Tom Insel, MD

Dr. Tom Insel is a psychiatrist-neuroscientist who has co-founded five mental health companies, most recently Benchmark Health (2025) and Vanna Health (2022).  He previously served as Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (2002-2015), led the mental health team at Verily (2015-2017), and served as behavioral health special advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom (2019-2020).  Dr. Insel lives on a small farm in Northern California dedicated to the birds (chickens) and the bees.