CHICAGO, September 4, 2024 — Cylinder, the employee benefit provider for gastrointestinal (GI) health, today announced the appointment of Jared Scharen as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Scharen will be responsible for leading Cylinder’s operations teams and driving the company’s future growth through his extensive experience in health tech operations, consulting, and analytics.
Scharen joins Cylinder from Foodsmart, a telenutrition service, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President (SVP) of Operations. During his tenure, he successfully led teams across marketing, client development, operations, and implementation through the company’s recent $200M Series D investment. Scharen played a key role in the rapid scaling of the service through Medicare, Medicaid, commercial plans, and self-funded employers.
Prior to joining Foodsmart, Scharen served as a consultant with McKinsey in their healthcare unit where he leveraged analytics to help lower medical costs and maximize healthcare management outcomes through digital health solutions for large national payers. Before working in health tech, Scharen co-founded real-estate-centered businesses including a property management company and an online platform connecting individuals to the best destination for their retirement. Scharen holds an MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics from Villanova University.
“We are excited to welcome Jared to our executive team,” said Bill Snyder, Founder and CEO of Cylinder.” “Jared’s leadership at Foodsmart demonstrates his ability to scale operations effectively while fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation. His strategic insights and operational expertise will be instrumental in advancing our mission to provide exceptional digestive care for millions of Americans.”
GI symptoms affect nearly 71% of Americans each month resulting in lower productivity, absenteeism, and billions in healthcare costs. Cylinder works with employers to help employees manage challenging chronic and acute digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, heartburn, and more through personalized, clinician-supported health plans through its platform.
“After many recent conversations with healthcare leaders, and as someone who has firsthand experienced digestive health conditions for many years, I know digestive health has never been a more important issue to American workers than now. I am excited to join Cylinder at such a pivotal time,” said Scharen. “The opportunity to lead a team that is dedicated to destigmatizing and transforming digestive healthcare is incredibly motivating. I look forward to leveraging my experiences to help Cylinder scale and continue to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those looking to take control of their GI health issues.”
Read the full press release here.
About Cylinder
Cylinder is the leading virtual digestive health provider, delivering personalized, clinician-backed care for the full spectrum of gastrointestinal (GI) conditions and symptoms including GERD, Ulcerative Colitis, celiac disease, bloating, gas and more. With a dedicated care team that includes GI doctors, registered dietitians, and health coaches, Cylinder has helped over 100,000 people across all 50 states to date. Its platform combines digital access with evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance quality of life. Backed by published, peer-reviewed clinical results, Cylinder delivers up to 5:1 ROI and industry-leading 13% employee engagement. Trusted by employers and health plans including Texas A&M University and US Foods, Cylinder is helping make GI care more accessible.
