We’re thrilled to announce that Dan Bongiolatti has joined Counsel’s leadership team as SVP of Commercial. Dan brings a wealth of experience, having held senior commercial roles and helped scale go-to-market efforts at top digital health companies, including Grayce, Covera Health, Doctor on Demand, and Castlight Health.

We sat down with Dan to hear about his background, what brought him to Counsel, and his outlook on the future of digital health. Read on for the full conversation.

Welcome to Counsel, Dan! You’ve had an impressive career in digital health. Tell us about your journey and what it was about Counsel that made you join.

I’ve worked with some great health tech companies over the years, each bringing something unique to this space, and I’ve enjoyed my time at each stop. At the core, I’ve always been driven by the mission of improving patient care and making healthcare delivery more seamless.

Counsel fit that bill completely. What drew me here was the vision: putting doctors at the front door of a patient’s journey and using AI to make that care high-quality and accessible. On top of that, the collaborative culture and the chance to lead the commercial side of a fast-growing company made it an easy decision. I’m excited to join a team that’s redefining how AI can support the care doctors provide.

You’ve seen the industry evolve over the years. Where do you think it’s headed and how does Counsel fit into that future?

Over the past decade, digital health has changed dramatically. Innovations like telemedicine, remote monitoring, and wearables have reshaped care delivery and made it more personal and convenient. Now, asynchronous care is becoming a central part of that evolution. It offers convenience and scale, without compromising quality.

I think AI will continue to raise the bar for what personalized, high-quality care can look like and Counsel is leading this next phase. Asynchronous care isn’t just a trend. It’s a fundamental shift in how healthcare can be delivered more efficiently and effectively. Counsel lets patients get care on their own terms, while still receiving a tailored, high-quality experience.

You’re joining at a time of growth for Counsel. What’s your plan and vision for scaling sales?

We’re focused on building strong partnerships with health plans, health systems, employers, and other stakeholders. The go-to-market strategy for digital health has evolved in the last five years. It used to start with direct-to-employer sales and build from there. Now, I think companies need to think more broadly, look at other distribution channels, and establish strategic partnerships in order to reduce friction in customer acquisition.

Aside from deep partner integrations, we’ll also stay connected to our customers by listening to their needs and feedback. Many of the features in our product roadmap are driven by customer and user feedback. Creating a close and continuous feedback loop will help us refine our offering, demonstrate ROI, and show improved clinical outcomes, all of which are key to driving long-term engagement and retention.

What’s a misconception you think employers or health plans might have about virtual care, and how is Counsel changing that?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that asynchronous care isn’t as high-quality as in-person visits. But with the right tools and the right team, it can actually deliver more efficient, accessible, and even better care.

We often hear from our users that working with Counsel physicians is the first time they’ve felt “heard.” Prior to Counsel, they bounced between providers and specialists, racking up bills without getting clear answers. With Counsel, our physicians take the time to explain the “why” behind symptoms and walk patients through treatment options, so they feel informed and confident in their care. Our users have shared how reassuring this experience is. And when a physician follows up unprompted, patients really feel like someone is on their side and on the healthcare journey with them.

We couldn’t deliver this level of personalized, high-touch care without being asynchronous. By prioritizing asynchronous channels, we’re able to give members trusted medical advice and treatment exactly when they need it most.

This isn’t just a replacement for in-person care. It’s a better, more scalable solution that improves outcomes and reduces costs.