Ignacio Hernández Medrano

Current Position

Title: Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Company: Savana Location: Madrid, Spain (primary); International expansion (Europe, US)

Professional Background

Ignacio Hernández Medrano is a neurologist and digital health entrepreneur who transitioned from academic medicine to founding transformative healthcare AI companies. After spending over a decade at Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid—where he directed neurology research and coordinated research strategy across multiple departments—Medrano recognized the untapped potential of electronic health records and clinical data. In 2014, following his graduation from Singularity University (NASA-Silicon Valley), he co-founded Savana with a vision to unlock clinical insights from millions of patient records using artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Beyond Savana, Medrano also co-founded Mendelian, an AI company focused on diagnosing rare genetic diseases. His work bridges clinical medicine with exponential technology, positioning him as a category creator in healthcare AI and real-world evidence.

His early recognition came through prestigious channels: he received the 2019 Princess of Girona Foundation Business Award, was elected as an Ashoka Fellow in 2017 (recognizing social entrepreneurs creating systemic change), and was named by Forbes among Spain's 100 most creative business leaders in 2021. Medrano represents a new breed of healthcare leader—clinician-technologist hybrids who understand both medical practice and computational innovation.

Career Timeline

Education

• Clinical Medicine degree, Miguel Hernández University, Elche, Spain
• Master's degree in Medical and Clinical Management
• Master's degree in R&D and Innovation Management in Health Sciences
• Singularity University Graduate (entrepreneurship with exponential technologies), Mountain View, California

Public Presence

Social Media

Note: Only publicly accessible profiles are documented.

Published Writings

• "Savana: Re-using Electronic Health Records with Artificial Intelligence" — International Journal of Interactive Multimedia and Artificial Intelligence (2017)
• "The rise of real-world evidence: unlocking the potential in EHRs" — pharmaphorum (various years)
• "AI and RWE: The future of drug assessment?" — pharmaphorum Deep Dive (2021)
• LinkedIn thought leadership posts on AI democratization in medicine and healthcare transformation
• "Why artificial intelligence will democratize medicine" — LinkedIn post (2023)

Public Speaking

• "Mental Models for Health Entrepreneurship" — Big Picture Medicine Podcast, Episode #113 (2023–2024)
• "Category Visionaries: Ignacio Medrano, Founder & CMO of Savana: $44M Raised to Transform Healthcare Intelligence Through AI" — Category Visionaries Podcast (2024)
• "ENTIENDE TU SALUD - La Inteligencia Artificial en Medicina (Understanding Your Health - Artificial Intelligence in Medicine)" — CLM Activa Radio/iVoox Podcast (July 26, 2023)
• Multiple healthcare AI conferences and panel discussions (venues and dates vary; primary focus on European healthcare innovation forums)
• TED speaker on AI democratizing medicine (2014)
• AI for Health France speaker (confirmed speaker roster)

Communication Style

Tone: Visionary yet pragmatic, clinically grounded, accessible to both technical and non-technical audiences

Recurring themes: Healthcare democratization through AI, unlocking value in existing clinical data, real-world evidence, precision medicine, healthcare infrastructure transformation, AI as a force for systemic medical change

Notable positions: Strong advocate for AI's potential to democratize medicine and healthcare access; positions data and AI as fundamental infrastructure for modern healthcare (analogous to how e-banking transformed banking); advocates for ethical, clinician-led AI implementation; emphasizes the importance of real-world evidence from existing patient data rather than purely synthetic approaches

Medrano communicates with the confidence of a clinician-entrepreneur who has lived in both worlds. His public statements blend medical credibility with startup optimism. He frequently uses bridging language ("just as e-banking is becoming banking, e-health is becoming health") to help non-technical audiences understand technology's role in healthcare transformation. In interviews and podcasts, Medrano demonstrates intellectual depth, discussing mental models, design philosophy, and strategic pivots, while remaining grounded in clinical utility. He avoids hype-driven language, instead focusing on concrete outcomes (400+ million electronic medical records processed, real-world evidence generation, clinical insights for precision medicine). His writing and speaking reflect a systematic thinker: he builds arguments methodically, cites research, and positions Savana's work within larger healthcare trends rather than as isolated innovation.

Notable Achievements

• Co-founded Savana (2014), which has raised $44M+ in funding (including $15M Series B from Cathay Innovation, 2020, and additional Series C funding rounds)
• Built Savana into an international platform processing 400+ million electronic medical records across English, Spanish, German, and French languages
• Established Savana's presence across 14 countries with partnerships in pharmaceutical research, healthcare systems, and academic institutions
• Co-founded Mendelian, an AI diagnostic platform for rare genetic diseases
• 2019 Princess of Girona Foundation Business Award recipient
• 2017 Ashoka Fellow (social entrepreneurship recognition)
• 2021 Forbes recognition as one of Spain's 100 most creative business leaders
• 2023 Forbes inclusion in list of 23 healthcare changemakers
• Published peer-reviewed research on AI applications in clinical data analysis
• Led major collaborative research initiatives including the Big COVIData project (pandemic research using AI on clinical records, published in multiple scientific journals)
• Formerly coordinated research strategy for Neurology Department at Ramón y Cajal Hospital (managed 500+ researchers)

Key Relationships

• Ashoka Network: Fellow recognized for social entrepreneurship and systemic change
• Singularity University: Alumni network; graduated in entrepreneurship with exponential technologies cohort that included Mendelian co-founders
• Pharmaceutical Industry: Strategic partnerships for real-world evidence generation
• European Healthcare Systems: Direct relationships with hospitals and health authorities across multiple European countries
• Academic Research Community: Collaborations with research institutions for clinical data projects (BREATHE research hub partnership documented)
• AIES (Asociación de Innovadores en eSalud): Vocal (board member) of Spanish e-health innovation association
• COPD Foundation: Partnership for innovative clinical research initiatives
• Healthcare Venture Capital: Relationships with Cathay Innovation, Seaya Ventures, MACSF, and Conexo Ventures (funding partners)

Information Assessment

Public Information Availability: HIGH

Ignacio Hernández Medrano maintains a strong public presence through multiple channels: active LinkedIn profile with regular thought leadership content, multiple podcast appearances, academic publications, industry speaking engagements, and company visibility. His role as a publicly recognized healthcare entrepreneur and innovation advocate generates regular press coverage and industry recognition. As CMO of a VC-backed company, much of his professional activity is documented through company announcements, funding news, and industry publications.