Andrés Simón González-Silén

In 2004, Andrés Simón González-Silén founded Grupo Venemergencia, a company dedicated to comprehensive medical services including home health care, laboratory services, occupational health services, and technology for telemedicine and mobile health. In addition to providing these valuable medical services, González-Silén wanted to improve the quality of life of Venezuelans through a culture of prevention. Thus, he began educating people in the area of health services. The not-for-profit organization of his corporation educates paramedics in association with the Universidad Simón Bolívar and establishes emergency medical brigades in impoverished communities, as a means for developing a sustainable model of emergency care for vulnerable communities.

González-Silén’s work has enhance medical-social relations by bringing healthcare closer to the patient. Since many low income communities do not have easy access to medical care, Dr. González-Silén created innovative programs to bring services directly to them. Some of these services include emergency and regular home health care using “moto-ambulance.”

González-Silén completed medical school at the Universidad Central de Venezuela and also holds an MBA from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA), an MD from the Universidad Central de Venezuela, as well as a certificate in occupational health from the Universidad J. A. Páez. During medical school, he gained accreditations as a paramedic in courses sponsored by the American Heart Association, the American College of Surgeons, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. Furthermore, he attended an entrepreneurship program at Babson College in the U.S.

His achievements have been recognized by the prestigious World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders in 2015, Young Presidents Organization, Venezuelan Chapter in 2015, Millenium Leader 50—Group of Fifty in 2015, Venezuela Sin Límites and Schwab Foundation´s Venezuela´s social entrepreneur of the year in 2014, and Global Shapers in 2012. He has also been a member of the Hall of Fame for IESA´s Entrepreneurs since 2011.

González-Silén’s dedication to people in vulnerable communities as well as his solutions to effectively reaching them highlight the possibilities that exist when business acumen is merged with social awareness.