On the Raft with Ali Whitman, Head of Strategic & Practitioner Partnerships

We’re excited to welcome our newest member and Head of Strategic & Practitioner Partnerships, Ali Whitman! She’s building the bridge between RefluxRaft and the healthcare practitioners who need to know about it. She brings a decade of experience across CPG and venture — which means she knows how to spot a real opportunity and move on it. She’s also an unapologetic extrovert, a natural connector, and the kind of person who makes momentum feel inevitable.

We asked her a few questions. Here’s what she said.

What’s a brand or company (inside or outside healthcare) that you think is doing something really interesting with trust-building right now?

“One brand that immediately comes to mind is Once Upon a Farm. As a mom of two young kids, I’m constantly trying to cut through the noise of what feels like an endless stream of ‘healthy’ products and find things I actually feel good about feeding my kids (and that they’ll eat). What I think they’ve done exceptionally well is build trust in a way that feels real, not performative. They lean into transparency around ingredients and sourcing, invite conversation (not just marketing claims), and back it up by partnering with dietitians and experts. The fact that they’ve scaled the way they have — including their recent IPO — just reinforces that when you solve a real problem for a real person, trust can become your biggest growth driver.”

What’s the most unexpected place you’ve ever found really good advice?

“Honestly, strangers. I deeply value input from people who know me well — but some of the most unexpectedly impactful advice I’ve received has come from people I have little to no relationship with at all. There’s something beautifully powerful about that. It’s a great reminder that while life can often feel like ‘I’m the only one going through this,’ so much of the human experience is shared. When you zoom out, you realize people have navigated similar challenges in completely different contexts — and there’s a lot of wisdom in that.”

What do you do outside of work that has zero overlap with your job?

“I’m an avid skier and it’s been a throughline in my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up ski racing in northern New Hampshire, which is actually what brought me out to Colorado for college. Since then, I’ve built my life here — and in many ways, around ski season. My husband and I got engaged backcountry skiing, and our two sons (3 and 1) are already on skis. It’s one of the few things in my life that’s purely about being present, outdoors, and with the people I love.”

What’s a connection you made that genuinely changed the direction of something for you?

“I often describe myself as an unapologetic extrovert. Building relationships is something I’m naturally drawn to, genuinely energized by, and something I can’t really turn off. One connection that profoundly changed my trajectory came early in my career. I was working in adtech, pretty fresh out of college, still figuring out what I wanted to do. I worked with a sales leader who was deeply involved in the startup and venture community — and through his willingness to mentor and make an introduction, I was referred to a venture capital firm. That single connection opened the door for me to break into the startup and venture ecosystem, which has shaped the last decade of my career.”

If a clinician gave RefluxRaft one shot to make an impression, what do you hope they walk away thinking?

“How have I not known about this until now?”

Two weeks in — what’s already surprised you about RefluxRaft?

“Hands down, the team. This team is an incredible combination of people who are very smart, hardworking, thoughtful, and genuinely fun to be around. There’s a level of respect and collaboration that you can feel immediately, and I already feel it making a huge difference in how quickly momentum is building. Also, I’m laughing constantly. Which, in my opinion, is a pretty good sign you’re in the right place.”

Interested in bringing RefluxRaft into your practice? Ali would love to hear from you! Learn more here or send us an email to clinicians@refluxraft.com