Leading Change in Healthcare: How Kempton Presley is Transforming Patient Outcomes with Data
Kempton, Presley
Chief Executive Officer of AdhereHealth
Website: www.adherehealth.com
This blog series is inspired by a powerful episode of the Leaders in Tech podcast, hosted by David Mansilla, featuring special guest Kempton Presley. The conversation offers a rare window into the mind of a purpose-driven executive who is reshaping the future of healthcare through data, innovation, and a service-oriented leadership style.
Kempton Presley is not your ordinary CEO. During a 20-year career in healthcare payor leadership he has served as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Analytics Officer, and now Chief Executive Officer of AdhereHealth—a company that helps millions of members take the right medications, at the right time, for the right reasons . Beyond the C-suite, he shares his expertise as an Adjunct Professor at Vanderbilt University’s Data Science Institute , and he has previously lectured at Columbia University while publishing peer-reviewed work in biomedical informatics.
A lifelong learner, Kempton holds degrees from Washington & Lee University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University. He also channels his commitment to community by chairing nonprofit boards such as the Center for Living and Learning, and when he isn’t leading or teaching, you might catch him onstage in Nashville with his Americana band, the GreenHillsbillies, playing the dobro.
Leading With Purpose: Building a Patient-First Company
Kempton’s leadership lens is clear: every algorithm must serve a person, not just a KPI. By partnering mainly with Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers, AdhereHealth goes at risk financially—earning revenue only when members’ health outcomes improve.
“If we can keep you out of the hospital and raise your quality of life, everybody wins—patients, payers, and the system.”
That alignment forces the team to obsess over impact, not vanity metrics.
Technology That Cares: From Raw Claims To Real Change
AdhereHealth ingests pharmacy claims, hospital discharges, eligibility files, psychographic and demographic data—then uses AI-powered profiles to identify dangerous gaps: missed refills, harmful drug interactions, overdue screenings.
A flag prompts outreach to the member, physician, or pharmacist until the care gap closes. The secret sauce? Behavioral science. Kempton recently hired a Chief Experience Officer with a PhD in behavioral science to design nudges that move people from intention to action.
Culture of Continuous Learning and Ownership
Kempton’s résumé—economics degree, two master’s (public health and informatics), and a love for late-night study sessions—models the growth mindset he expects from his team.
Inside AdhereHealth he:
Shares the “why.” Transparent strategy meetings prevent the “headless-monster” effect.
Invites everyone to the table. Cross-functional sprints and stage-gate reviews turn ideas into experiments.
Celebrates smart failure. “Fail fast, rebound faster” keeps innovation moving without derailing finances.
The result is a workforce that owns outcomes and embraces experimentation within disciplined frameworks.
Motivation For The Modern Tech Leader
Kempton closes the episode with a billboard-worthy mantra:
“Enjoy every moment and use your time wisely.”
Key takeaways for listeners:
Anchor decisions in purpose. Revenue follows real impact.
Let data serve people. Tech is a tool, not the objective.
Blend structure with freedom. Guardrails plus autonomy fuel high-performing teams.
Keep learning. Today’s “rock-star coder” must become tomorrow’s “chef” who selects the right tools for each dish.
Own your time. Productivity—and legacy—depend on how you steward each minute.
Whether you’re scaling a health-tech startup or leading a small dev squad, Kempton Presley’s story proves that disciplined innovation and compassionate leadership can rewrite health outcomes—and inspire every colleague along the way.
Written by Jovilyn A. Dela Cruz
At ISU Corp, we specialize in custom software development and Ai integration, helping enterprises streamline operations and drive innovation. Trusted by industry leaders, we deliver scalable, high-performing solutions tailored to your business needs.
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“If humans were perfectly rational, we’d all take our medication, do our screenings, exercise. But we’re not. That’s why we need systems—and grace—to help us make the right choices.”
