"I founded a startup to prevent others from the trauma we went through in the hospital"
Dr. Galit Desha, an expert in gender and trauma, has founded Ozz Health. The startup is developing an AI-powered app called "Dorothy" to guide patients through hospitalization, aiming to reduce anxiety and improve the patient experience.
"This is my fifth career," says Dr. Galit Desha. "I am 56 years old, with no technological background, and yet I founded a startup that brings together everything I have done in my life. If someone had told me this a few years ago, I would have laughed out loud." Desha is a recognized expert in gender and trauma, having served as CEO of the Israel Women's Network, advised companies on diversity and inclusion, and managed the education department at the Tel Aviv Sexual Assault Crisis Center. With a doctorate in political science, she also led Power in Diversity, an initiative to increase female representation in high-tech.
Today, she heads the startup Ozz Health, which aims to improve the service provided to hospitalized patients and their companions through an app that offers personalized, real-time information. "As someone who has dealt with trauma for many years, I know that the first thing a person needs is the feeling that they are understood and that they retain control over their life," Desha explains.
A Personal Catalyst for Innovation
The idea for the startup was born from a personal tragedy: the death of her brother, Oz Desha, from a brain tumor. "We encountered a system where we felt worthless," she recalls. "We weren't informed about transfers between wards, and we were constantly chasing doctors. That experience stayed with me for years." In memory of her brother and to prevent others from suffering similarly, she began working on the project.
The "Dorothy" Technology
The "Dorothy" app integrates with hospital information systems and uses AI to adapt information delivery to the specific patient, considering age, gender, profession, and cultural background. "We call it an Identity Based Company," the founder explains. "AI doesn't get tired, doesn't have biases, and doesn't get angry, which makes it an ideal tool for reducing anxiety for patients and their families."
Ozz Health is currently conducting pilot programs in the US and Israel. The Israeli branch, Lior's Lighthouse, operates in Sderot, focusing on supporting residents of the Gaza envelope in navigating medical processes. "I call it a startup of commemoration," says Desha. "It is critical to me that this technological project has a real social impact, helping people during the most difficult moments of their lives."
