Kili Preitauer is the CEO of Override Health, a platform bridging the gaps in traditional, fragmented pain care through virtual teams of chronic pain-trained physicians, physical therapists, coaches and behavioral health providers who individually treat chronic pain patients and collaborate to optimize patient outcomes.

Kili came to Override Health from Tuesday Health, a Valtruis company, and brings a wealth of experience leading business development and client relationship management. With over 20 years of experience in managed care, population health, healthcare technology, and services, she has held significant roles at i2i Population Health, Value Health, PointRight, Family Health Network, and WellCare Health Plans.

We connected with Kili to learn more about her childhood growing up in Guam, her journey to Override, and much more in our latest Top of the Ladder feature.

Could you share a little about your childhood background?

I was born and raised on the beautiful island of Guam, a place deeply rooted in community and resilience. My parents, brother, and I lived on a 43-foot sailboat named Sand Pebble—a remarkable vessel my parents built themselves. They moved to Guam after a few years in Bangkok, driven by a dream to learn how to sail. This adventurous spirit shaped much of my childhood, as my brother and I grew up sailing competitively, a passion that ultimately led to my collegiate sailing career.

My high school was small, with just 41 students in my graduating class, but the close-knit environment reflected the broader community values of Guam. My parents were educators—my mother, an elementary art teacher, and my father, a vocational education instructor at the local community college. Given limited financial means in a place where the cost of living was high, I learned to be resourceful and to value strong, supportive relationships within our community. We leaned on one another and helped those in need, which inspired my lifelong desire to make a difference in the lives of others.

How did you find yourself in healthcare?

Like many in the industry, I stumbled into healthcare almost by accident. My original dream was to join the foreign service at the Department of State, and I dedicated much of my college years to studying languages—Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic. However, life had other plans. When I ran out of money and had to take time off from school, I found myself working for a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) contracted with Hawaii’s Medicaid program. The role involved managing prior authorizations, claims adjudication, and provider relations.

I started in the call center, helping providers navigate eligibility and claims issues. It was there that I discovered my love for the problem-solving side of healthcare, particularly within the Medicaid space. I was fascinated by the complexity and challenges of the system and the tangible impact our work had on both providers and patients.

After finishing my degree, I returned to the TPA as a business analyst, where I was able to dig deeper into the intricacies of healthcare operations and policy. That experience solidified my passion for the field, and the rest, as they say, is history!

What inspired you to join Override from Tuesday Health?

My time at Tuesday Health was incredibly valuable, and I’m deeply grateful to the team at Tuesday Health and at Valtruis, the venture group that founded Tuesday, for giving me that opportunity. Tuesday Health was my first true start-up experience. For the past 12 years, I’d worked in private equity-backed, growth-stage companies and had dabbled in supporting start-ups on the side, but I had never been fully immersed in the trenches of an early-stage company. It was an experience that challenged me in all the right ways and gave me a profound respect for the grit and creativity it takes to build something from the ground up.

Throughout my career, I’ve been focused on obtaining the building blocks that would prepare me to step into a CEO role. Although I wasn’t actively looking for a new opportunity, the chance to join Override felt like the perfect fit at the perfect time. Override’s mission strongly resonated with me. I was inspired by the fact that the company was founded by a woman who personally experiences chronic pain and is deeply passionate about the space.

Additionally, the investors and board members are phenomenal. A big part of my decision to join Override was the opportunity to learn from some of the best minds in the industry. I knew that stepping into this role would be challenging, but I felt ready to take this next step in my career and contribute to building something meaningful.

How would you describe Override’s differentiated approach to solving chronic pain?

Most pain management programs focus on surgeries or interventions, but Override takes a whole-person approach. Our virtual model brings together pain physicians, physical therapists, behavioral health providers, and pain coaches to address not just the physical but also the emotional and psychological aspects of pain.

