builders
Design, science, operations, medicine, and engineering leaders who are developing and scaling products and services for all
Sandy Varatharajah Malkan
Vice President + General Manager, Activation
firsthand
Sandy Varatharajah Malkan is VP/GM Activation at firsthand, a value-based care startup serving Medicaid individuals living with SMI. She focuses on enrolling individuals in the right benefits and care programs in their first 60-90 days post-engagement. Sandy’s track record as a healthcare operator and angel investor serving lower income Americans spans Oak Street Health, Cityblock Health, Zocdoc, and The Advisory Board Company. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania, where she was awarded the Robert D. Eilers Award, Kissick Scholarship, and Kaiser Fellowship for her exceptional achievement and commitment to healthcare innovation.
Q: What motivates you to continue working towards change each day?
A: Great leaders serve infinite needs with finite resources. Raised in rural/semi-rural areas as a child of immigrants who saw civil war, I’ve seen leaders repeatedly fail my communities and our most basic need: healthcare. It’s on us to lead better.
Q: What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of from 2023?
A: I successfully launched revenue-generating products while growing performant teams with zero turnover during a rapid growth phase. I’ve helped build a sustainable business in a ‘low-margin’ sector like Medicaid without sacrificing culture or results.
