Dr. Sabina Singh
From a dream in Milwaukee to a thriving DPC practice-
Dr. Sabina Singh and Ken Strmiska built a healthcare revolution, serving thousands in just three years.
Inspired by her childhood ambition and dedication to healthcare, Dr. Sabina Singh, MD along with her husband Ken Strmiska (COO) Founders of Anovia Health, has undertaken a revolutionary journey in her medical career. In a conversation with Mehul Agarwal, Founder of HealthCompiler, Dr. Singh shares the compelling story of her evolution from a determined sixth grader in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to a key player in transforming the medical field.
The Spark That Ignited a Lifelong Passion
Sabina's story starts in a tight-knit Midwestern community, where she was raised surrounded by hardworking, passionate people. Her parents, her dad, an engineer, and her mom, a teacher, instilled in her a deep love for learning. As Indian-Americans, they cherished the values of community and service, which left a lasting impression on Sabina.
"I decided very young, probably about sixth grade, that I was going to be a doctor," she recalls. This wasn't just a childhood dream, it was a commitment fueled by her family's belief in the power of community and service.
Discovering Her True Calling: Family Medicine
Medical school wasn't just about absorbing knowledge for Sabina, it was where she truly found her passion. A pivotal summer externship with a family physician changed everything.
"I liked the breadth of family medicine, the relationships, the chance to take care of a whole person, not just their symptoms," Sabina says.
Struggling with a Broken System
Sabina's journey led her back to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she joined Bellin Health. Over a span of 20 years, she climbed the ranks and became one of the first female physicians in the system. Despite her achievements, the flaws in the traditional healthcare system became evident.
"Like many of my colleagues, I started to burn out," Sabina recalls. The administrative burdens piled up, the relentless pressure to see 20 to 25 patients daily, and the constant struggle to provide the care she wanted, it all took a toll.
A Bold Leap: Reimagining Healthcare
At this pivotal moment, Sabina and her husband Ken began brainstorming a new approach to healthcare. They both recognized the inherent flaws in the traditional system and dreamed of creating something that could break through the barriers that hindered real care.
The result? Direct Primary Care (DPC), a model that eliminates insurance middlemen and allows doctors to work directly with patients or employers for a flat fee.
Launching Anovia Health
In May 2021, Anovia Health was officially launched. By August, their first clinic opened its doors. The idea was simple yet innovative: offer unlimited same-day or next-day appointments with no copays through partnerships with employers.
Anovia Health didn't just grow, it thrived. In a matter of years, they expanded from zero patients to serving 20,000 to 25,000 people across eight near-site clinics and four on-site clinics.