CEO recognized among the best of the best in healthcare leadership for building AI that restores joy to primary care
Becker's Hospital Review has named Kyna Fong, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Elation Health, to its 2026 "Great Leaders in Healthcare" list. The annual recognition celebrates healthcare executives who are "proactive changemakers, always looking ahead and striving for better" and "building the future rather than passively waiting for it to arrive."
With Fong's leadership, Elation Health has become an innovative force in modern primary care, serving more than 50,000 clinical users and 24 million patients nationwide. Built on 16 years of longitudinal patient data and clinical context, Elation's AI doesn't simply automate tasks; it acts as a trusted teammate that handles administrative burden so clinicians can focus entirely on patient care. As Becker's noted: Elation’s users save 13 minutes per visit, 87% report delivering higher-quality care, 87% experience less burnout, and 75% are rediscovering joy in medicine.
"Technology should relieve burden rather than add to it, and especially when it comes to the physician-patient relationship which is fundamental to good medicine," said Fong, whose belief in this principle was shaped by her teenage years working in her father's small family medicine practice.
A computer scientist and health economist, Fong has become a leading national voice on the future of primary care and AI in medicine. Her widely cited Harvard Business Review article makes the economic case for investing in primary care as the foundation of a sustainable healthcare system. She has been a vocal proponent of designing Clinical-First AI insisting that tools must strengthen rather than erode the human relationships at the heart of care, and demonstrating that innovation can be scaled while preserving clinical autonomy and empathy.
Fong's advocacy extends beyond Elation through ongoing collaborations with the American Academy of Family Physicians, Primary Care for America, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She is a member of the Fast Company executive leadership board and has received the Goldman Sachs "Most Exceptional Entrepreneur Award," among other honors.
This Becker's honor follows Fong's recent selection as a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 Bay Area Award by Ernst & Young LLP, underscoring her impact as both a business leader and healthcare innovator.
The complete list of 2026 honorees is available at beckershealthcare.com.
About Becker's Healthcare
Becker's Healthcare is the go-to source for healthcare decision-makers and one of the fastest growing media platforms in the industry. Through print, digital and live event platforms, Becker's Healthcare equips healthcare leaders with information and forums they need to learn, exchange ideas and further conversations about the most critical issues in American healthcare today.
About Elation Health
Elation Health is the clinical-first AI platform for modern primary care success. Trusted by over 50,000 clinical users and 24 million patients, Elation's EHR and billing solutions combine proven clinical workflows with responsible, predictive AI - purpose built for primary care. The company's clinical-first approach puts physicians at the center, delivering trusted, transparent innovation that saves time and sustains meaningful patient relationships. Elation Health is recognized as Best in KLAS for its commitment to excellence in primary care technology. Learn more at elationhealth.com and on LinkedIn.
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