Supply and Demand in Mental Health | Backpack Healthcare Chief of Staff Calvin Harjono

In this episode of The Healthcare Theory, we sit down with Calvin Harjono, Chief of Staff at Backpack Healthcare, to explore the transformative approach Backpack is taking in pediatric mental health, especially within underserved Medicaid populations. Calvin shares his journey from public health studies at Harvard to venture capital and operational roles, discussing how these experiences shape his mission at Backpack. He delves into Backpack’s innovative mental health app, which offers therapy, psychiatry, and self-care tools designed with a culturally competent and tech-forward approach. Calvin explains their unique clinician residency program, aimed at addressing the therapist shortage while building cultural competency within the Medicaid system. Learn how Backpack is pioneering accessible mental health solutions by combining technology with value-based care models, creating sustainable, scalable support for youth. Calvin’s advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs? Find your “why” and let it drive you to reshape the future of care.