A letter from the president: 30 years of purpose, progress, and possibility

Thirty years ago, I co-founded Carelon Research, then HealthCore, to solve a problem.

As clinical pharmacists working directly with patients, we saw firsthand a disconnect between the evidence available to clinicians and the decisions being made every day in healthcare. Clinical trials provided important answers, but they often did not reflect the complexity of real patients living with multiple conditions and navigating real-world challenges. We believed healthcare could do better at generating actionable information. 

What began in 1996 as a pursuit of more meaningful evidence was never intended to become a company. It was simply a mission: use high-quality data, research, and scientific rigor to create evidence that informs better healthcare decision-making and improves lives. 

Three decades later, that mission remains unchanged. What has evolved is our opportunity to execute on that mission. Now more than ever, real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) are being actively sought to solve healthcare’s more complex challenges. Our company is primed and ready to deliver both RWD and relevant RWE to our clients and all those working to advance better health outcomes.

While healthcare has transformed dramatically and the role of RWE has expanded, one thing has never changed: our commitment to keeping people at the center of our work. Behind every data point is a person, and behind every study is an opportunity to improve health outcomes and experiences. 

One of the greatest privileges of this journey has been witnessing the impact we have made together. Alongside our clients, collaborators, and partners, our team has advanced drug safety science, supported public health initiatives, helped address critical evidence gaps, and contributed research that informs healthcare policy, practice, care delivery, and the decisions that shape the affordability and sustainability of healthcare. 

Yet our most important achievement is not any single study, publication, or milestone. It is the dedicated people who continue to make those achievements possible. 

The curiosity, expertise, and dedication of our associates have been the driving force behind everything we have accomplished. Every person who has contributed to our research over the past 30 years has helped shape who we are today and the impact we continue to make across healthcare.   

As we look ahead, the opportunities are extraordinary. Advances in artificial intelligence, data connectivity, and analytic innovation are creating new possibilities for generating insights, improving decision-making, and better understanding healthcare experiences. They are also helping organizations address some of their most complex challenges, including improving outcomes, enhancing affordability, and delivering greater value. 

Our belief in the power of evidence to improve healthcare has guided us since the beginning and continues to shape our future. Our success has been built on the collective commitment of our team to that shared mission, and it is that same dedication that will drive our continued growth and the opportunities ahead. 

To our associates, clients, collaborators, and partners: thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we have spent 30 years advancing healthcare through evidence, and I am excited about what we will accomplish next. 

As part of our 30th anniversary celebration, I invite you to follow our LinkedIn leadership spotlight series (#CarelonResearch30), where leaders from across our organization will share the experiences, perspectives, and ideas that are helping shape our future. 

Mark J. Cziraky
President, Carelon Research