Austinite Andra Liemandt is an expert on kindness. As founder and CEO of The Kindness Campaign, she works to teach emotional health skills to people as young as age three. As a board chair and philanthropist with Baylor Scott & White, Liemandt sees the opportunity to make an impact on health and well-being by treating people the way they should be treated.
“The synergy is that mental health and physical health are very tied: There’s an authentic bond, a quality or relationship to the two. It’s true medicine,” Liemandt said. “When you have a doctor who authentically cares for a patient, you feel it. I think that’s a big piece of emotional health.”
A gift from Liemandt helped establish the Collaborative Care initiative, which puts licensed behavioral health counselors in some Baylor Scott & White primary care clinics in the Greater Austin Region. This patient-centered program creates additional mental health support for patients in a convenient and accessible way through their primary care doctor’s office.
Additionally, Liemandt helped fund a new AI-powered initiative within the MyBSWHealth app that navigates patients to the right level of care quickly, saving unnecessary trips to the emergency room or frustration with not knowing where to turn in a time of need.
Liemandt recalled a recent health experience with a family member who is not a Baylor Scott & White patient as the moment she fully realized the impact a lack of support can have on a person struggling with their health. Diagnosed with a life-changing condition that necessitated a large change in lifestyle, Liemandt’s family member was overwhelmed and experienced feelings of loneliness.
“Using this experience, I saw the need for collaborative care,” Liemandt said as she explained how navigation tools such as the “Help Me Decide” function inside the MyBSWHealth app can point patients to the right resources to help them take control of their well-being. As a busy mom, Liemandt had already found the MyBSWHealth app helpful in managing her family’s health needs—and now, with additional functionality, she sees the potential for providing additional care, navigation and support for others in need.
“What I admire about Baylor Scott & White is their forward-thinking approach to patient care—looking beyond the present to build a comprehensive, future-ready healthcare system. That’s exactly why I’m involved. Every time I hear about the innovative work they’re doing, I feel even more inspired and eager to contribute to the groundbreaking ideas they’re bringing to life.”
Liemandt’s passion for mental health and the opportunities for improved well-being through digital connection is something she brings to her roles as chair of the Greater Austin Capitol Area Board for Baylor Scott & White and as a member of the Central Texas Operating Board. She sees digital solutions as a complement to the highly caring, real-life doctors, nurses and other professionals carrying out the mission of Baylor Scott & White on a daily basis.
“They are definitely aligned with my values and with the way I’m passionate about looking to the future to see how we can live longer and live healthier together,” Liemandt said of her experience with leaders and clinicians shaping the future of Baylor Scott & White.
“They’re open to offering more creative and solution-driven care so that patients are feeling better. Since joining the board, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this approach transforms patient experiences, reflecting exactly how healthcare should be delivered.”
