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH is Chief Medical Officer at Jaan Health, where he helps shape the future of technology-enabled care models that bridge healthcare, public health, and community-based care. A physician and nationally recognized health leader, Dr. Shah has spent more than two decades leading complex health systems, responding to major emergencies, and advancing innovation across healthcare and public health.
Prior to joining Jaan Health, Dr. Shah served as Secretary of Health for the state of Washington, overseeing a $3 billion agency with 3,000 employees serving 8 million people. During his tenure, Washington State became recognized for some of the nation’s strongest public health outcomes during the pandemic while advancing modernization, emergency preparedness, and digital innovation initiatives.
Before Washington State, Dr. Shah served as Executive Director and Local Health Authority for Harris County, leading one of the nation’s largest and most diverse public health systems serving 5 million people. During his tenure, the agency was recognized nationally as Health Department of the Year. He also helped guide responses to numerous major emergencies and public health threats including pandemics, hurricanes, floods, and chemical incidents.
Dr. Shah began his career as a primary care physician overseeing two federally qualified health centers in Southeast Texas before spending more than two decades as an emergency physician at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center within the Texas Medical Center. He is recognized for bringing together clinical care, public health, technology, and operational leadership to drive transformation across complex health systems.
In addition to his role at Jaan Health, Dr. Shah is founder and CEO of Rickshaw Health, an advisory initiative focused on health transformation, strategy, leadership, and innovation. He has held faculty appointments at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, University of Washington, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Texas School of Public Health.
Dr. Shah has held national leadership roles with organizations including NASEM, ASTHO, TFAH, and NACCHO, where he served as president representing more than 3,000 local health agencies nationwide. His honors include the prestigious Roemer Prize for innovation in public health practice and numerous national recognitions for leadership in public health and healthcare transformation.
His work focuses on how innovation, technology, and human connection can strengthen health systems, improve outcomes, and build more resilient communities.
