Ginger Appoints Former U.S. Representative Joe Kennedy III and Seasoned Cybersecurity Executive Myrna Soto to Advisory Board

New advisors will support Ginger’s efforts to improve access to affordable, high-quality mental healthcare, expand to underserved communities, and develop industry-leading privacy standards

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ginger, the leader in on-demand mental healthcare, today announced the appointment of two new leaders to its Advisory Board: former U.S. Representative, Joe Kennedy III, and leading cybersecurity executive, Myrna Soto. Kennedy and Soto join an expert group of advisors, who include leading academic researchers, mental health professionals, data science experts, and employee benefits leaders.

Joseph Kennedy III served as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts' 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021. During his tenure in Congress, he established national leadership on mental health and substance use disorders, driving legislation to strengthen mental health parity laws, expand Medicaid coverage, and improve access to care for children and pregnant women. In addition, Kennedy sat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and focused on key issues including healthcare, civil rights, immigration, and economic equity. As a former Assistant District Attorney, Legal Aid volunteer, and Peace Corps member, he has dedicated his career to social and economic justice, fighting for the basic needs of every American family and a political system that is inclusive, representative, and fair. Kennedy is the founder of Groundwork Project, an organization dedicated to community organizing, and serves as a senior advisor to the Poor People's Campaign. Together with Ginger, he will support efforts to further reduce mental health stigma and advise on mental health policy, with a focus on improving care access for underserved populations.

"With a surge of people seeking care, and a growing shortage of those who provide it, our nation’s badly broken mental healthcare system is spiralling into further crisis," said Joe Kennedy III, Ginger Advisor. "Building a better, fairer system requires dramatic policy reforms, substantial public investment, as well as thoughtful partnership with private sector leaders seeking to help break down barriers to care. That’s why I am excited to join Ginger’s Advisory Board and support their efforts toward equitable mental healthcare access for all.”

Myrna Soto is the Chief Strategy and Trust Officer for Forcepoint, a global cybersecurity technology company. In addition, she currently serves on the boards of CMS Energy/Consumers Energy, Spirit Airlines, and Popular Inc. As a 30-year veteran of the IT and cybersecurity industry, Soto has held executive and senior leadership positions at global companies such as Comcast, MGM Resorts International, American Express, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Her work has garnered her a myriad of accolades, including SC Magazine’s Top 10 Power Players for Women in Security, CNET’s Top 20 Most Influential Technology Latinos, and ALPFA’s 50 Most Powerful Latinas in Business. Soto will work with Ginger to further advance the company’s industry-leading privacy standards and cybersecurity practices.

“As an IT leader, I've seen technology transform nearly every industry imaginable. In the midst of our nation's growing mental health crisis, it's critical that we double down on the most promising innovations in this space," said Myrna Soto. "Ginger has led the way in re-architecting how mental healthcare is delivered from the ground up, and I'm proud to be a part of its mission and future growth."

To date, Ginger’s Advisory Board has focused largely on advancing mental health research, including two recent publications in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, highlighting the effectiveness of Ginger’s system in alleviating symptoms of anxiety and depression. Together with Kennedy and Soto, this multidisciplinary group will continue to support the Company’s efforts to advance evidence-based mental healthcare, improve industry-wide collaboration, and ultimately, to achieve Ginger’s vision of a world where mental health is never an obstacle.

Next week, Ginger will host its two new advisors together with Ginger co-founder and Advisor, Sandy Pentland, and Ginger’s CEO Russell Glass, for a candid discussion about the mental health crisis in the U.S., the impact they’ve observed within their respective organizations and communities, and their views on what’s ahead. Register here for this LinkedIn Live discussion on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2-3pm ET/11-12pm PT.

About Ginger

At Ginger, we believe that everyone deserves access to incredible mental healthcare. Our on-demand system brings together behavioral health coaches, therapists, and psychiatrists, who work as a team to deliver personalized care, right through your smartphone. The Ginger app provides members with access to the support they need within seconds, 24/7, 365 days a year. Millions of people have access to Ginger through leading employers, health plans and partners. Ginger has been recognized by The World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer, Fast Company as one of the Most Innovative Companies in Healthcare and UCSF’s Digital Health Awards as 2020’s leading Mental Health Company. Learn more about our vision to build a world where mental health is never an obstacle at ginger.com.