How It Began
AlertGem started in 2019 when Sean began having seizures and recognized the necessity for a more comprehensive medical information tool than the standard medical alert bracelet. Collaborating with Derek, a Home Health RN, they refined the idea of a wallet card. In 2021, after Sean suffered an extended seizure while in Denver, an early prototype of the AlertCard enabled swift and accurate treatment.
Designed for Medical Emergencies
We started AlertGem to help people and we like to think that AlertCard, our first product, does that.
AlertCard is an Online Personal Health Record that prints out a physical wallet card containing almost your entire medical record on a waterproof, rip-proof, and anti-microbial paper. We send you reminders every three months to update your information. We also send you two of these cards every six months, one for you and one for your primary emergency contact.
The Need
Our Team
Sean Bennick
Cofounder & CEO
Sean is a serial Entrepreneur with a background in Graphic Design and Marketing. He started his own award winning Design firm in Seattle in 1992. In 1998 he started Get Mental Help and with Derek Wood built some of the leading Mental Health websites of the last few decades including Mental Health Matters, Psych Forums, and psychTracker. He is a Mental Health Advocate and has volunteered with the local chapter of NAMI, leading several Peer-Support Groups. He also served as a founding Board Member of HERO House.
Derek Wood, MS, RN
CHO
Derek has been an RN for 21 years, he is a Board Certified Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse and is Wound Care Certified. During the last 25 years, he primarily worked in home health care. He has also served as adjunct faculty at the LPN, ADN, and BSN levels in both classroom and clinical settings. His Masters is in School Psychology and he is ABD toward his Doctorate in the same. He is a Mental Health Advocate and has volunteered for local chapters of several organizations, overseeing a Peer-Support Group and serving as a founding Board Member of a DBSA Group (Then NDMDA). He was also a guide for Online Psych, a subgroup on AOL.
Chamika, “Don” Wijeratne
As a seasoned technology leader, Don brings over 6 years of experience in driving innovation and spearheading technical strategies. With a proven track record in guiding teams towards scalable solutions, he excels in bridging business objectives with cutting-edge technologies. Don is passionate about fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, empowering teams to push boundaries and deliver impactful results.
Parul Naib, PhD
Parul has over 18 years of experience in Machine Learning and Decision Science. She has led innovative projects in digital health and risk management for global clients, focusing on ethical AI applications to enhance healthcare outcomes.
Our Beliefs
AlertGem was created to provide the general public with tools to help them maintain their mental and physical health. This is the highest calling and greatest honor that our company and employees have. We feel that this can be done without costing more than people can afford, and that we can help carry the cost for those that can’t afford it.
We believe that health matters.
We believe that mental health matters.
We believe that everyone deserves both.
I started building this tool for myself. When I realized it could benefit others, Derek and I found Don to help us develop AlertCard into something that could help as many people as possible.
Sean Bennick
AlertGem Co Founder & CEO