About Us
Genesis Story
After practicing ophthalmology in Fairbanks, Alaska for over 12 years, I understood first-hand the frustration of living and working without the needed specialty care for my patients. My diabetics were going blind and we had no endocrinologist to manage an insulin pump. I would diagnose multiple sclerosis in my patient with optic neuritis and couldn't get them into a neurologist for 6 months. The nearest rheumatologist was 400 miles away and had an 8 month wait list. Or my patients could fly 4 hours each way to Seattle for the care they needed.
This was my reality until COVID changed everything. One silver lining of the pandemic was the widespread adoption of telehealth. Suddenly, I could bring the specialists to me, in my community, using the resources that I already had. But, I didn't need a one-time consult, I needed a fractional long-term doctor. But, it was December, 2020 and my staff had no bandwidth for anything beyond surviving the worst of the pandemic. And, so I tabled the idea...until 3 weeks later when a beloved patient came into see me. I had been caring for him for a decade with uveitis, glaucoma, diabetes, and macular edema. His psoriatic arthritis was raging out of control. His rheumatologist moved out of state. He had a treatment reaction and no one to manage his medications. His primary care doctor was doing her best, but this was just too complicated.
He could barely walk across my office and he used to climb mountains. I walked out of his exam room in tears and looked at my clinical manager, Stefanie, who said, "We're starting that company, aren't we?"
"Yeah, we're starting the company."
Later that day, I asked my team what we should call this new project. Laura, my oldest and dearest teammate, said, "Let's name it after Troy. He's why we have to make this happen." And, so, Troy Medical was born. For Troy. And for all of the people like Troy, who matter and need us. We're coming...keep hanging in there!
Meet the Leadership Team
Founder & CEO
Kara Hartl, MD FACS
Dr. Kara Hartl (previously Dr. Katherine Johnson) founded Troy Medical after 15 years serving patients in Fairbanks, Alaska, where she built Mountain View Medical Center into a leading medical center. Trained at Harvard and Bascom Palmer, she brought specialty care to Interior Alaska—launching surgical programs, training staff, and founding a nonprofit to cure blindness. Yet her patients still lacked access to other specialists. In 2021, she launched Troy Medical for her own patients in Fairbanks. After seeing the impact that this hybrid telehealth model could have for patients living in rural communities, she refocused on growing Troy Medical across Alaska and Texas, before expanding nationally, to distribute lifesaving medical expertise to the people who need it most..
Clinic Director
Jennifer Guadagno, PT DPT
Jennifer earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Biodynamics from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. She built a career focused on helping patients regain independence and improve quality of life. In addition to serving as the Fairbanks Clinic Director, Jennifer also plays a key role in leading our Remote Therapeutic Monitoring program, using her expertise to support patients across Interior Alaska in managing chronic pain, arthritis, osteoporosis, and mobility challenges. She believes deeply in Troy Medical’s mission to expand access and is passionate about bringing high-quality comprehensive care to Alaskans.