Honoring Jim Simons (1938-2024)

With heavy hearts, we bid farewell to James H. Simons, a founding figure and visionary leader at Gradian Health Systems, who passed away on May 10, 2024, at the age of 86. Jim, as we fondly remember him, leaves behind a legacy that continues to inspire and guide all of us at Gradian and beyond.

Jim’s ongoing influence at Gradian as a leader and board member shaped our core values and mission. Inspired by both his and his wife Marilyn’s vision, Gradian adopted a belief in pushing boundaries and a commitment to innovation, resonating across our work. From our pioneering medical devices to our training and customer service programs, Jim’s dedication to excellence and impact drives us forward.

It was only last February that Jim visited our Gradian team in East Africa to better understand the work we are doing on the ground. He took the time to meet—and, more importantly, to listen to—our staff, biomedical engineers, and clinicians about how our work is holistically transforming healthcare.

While Jim will be remembered for many great things, including his achievements as a mathematician, investor, and philanthropist, he was most notably a good man. Jim embodied the most authentic and earnest definition of goodness, and his rare and unique qualities will be deeply missed.

Together, we honor an individual whose legacy will endure through the countless lives he touched, and we feel confident he would want nothing more than for us to, as he would often say, ‘carry on.’

With boundless admiration,

Lina Sayed

Learn more about the Simons Foundation and Jim’s legacy here.