Ari, Citizen Health's proactive AI teammate for patients and caregivers, handles the daily tasks of managing an aggressive cancer so families can concentrate on what matters most.

/PRNewswire/ -- The Gallbladder Cancer Foundation (GBCF) and Citizen Health today announced the broadening of their collaboration to deliver Ari, Citizen Health's AI teammate for patients and caregivers, to the gallbladder cancer community. Building on the groups' joint efforts over the past year and a half, this new phase places Ari directly with the patients and families GBCF supports.

Because gallbladder cancer is uncommon, those facing it are often left to manage everything alone. The resources, direction, and assistance available to patients with more frequent cancers are usually absent here, and a rapidly progressing diagnosis leaves families little opportunity to create them from the ground up. GBCF and Citizen Health see this as the wrong approach. A rare, fast-moving cancer should include greater assistance, not reduced, and the patients experiencing it merit technology equal to anything developed for a common condition.

"As a rare disease advocate and a foundation founder myself, I understand what it means to confront a difficult diagnosis without guidance and to handle all the effort solo," said Nasha Fitter, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Citizen Health. "That is precisely why we created Ari: a teammate in your pocket that manages the tasks families have always handled by themselves. I am delighted to extend it to the gallbladder cancer community, so no one confronts this without support nearby."

A gallbladder cancer diagnosis seldom arrives with instructions. Care is divided among surgeons, oncologists, and imaging facilities. The pathology and molecular reports are filled with technical terms, and choices frequently must be made quickly. Ari assists a patient in tracking all of it. It collects records from every provider into a single location the patient manages, converts complex pathology and biomarker findings into clear language, and maintains an ongoing record of treatments and side effects that a patient can note simply by messaging or speaking. It prepares summaries needed for a rapid second opinion, prepares appeals when insurance declines coverage, and identifies clinical trials worth discussing with a doctor. Much of this Ari performs independently, reaching out by text when a choice is required rather than waiting to be prompted.

The aim of all this is straightforward: return time and focus to patients and caregivers. Time not used pursuing records or waiting on calls, and focus that can shift to treatment and to one another rather than to coordination. Ari is provided at no cost to the gallbladder cancer community with options to advance to premium levels and requires roughly five minutes to begin. A patient's details always remain their own: Ari seeks approval before acting on their behalf, and nothing is shared without their consent.

"After assisting my mother through her gallbladder cancer experience, I have seen directly the strong effect an advocate can have. Sadly, too many patients and caregivers must sort things out without help," said Sanjeev Kumar, Founder and CEO of the Gallbladder Cancer Foundation. "By extending Ari to every gallbladder cancer family, we are making sure no one must handle this challenging path alone. It enables our community to hold more informed talks with their care teams and concentrate on what really counts: treatment, recovery, and family."

Getting started

Ari is ready for the gallbladder cancer community now. Patients and caregivers can find out more and begin at the Citizen Health site for GBCF.

About the Gallbladder Cancer Foundation

Established in 2024 by Sanjeev Kumar, the Gallbladder Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on discovering cures and enhancing the quality of life for those impacted by gallbladder cancer. The Foundation offers key resources and support to patients and caregivers while raising funds for research into better treatments for this uncommon and aggressive disease. Learn more at gallbladdercancer.org.

About Citizen Health

Citizen Health is shaping the future of healthcare, beginning with rare disease. By merging AI, community, and long-term health data, Citizen Health enables patients to manage their care and contribute to regulatory-grade data that can speed up treatments. Its AI teammate, Ari, aids patients and caregivers in understanding medical records, monitoring symptoms, learning from others, handling appointments, and linking to the next appropriate step in their health path. Citizen Health is based in San Francisco, California. Learn more at citizen.health.

Media Contacts

Citizen Health: Kate Haldeman | [email protected] |

Gallbladder Cancer Foundation: Sanjeev Kumar | [email protected] |

SOURCE Gallbladder Cancer Foundation