WHOOP is making rounds.
What’s happening: The wearable maker hired former FDA advisor Dr. Ami Bhatt as chief medical officer as it pursues regulated medical clearance.
House call. Having previously served on the FDA’s Digital Health Advisory Committee, Dr. Bhatt’s clinical and digital expertise will inform WHOOP’s consumer health strategy — bridging wellness and clinical care with AI.
On shift. Evolving from athletic performance to health platform, WHOOP’s MG (medical-grade) band launched in ’25 with blood pressure insights. Ending an FDA dispute over its classification, CEO Will Ahmed expressed optimism about working with the agency to bring more “regulated medical technologies to market.”
White coats. WHOOP’s recent $575M investment included backing from Mayo Clinic and Abbott, and it partnered with HealthEx to sync users’ medical records — with plans to add in-app clinician consultations.
An emerging rivalry, Oura hired its first medical chief last year while adding Counsel Health medical advice to its platform. Gaining backing from Dexcom and Eli Lilly, it’s pursuing clinical use cases across GLP-1s, brain health, and more.
Punchline: While lines have blurred for years, wearables are preparing to make the jump from wellness to medicine. Requiring clinical workflow integration, WHOOP and others are soliciting formal nods.
