“Villagers envision a world where healthcare equity is a reality, and NPs play a central role. I'm proud to stand with my fellow NPs committed to ensuring that communities have access to quality care led by those who know them best.”

Shannon Cole. DNP, APRN-BC, Chief Clinical Officer, Co-founder of Villagers Health

Shannon Cole, DNP, APRN-BC
Chief Clinical Officer, Co-founder


Shannon is a Family Nurse Practitioner with 30 years of experience dedicated to serving rural and underserved communities. Her work addressing Social Determinants of Health, Childhood Obesity, and advancing collaborative healthcare education has shaped generations of professionals. As a director of interprofessional programs and grant initiatives to train and empower Nurse Practitioners, Dr. Cole's influence extends from local efforts to international boards.

Built by providers & a team of innovators

  • Raja S. Shamas. Co-founder, CEO

    Raja Shamas

    CEO  |  CO-FOUNDER

    Raja is an entrepreneur, operator, and consultant with 20 years of experience across the private, public, and social sectors. He founded the health-tech startup Caren, led two categories at Wayfair, consulted for Eurasia Group, MassHealth, and Booz Allen Hamilton. Raja also served as lead advisor to Palestine’s negotiating team on borders and as Head of the Delivery Unit for an economic development initiative in the West Bank and Gaza, led by the Office of the Quartet Representative (Tony Blair). He also volunteered on the Biden-Harris Policy Committee.

  • Joseph Krauze. Co-founder, chief technology officer

    Joseph Krauze

    CTO  |  CO-FOUNDER

    Yossi is a seasoned engineering leader driving innovation at the intersection of technology and healthcare. He has delivered mission-critical solutions across sectors like pharmacy and finance, including leading integrations with ChangeHealthcare for billing and adjudication and developing trading algorithms used by top hedge funds. Known for his analytical mindset and collaborative approach, Yossi has led teams ranging from small startups to large global organizations and is passionate about using technology to transform healthcare systems.

  • Luiza Kramer. Co-founder. Head of Design

    Luiza Kramer

    HEAD OF DESIGN  |  CO-FOUNDER

    Luiza is a design leader with over 15 years of experience delivering innovative, user-centric products and services. She has worked with telecom and insurance companies, driving digital transformation and operational change. Through strategic thinking and empathetic leadership, Luiza built in-house UX teams at design agencies and large corporations, fostering collaboration, diversity, and cultural awareness. Passionate about simplifying complex systems, she excels at bringing people together to create intuitive, impactful user experiences.

  • Christopher Armstrong. Co-founder, Head of Policy and Regulation

    Christopher Armstrong

    HEAD OF POLICY & REGULATION
    CO-FOUNDER

    Chris is a experienced attorney with expertise in healthcare, technology, and public policy, bringing two decades of experience at the intersection of law and governance. He has served in the Executive Branch, Congress, private practice, and national political campaigns. As a co-founder, Chris leverages his deep understanding of legal, regulatory, and policy landscapes to simplify the challenges nurse practitioners face in building and sustaining their practices.

  • Emily M. Miller, PA-C

    Emily Miller, PA-C

    DIRECTOR, NEW ENGLAND REGION

    Emily is a Physician Assistant with over eight years of experience in orthopedic surgery and men’s health in the Greater Boston area. She is passionate about empowering patients through education and personalized care, helping them lead healthier, happier lives. Emily has successfully launched and directed two men’s health clinics as the primary provider, showcasing her leadership, clinical expertise, and dedication to patient care. Known for her personable nature, she builds strong, lasting relationships with patients and colleagues, fostering a collaborative and holistic approach to wellness.

  • Caroline M. Hewitt, DNS, RN, WHNP-BC, ANP-BC

    Caroline M. Hewitt, DNS, NP

    ADVISOR  |  CLINICAL STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS

    Caroline is a nationally recognized NP leader with +20 years of experience spanning leadership, education, administration, policy, research, and patient care. A passionate advocate for expanding healthcare access, she has advanced practice laws, led federally funded workforce training programs, and built global partnerships to improve care delivery and patient outcomes. Caroline is committed to fostering the next generation of healthcare leaders and enhancing care models that prioritize accessibility, equity, and quality.

  • Nurani Madhani. Advisor. Clinical Operations. Family Nurse Practitioner Certified

    Nurani Madhani, FNP-C

    ADVISOR  |  CLINICAL OPERATIONS

    Nurani is a Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience focused on underserved communities. Specializing in holistic care and addressing social determinants of health, she transitioned from academia to startups, gaining expertise in non-traditional care models and innovative delivery methods. Nurani has worked with Cityblock Health and Dock Medical and now serves as Director of Quality and Innovation at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where she leads efforts to develop efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care delivery systems.

  • Ganga Nadella. Advisor. Clinical & Delivery Models. Doctor of Medicine

    Ganga Nadella, MD

    ADVISOR  |  CLINICAL & DELIVERY MODELS

    Ganga is a physician leader with 15 years of experience in clinical care, team management, and site leadership. Passionate about improving patient experiences and provider retention, she has driven innovation in Value-Based Care models and advanced care delivery through AI and machine learning. Ganga’s focus is on making healthcare more accessible through technology while maintaining a human-centered approach, optimizing processes to ensure high-quality, sustainable, and equitable care that meets patient needs and coordination of care.

Our advisory board

Jeffrey Sachs

Jasen Gunderson, MD, MBA

At Villagers, healthcare is personal.

It’s about trust, relationships, and truly knowing the needs of a community. That’s why we’re on a mission to help providers build independent practices and transform healthcare in communities they’re part of.

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