Kimberly Roddy, MBA, Co-Founder and COO of Sunstone Therapies
Kimberly Roddy is the Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer of Sunstone Therapies. She has dedicated her career to improving patient care by advancing healthcare systems with compassionate leadership. Her commitment to building strong operational infrastructure goes beyond organizational growth—creating environments where teams can work more seamlessly together, fostering a sense of internal community.
Kim began her journey in healthcare as a phlebotomist, earning degrees in medical technology and biology. Recognizing her talent for making complex systems work more elegantly and efficiently, she pursued an MBA to gain greater access to leadership roles within healthcare organizations. Her career path led her into oncology and clinical trials, where she played a key role in expanding research programs and managing large oncology practices.
At the heart of Kim’s philosophy is the belief that healing is deeply related to human connection and community—principles that naturally drew her to psychedelic therapy. Unlike traditional medical approaches, psychedelic therapy can foster connection and provide meaning, addressing not just the physical, but also the emotional and psychological well-being of patients.
In 2020, Kim co-founded Sunstone Therapies and launched the first psychedelic-assisted therapy clinical trial within a community cancer center, focused on depression in cancer patients. Understanding the vital role of connection in healing, she helped design the trial around a group therapy model, creating opportunities for patients to support one another. Beyond the study itself, this emphasis on connection has extended into ongoing monthly support groups, reinforcing Sunstone’s commitment to community-centered care.
Kim’s dedication to holistic care is a thread that runs through her entire career. This is reflected in her work as Director of Cancer Services for Adventist HealthCare’s Shady Grove Medical Center where she helped establish 51 wellness programs in just two years, providing crucial support and access for cancer patients and their families. Her focus on human connection is not only evident in her approach to patient care but also in her leadership philosophy.
Throughout her career, Kim has held multiple leadership positions, beginning at just 21 years of age when she managed the lab center of an 800-bed trauma hospital. She has since led laboratory, research, and administrative teams, always emphasizing listening, curiosity, and collaboration. Her leadership is deeply interpersonal, built on strong relationships with her team.
This approach has allowed her to grow and improve every organization she has been a part of. She views operations through an analytical lens, understanding the interdependencies of systems by engaging with team members and asking thoughtful questions, translating her insights into tangible growth: at a large internal medicine group, she expanded the research program from two to nine clinical trials in under a year. While leading laboratory and administrative teams at Hematology Oncology of Central New York, she helped the practice grow from a single site to five distinct locations.
When Kim joined Associates in Oncology Hematology as Practice Administrator—later Maryland Oncology—she played a pivotal role in its expansion, growing the practice from two sites to 11 sites of service and from five physicians to over 50, making it the largest oncology practice in Maryland.
Kim continues to bring her adaptive leadership, clinical research expertise, and passion for community-building to Sunstone Therapies. Under her leadership, Sunstone is not only advancing the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy but also redefining how we approach healing, connection, and healthcare access for those who need it most.
