Launched pre-pandemic, Major Care blends inclusive asynchronous education with HIPAA-compliant text- and video-based doula care on its My Fourth platform to effect better, safer and more supported postpartum outcomes for parents. In addition to being available directly to families, Major Care partners with employers and payers to offer a dedicated program spanning the fourth trimester and into the first year postpartum.
Nashville, TN, September 26th, 2022—
A celebrated business influencer, Julia Polk has spent decades pioneering innovative solutions to complex issues as a founder, board member, startup advisor and chief financial officer. She is an entrepreneur’s champion, helping founders navigate decisions to boost growth and make meaningful pivots to thrive.
In her 35-year career, Julia has become known as much for her strategic and financial expertise as her dedication to mentorship, passion for supporting female founders, and ability to make lasting, meaningful connections within healthcare, technology, and venture capital industries.
“Julia is an entrepreneur’s entrepreneur. With her keen financial insights, incredible networking savvy and boundless warmth, she is a tremendous asset to the Major Care team. We feel unbelievably fortunate to have her in our corner,” says Major Care founder and CEO Mandy Major, PCD(DONA).
Polk will support the Major Care team in its growth strategy as the company closes its seed round and advances relationships with regional and national MCOs.
“It’s no secret Major Care has aligned itself intentionally with Nashville given the city’s reputation for healthcare innovation and its supportive startup culture. Julia is a foundational part of that ecosystem, and she has been instrumental to our efforts to raise capital, mainstream virtual postpartum doula care and integrate with payers,” Major says.
“Since meeting Mandy through the Nashville Entrepreneur Center’s 2020 Project Healthcare accelerator, I have been struck by her dedication to improving the lived experiences of women and her unwavering vision in bringing affordable and accessible doula care to as many people as possible,” Polk says.
Adds Polk: “We know doulas are very cost-effective. And every study shows how valuable they are in supporting families and helping minimize clinical issues, including mental health, through day-to-day connection, care and education. We believe payers and their members will benefit greatly from access to Major Care, particularly in light of the most recent CDC findings.”
The co-founder of Decode Health, an AI company accelerating precision medicine, Julia has been a C-suite leader for national life sciences, healthcare, child care and venture capital companies including IQuity Labs (spun out to Decode in 2019), Change Healthcare, Solidus Company, and Corporate Family Solutions, now known as BrightHorizons. In addition to her professional work, she has served as a long-time executive committee and board member for Launch Tennessee, a public-private entrepreneurial organization, and has been a master mentor and chief program officer for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, spearheading its programming and alumni efforts for startups.
Through her consulting firm New Ventures Consulting, which supports early and mid-stage ventures, Julia has worked closely with more than 100 startups to build scalable businesses and raise outside capital to support them. When out-of-office, Julia can be found traveling with her two beloved daughters, or enjoying lakeside sunsets with her labradoodle, Lulu.
For more information or comment, contact Hannah Luiz at hannah@thatismajor.com
About Major Care: Founded pre-pandemic by a certified postpartum doula, Major Care blends asynchronous education with HIPAA-compliant virtual doula and lactation care to effect better, safer and more supported postpartum outcomes for parents. Major Care serves families nationwide, specializing in continuous support and whole-person care. Additional information can be found here.