A team dedicated to transforming the landscape of overdose prevention.
Ayuda Medical was founded in 2019 by Michael Hite, a seasoned entrepreneur, and Dr. Desislava Hite, an experienced emergency physician. Driven by the rising overdose (OD) crisis, Ayuda's mission is simple: save lives by preventing fatal ODs, nearly all of which are avoidable with timely intervention.
Through extensive research, we discovered that up to 80% of ODs happen at home, often with others nearby but unaware. To address this, we developed the ARMband, a discreet wearable that detects overdoses and alerts both local and remote responders, guiding them on how to help. Initially designed with an automatic naloxone injector, we pivoted based on user feedback to focus solely on detection, making the device smaller and more efficient, and speeding up the path to FDA approval.
Based in Seattle, Ayuda Medical is expanding across California, Alaska, and Appalachia. With Phase II NIDA funding, we're advancing ARMband’s development, including testing, app integration, and FDA approval. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, we're committed to engaging communities directly and offering practical solutions.
Join us in our mission to prevent overdose fatalities and make a difference through our Community Advisory Board.
Meet the Team
-
Michael Hite
CEO, MBA
As a native West Virginian, Mike has seen the effects of OUD firsthand; he is committed to ending opioid overdose death. He brings more than 20 years of device design and development to the team. He holds 13 patents and has developed companies that have gone public.
-
Desislava Hite, MD
CMO, PI, MD, ABEM
With more than 12 years of emergency room clinical care, Desi believes there is a better way to bring healthcare to those suffering from OUD. She has firsthand experience in treating patients suffering from an opioid overdose. She is the Phase I and II Principal Investigator with the NIH/NIDA.
-
Kimberly Honaker
Expert Advisor, BA
Kimberly has over 15 years of experience as a Substance Use Disorder Counselor. She is in long-term recovery and brings her unique experience to the project. She was also a researcher for SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) in West Virginia.
-
Mike Mitchell
IoT Product Developer, MBA
Mike brings more than 20 years of experience in wearable devices & IoT (internet of things) development to Ayuda. His ability to take a product from “napkin to production” makes him the perfect designer to engineer the ARMband. He loves science, nature, music, ethics, and fulfilling human potential.
-
Ahmad Saleh
Product Management Advisor
A biomedical engineer with over 10 years of experience bringing wearable products from concept to market. As a user-focused product leader with 12+ patents, he has developed and launched multiple devices for AliveCor, iRhythm, and VivaLink, impacting millions of patients worldwide.
-
Kurt Sussman
Sr. Firmware Engineer
With more than two decades in the tech world, Kurt focuses on making technology work to solve problems in simple, maintainable ways. His expertise spans a variety of areas, including wireless sensor hardware, IoT firmware, server software, DevOps, test automation, and SaaS applications. Kurt takes a practical approach, aiming for solutions that are durable and easy to manage over time.