Kelly Dodds - Visionary Woman Founder to Watch — 2026

Women Story
Jan 12
3 min read

Category: HealthTech · Digital Health · Cancer Rehabilitation · Patient-Centred Care · Women-Led Innovation

Kelly Dodds

Founder & CEO, Ori Rehab Ltd

📍 Based in: London, United Kingdom

“Rehabilitation doesn’t end with treatment. Recovery is a lifelong journey — and no one should walk it alone.”

In a healthcare system where millions of cancer patients are told to “stay active” — but rarely shown how — Kelly Dodds is building what has long been missing: accessible, expert-led rehabilitation at scale.

With over 17 years of clinical experience across cancer, cardiac, and neurological rehabilitation, Kelly founded Ori Rehab to bridge the gap between specialist care and real-world patient access. Her work sits at the powerful intersection of clinical excellence, empathy, and digital innovation.

Recognised as a Visionary Woman Founder to Watch in 2026, Kelly represents a new generation of HealthTech leaders — those who build not for trends, but for human outcomes.

Company Overview

Company Name: Ori Rehab Ltd

Industry: HealthTech · Digital Cancer Rehabilitation

Headquarters: London, United Kingdom

Website: www.orirehab.co.uk

LinkedIn : www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-dodds-mcimspa-a08107170

What Ori Rehab Does:

Ori Rehab is a personalised digital rehabilitation companion designed for people living with and beyond cancer. The platform delivers clinically informed exercise programmes, nutritional guidance, and emotional support, tailored to each patient’s diagnosis, treatment stage, and daily energy levels.

Built to support breast, prostate, lung, and bowel cancer patients, Ori brings specialist-level rehab expertise into patients’ pockets — 24/7.

The Founder’s Vision

Kelly’s vision was shaped by years on the frontline of rehabilitation — and by a painful truth:

Only a few hundred specialist cancer rehab professionals serve millions of patients.

Her mission is to:

Democratise access to expert cancer rehabilitation
Reduce treatment-related fatigue, pain, and isolation
Protect long-term cardiac and physical health
Transform rehab from an afterthought into a standard of cancer care

Ori Rehab is not a generic fitness app — it is clinically grounded, deeply human, and built around real patient journeys.

Why She’s One to Watch in 2026

Kelly Dodds is recognised as a Visionary Woman Founder to Watch for her ability to:

✔️ Translate 17 years of NHS and clinical expertise into scalable technology

✔️ Build a HealthTech product rooted in compassion and evidence

✔️ Address a critical gap in global cancer care

✔️ Assemble a world-class advisory and leadership team

✔️ Lead with resilience, purpose, and patient-first values

Her work is redefining how recovery is experienced — not just measured.

Key Achievements & Milestones

Successfully completed Ori Rehab MVP development
Selected for Barclays AccelerateHer Female Founder Cohort
Built a multidisciplinary leadership team spanning clinical, NHS, AI, and HealthTech expertise
Demonstrated measurable patient outcomes, including up to 40% reduction in fatigue
Positioned Ori Rehab for UK-wide and international scaling

Awards & Recognition

Kelly’s work has received strong validation from leading institutions:

🏆 Great Companies – International Entrepreneur Award
🏆 Barclays Accelerate Her Female Founder Award
🌍 Recognised as a rising leader in women-led HealthTech innovation

Clinical Depth & Credibility

Kelly is uniquely positioned at the intersection of:

Certified Cancer Exercise Training (CET)
Certified Cardiac Rehabilitation (CCRP)
NHS-aligned rehabilitation programmes
Patient engagement across cancer, cardiac, and Parkinson’s care

Ori Rehab is supported by respected advisors and clinical leaders, including Professor Anna Campbell MBE, ensuring the platform remains safe, ethical, and evidence-based.