Martine Dorgely, Sage’s head of clinical, doesn’t just think about creating better technology. She’s focused on how Sage can become a true strategic partner in care, transforming the lives of residents and caregivers. We interviewed Martine to learn about her journey from nursing to becoming a leader at Sage.

What inspired you to work in senior care?

Growing up in Haiti, I saw firsthand what limited access to care can do to families and communities. That experience inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare, with a focus on improving care for underserved populations.

Beyond that, I was raised with a deep respect for our elders. My parents taught me that our lives are built on the sacrifices and achievements of those who came before us. I believe we have a responsibility to honor them—not just with words, but with action. For me, that means helping create a world where older adults can age with dignity, supported by systems that truly care for them.

Tell us about your journey from nursing to becoming a health tech leader.

I’m a trained adult-gerontology nurse practitioner with 17 years of experience who started my nursing career as an LPN. Over the course of a decade, I worked at the bedside and held leadership roles across a range of settings, including emergency rooms, skilled nursing facilities, and senior living home care. I’ve seen the best and the worst of our healthcare system. Despite the unique challenges of each environment, I consistently observed similar operational inefficiencies. Over time, I found myself naturally stepping in to solve daily pain points and workflow issues—not because it was my job, but because I couldn’t ignore the inefficiencies that were making it harder for us to provide effective care.

I transitioned into digital health over seven years ago, driven by a simple question many nurses ask: “There has to be a better way, right?” I realized that technology could be a lever—not just for efficiency, but for empowering clinicians and improving outcomes at scale. I wanted to be part of building that better way. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with mission-driven teams to design new care delivery models, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and improve key quality metrics like falls and psychotropic use. I’ve also advised early-stage founders on clinical product strategy and adoption, helping them build and deploy solutions that actually work in the field.

Why did you join Sage?

I joined Sage last March because it was clear to me that this wasn’t just another health tech company—it was a team that understood the bigger picture. Improving care isn’t just about new tools; it requires a deep understanding of the people delivering care, the operational realities they face, and the stories hidden within the data.

Too often, senior care settings are forced to adapt technology that was never designed for them. I saw a rare opportunity to bring my expertise and passion to a team building thoughtful, purpose-driven solutions that truly fit the environments they support.

What role do you play at Sage and what is your vision for Sage's clinical support?

As head of clinical, I bring the voice of residents and caregivers into everything we do, from product strategy to customer engagement. I work cross-functionally with our product, data, and customer teams to ensure our technology not only meets clinical and industry standards but also reflects the day-to-day realities of care teams. To me, clinical excellence and operational success go hand in hand. 

My vision is simple: for Sage to be seen not just as a tech solution, but as a trusted clinical ally. That means understanding each organization’s goals, aligning our technology to support those goals, and constantly evolving based on what’s actually happening on the ground. And through it all, we never lose sight of who we’re ultimately doing this for, the resident.

How has your background in nursing influenced how you approach your work today?

It’s everything. As a nurse, you learn to triage, to listen between the lines, and to keep going even when the path isn’t clear. You learn that details matter and that outcomes depend not just on decisions, but on follow-through. That mindset shapes how I approach work every day. 

I’ve cared for patients in their most vulnerable moments—in their homes, during emergencies, and at the end of their lives. Whether I’m reviewing data, giving feedback on design and workflows, or planning a rollout, I think about the human experience behind them. I ask how our technology impacts the person at the bedside and those they care for. That perspective keeps me focused on building solutions that are not only effective, but also empathetic and actionable in the real world. It’s also the foundation of how I lead and collaborate.

Do you have any favorite stories from your time at Sage?

During my first 30 days at Sage, I sat in on many customer meetings to understand how our solution fits into their day-to-day and what impact it’s really having. I heard a lot of encouraging feedback, but one story in particular stuck with me.

A clinical leader shared how they used our analytics to flag a subtle but consistent increase in care needs for a resident, which might have otherwise gone unnoticed. That insight led to a reassessment, a thoughtful conversation with the family, and timely coordination of rehab and additional resources. That’s what proactive, personalized care looks like. And it's not just a data point—it’s a potential hospitalization avoided, a resident getting the support they need, and a care team empowered to act early.

To me, that’s the real value. It’s not just about the tech we provide—it’s about the outcomes we help drive. Because at the end of the day, it’s the resident who matters most.

Is there anything else you’d like to add about your work experience or about Sage?

I’ve spent my career at the intersection of care delivery and innovation — and what I’ve learned is that technology alone doesn’t transform healthcare. People do. The most effective solutions are born from listening to those doing the work, understanding the constraints they navigate, and designing with real-world impact in mind.

I love that we’re not just building tools at Sage. We’re rethinking how technology can actively support better care, better workflows, and better outcomes in senior living. My focus is on making sure our solutions are clinically meaningful and operationally scalable. That’s how we move from being just another vendor to becoming a true strategic partner in care. And that’s the kind of work that gets me up in the morning.