Maja Mazur knows what it’s like to suffer and not be heard. Her personal struggle with chronic pain ignited a lifetime mission to upend chronic pain management, leading her to the creation of Healthnix. The digital health venture integrates precision nutrition with a holistic wellness approach, driven by Mazur’s determination to empower others facing persistent pain.

Maja Mazur has evolved into a visionary, a disruptor here to challenge traditional chronic pain treatments. She has also become a passionate advocate for evidence-based nutritional interventions that can be integrated into digital therapeutics, such as anti-inflammatory personalized diets for chronic pain.

The Immigrant Drive

Born in post-communist Poland and a granddaughter of one of the well-known participants in the Warsaw Uprising, who has had documentaries produced and books written about her, Mazur excelled academically, graduating top of her class and ranking among Poland’s top students, which led her to study at University College London. While balancing work and education, she was accepted into a global leading law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, and then Goldman Sachs post-graduation. Professionally, she played a key role in establishing LawtechUK, funded by the English Ministry of Justice, where she acted as a manager and product owner during the inaugural LawtechUK Sandbox, an accelerator to help legal tech start-ups in the UK. Examples of innovative projects in which Mazur played an important role were the Legal Schema and the Digital Dispute Resolution Rules, the first set of arbitration rules for blockchain disputes in England endorsed by the highest-ranking members of the English judiciary.

The Genesis of a Mission

Mazur’s protracted battle with chronic hip pain, coupled with inadequate medical solutions and a general dismissal by medical professionals, spurred her dramatic career shift from law and finance to health technology. It also became the catalyst for her exploration of integrative health and, eventually, the foundation of Healthnix’s principles.

Her journey from Eastern Europe to academic success in the UK, and eventually to launching a company in the US, reflects her exceptional resilience, determination, and adaptability—qualities crucial for entrepreneurs, especially women in the healthcare industry.

Building Credibility through Collaboration

Despite her initial lack of formal medical training, Mazur built credibility by forging important partnerships with leading researchers and medical experts. These collaborations led to successful NHS pilot programs, acceptance into US accelerator programs, and advisory relationships with experts from institutions like the Cleveland Clinic.

A Visionary in a Crowded Field

At a time when “food as medicine” is gaining popularity but often lacks scientific backing, Healthnix excels because it’s an evidence-based platform. Mazur’s vision bridges lifestyle medicine with clinical practice, targeting arthritis and other chronic pain conditions with scientifically validated nutritional interventions, taking lessons learnt from the world of precision medicine.

Food is medicine, she explains. “I see myself championing thought leadership in this space, contributing to policy initiatives that promote healthy eating over unnecessary medication, and serving society through making healthcare better and more accessible for everyone.”

The Future of Chronic Pain Care

1 in 4 American adults suffers from chronic pain, costing the US over $725 billion annually. With only 1 pain specialist for over 28,000 patients, Maja Mazur’s vision and execution of that vision come at a time when innovation in chronic pain care is direly needed. Luckily, policy tailwinds that emphasize the need to battle chronic disease and address the root cause of the chronic disease epidemic in the US support integrating Healthnix into US healthcare policy and delivery systems. Her planned move to Austin, Texas, reflects her commitment to expanding her network in a key hub for healthcare innovation, and it is well-timed, as Austin hosts an increasing number of healthcare innovation events. Ultimately, she is confident that food as medicine will transform the healthcare system as we currently know it, and is dedicated to mentoring and supporting the next generation of female leaders in technology and healthcare to contribute to this effort.