ROBBY STEMPLER, CEO
HYGEA HEALTHCARE
PRETAA, INC
Robby Stempler is a pioneering figure in the realm of
addiction treatment, renowned as the CEO and founder of
Hygea Healthcare is a network of esteemed treatment
centers dedicated to battling addiction and fostering
recovery. Stempler's journey into this vital field was
inspired by a profound awareness of the gaps in existing
rehabilitation services. Having battled his addiction to
Vicodin, Stempler intimately understands the challenges
and complexities individuals face on the path to recovery.
His introduction to the behavioral healthcare space began during his tenure at KIPU, an
electronic medical records software startup focused on serving addiction treatment
facilities. Stempler's firsthand experience with addiction, coupled with his expertise in
technology and healthcare, fueled his passion to innovate and improve the landscape of
addiction treatment. Kipu is the industry standard EMR for addiction treatment centers,
which was sold in January of 2021 for over $290 million to TCV Partners. KIPU currently has
over 2,000 addiction treatment facilities utilizing its software.
Armed with comprehensive knowledge of rehabilitation practices, Stempler embarked
on his mission to address the pressing need for enhanced detox and recovery facilities,
particularly in the Los Angeles area. In 2015, he took the pivotal step of founding Malibu
Detox is a beacon of hope for individuals grappling with addiction. Stempler's vision was
rooted in providing compassionate, evidence-based, individualized care that prioritized
not only detoxification but also the essential aspects of long-term recovery. He grew
Malibu to 5 properties before selling in June 2023.
The genesis of Malibu Detox marked the beginning of Stempler's unwavering
commitment to transforming lives and communities ravaged by addiction. Witnessing
the revolving door of clients seeking treatment, only to relapse and return, Stempler
recognized a dire need for sustained, high-quality residential care. This realization
propelled him to expand his endeavors to his hometown of Baltimore, MD, culminating
in the establishment of HYGEA Healthcare.
Under Stempler's visionary leadership, Hygea Healthcare has emerged as a beacon of
excellence in addiction treatment, offering a comprehensive continuum of care tailored
to individual needs. Stempler's approach emphasizes holistic healing, integrating
evidence-based therapies, personalized treatment plans, and a nurturing environment
conducive to long-term recovery.
Most recently, drawing from his experiences and insights, Stempler founded Pretaa in
2022, an innovative monitoring and outcome measurement platform designed to provide
valuable insights on clients through biometric data. Pretaa’s initial strategic partnership
was with Google’s Fitbit device. Currently over 25 facilities are using Pretaa to help with
their clients’ treatment plans and aftercare services.
Prioritizing individualized treatment paths, Robby sees success as going beyond just
whether or not clients stay clean and sober. “How is the job going? How are your bills?
How are the family, friends, and support relationships? There are a million data points
we can look at…Outcomes are the most important thing.”
Taking what he has learned throughout his life, from his own experience with formal
education to his work in multiple industries, Robby’s vision is to alter the course and find
a better way.
“Unless I am disrupting, I am bored. The goal is to spread this so we can impact more
than the clients at the facility that are inside our four walls. There are multiple ways to
do that, especially with the utilization of technology. The goal is to positively impact
people’s lives on the largest scale possible.”