Robby Stempler, CEO of Hygea Healthcare

Robby Stempler is a pioneering figure in the realm of addiction treatment, renowned as the CEO and founder of Hygea Healthcare is a network of esteemed treatment centers dedicated to battling addiction and fostering recovery. Stempler's journey into this vital field was inspired by a profound awareness of the gaps in existing rehabilitation services. Having battled his addiction to Vicodin, Stempler intimately understands the challenges and complexities individuals face on the path to recovery. His introduction to the behavioral healthcare space began during his tenure at KIPU, an electronic medical records software startup focused on serving addiction treatment facilities. Stempler's firsthand experience with addiction, coupled with his expertise in technology and healthcare, fueled his passion to innovate and improve the landscape of addiction treatment. Kipu is the industry standard EMR for addiction treatment centers, which was sold in January of 2021 for over $290 million to TCV Partners. KIPU currently has over 2,000 addiction treatment facilities utilizing its software. Armed with comprehensive knowledge of rehabilitation practices, Stempler embarked on his mission to address the pressing need for enhanced detox and recovery facilities, particularly in the Los Angeles area. In 2015, he took the pivotal step of founding Malibu Detox is a beacon of hope for individuals grappling with addiction. Stempler's vision was rooted in providing compassionate, evidence-based, individualized care that prioritized not only detoxification but also the essential aspects of long-term recovery. He grew Malibu to 5 properties before selling in June 2023. The genesis of Malibu Detox marked the beginning of Stempler's unwavering commitment to transforming lives and communities ravaged by addiction. Witnessing the revolving door of clients seeking treatment, only to relapse and return, Stempler recognized a dire need for sustained, high-quality residential care. This realization propelled him to expand his endeavors to his hometown of Baltimore, MD, culminating in the establishment of HYGEA Healthcare. Under Stempler's visionary leadership, Hygea Healthcare has emerged as a beacon of excellence in addiction treatment, offering a comprehensive continuum of care tailored to individual needs. Stempler's approach emphasizes holistic healing, integrating evidence-based therapies, personalized treatment plans, and a nurturing environment conducive to long-term recovery. Most recently, drawing from his experiences and insights, Stempler founded Pretaa in 2022, an innovative monitoring and outcome measurement platform designed to provide valuable insights on clients through biometric data. Pretaa’s initial strategic partnership was with Google’s Fitbit device. Currently over 25 facilities are using Pretaa to help with their clients’ treatment plans and aftercare services. Prioritizing individualized treatment paths, Robby sees success as going beyond just whether or not clients stay clean and sober. “How is the job going? How are your bills? How are the family, friends, and support relationships? There are a million data points we can look at…Outcomes are the most important thing.” Taking what he has learned throughout his life, from his own experience with formal education to his work in multiple industries, Robby’s vision is to alter the course and find a better way. “Unless I am disrupting, I am bored. The goal is to spread this so we can impact more than the clients at the facility that are inside our four walls. There are multiple ways to do that, especially with the utilization of technology. The goal is to positively impact people’s lives on the largest scale possible.”