We’re inspired by the proven success of the VA Whole Health program, but we’ve adapted it into a tech-driven, scalable model that’s accessible to patients nationwide. Our app is a key part of this, acting as a hub for education, progress tracking, and direct support, keeping patients engaged every step of the way. Our patients experience real improvements in their quality of life, and we help lower overall costs for payers and employers.

What also sets us apart is how early we engage patients. By working with payers and employers to identify high-risk individuals sooner, we can prevent unnecessary interventions and reduce reliance on opioids. Combine all of this with a mission-driven team and incredible investors, and Override is transforming how chronic pain is managed—for good.

Given you have spent two decades in healthcare, what are some predictions you have about how the market will evolve?

After two decades in healthcare—long enough to remember when fax machines were cutting-edge—I’ve seen incredible changes and believe a few key trends will shape the future.

Preventative care will shift from being led by primary care physicians to a more integrative approach focused on functional medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle changes. This aligns with the growing demand for consumer-driven healthcare, where patients seek transparency, convenience, and personalized care.

AI, telehealth, and globalization will also play massive roles. AI will enhance diagnostics, personalize treatments, and streamline operations, while telehealth evolves into a cornerstone of ongoing care, making healthcare more accessible for chronic conditions and prevention. Globalization will further expand access, connecting patients to specialized care across borders, improving affordability and outcomes.

Regulatory changes could also reshape the industry. With a new head of HHS, it’s unclear what will be accomplished, but potential reforms to the food system could profoundly impact public health by addressing nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

Together, these trends point toward a healthcare system that is more personalized, tech-enabled, globally connected, and focused on overall wellness—not just treatment.

Can you share a bit about what excites you about the future of Override?

Override is at a pivotal point right now, and that’s incredibly exciting. Over the past three years, we’ve been laying the foundation—building out our technology, refining our clinical model, assembling an incredible team, establishing processes, securing payer contracts, and recruiting top-tier providers.

What excites me most is the massive opportunity ahead. Chronic pain is such a significant, underserved problem, and there’s surprisingly little innovation in the space. Every time we speak with a health system or payer, it reaffirms that Override is solving a critical need. These conversations energize me because they highlight the real-world impact we can have—not just on the industry, but on the lives of patients who are desperate for better solutions.

We’ve built a strong foundation, and now we’re poised to scale and lead the way in transforming chronic pain management. That’s what drives me every day and makes me so optimistic about the future of Override.

What is your superpower?

If I had to pinpoint my superpower, it would be building and retaining great talent by creating an environment where people feel empowered to be their authentic selves—and having fun doing it! I genuinely enjoy helping people maximize their potential, whether it’s supporting their growth, clearing roadblocks, or challenging them to think bigger.

For me, work should be a place people choose to be every day, not just because of the mission or the work itself, but because they genuinely enjoy the team they’re part of. I focus on creating a culture of trust, collaboration, and shared purpose, where laughter and connection are as important as delivering results. When people feel seen, valued, and encouraged to bring their whole selves to work, incredible things happen. They grow individually, the team thrives, and the organization succeeds in ways that are truly transformative.

At the end of the day, I believe talent is a company’s greatest asset, and investing in people—helping them thrive, succeed, and have fun along the way—is the most rewarding part of what I do.

What is one book that you would recommend?

I’d recommend The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver because it speaks deeply to me about resilience, perspective, and the power of human connection. Through the eyes of the Price family, the book explores the complexities of navigating cultural differences, overcoming challenges, and finding strength in unexpected places. It’s a beautifully written story that challenges assumptions and reminds us of the importance of humility and adaptability in our relationships and our world.

What is one piece of advice you would love to give to other healthcare startup CEOs?

Although I’m a relatively new CEO, if I had to share one insight, it’s this: leverage the incredible resources and talent around you. Whether it’s your board, your network, or your team, don’t hesitate to ask for help, seek feedback, and lean on the expertise of others. No one builds a company alone, and the sooner you embrace the power of collaboration, the stronger your company will be.