• By Bidisha Roy

From the humble streets of a rural village in India to the pinnacle of healthcare entrepreneurship, this man’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and vision. Born into challenging circumstances — grappling with near blindness, living as an undocumented immigrant, and facing severe economic hardships — his early life was far from easy. These challenges didn’t break him; they forged him – he is Srinu (Sam) Maddula – a dynamic healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and consultant with over 15 years of experience driving transformative growth and innovation in the healthcare and specialty pharmacy sectors.

Srinu was born legally blind in rural India. Without a double corneal transplant his vision would be compromised at an early age. It was in 1979 that Maddula had corneal transplants for both eyes, at the age of 18 months. His family had travelled to Morgantown, West Virginia Where Dr VK Raju, internationally renowned ophthalmologist, gave him new existence with the life-changing surgery. Immigrating with his family, they overcame significant challenges through resilience and determination, which shaped his drive for success.

Srinu earned his doctorate in pharmaceutical studies from Rutgers University in 2009. He founded Bank’s Apothecary in inner-city Philadelphia, and focused on patients with mental health and substance use disorder in 2010. He later expanded the company to the larger Pennsylvania area and later took it regional, covering the eastern United States. “As the founder of Bank’s Apothecary Specialty Pharmacy, I scaled operations from a startup to $300 million in annual revenue, securing its position as the largest independently held behavioral health specialty pharmacy in the United States. In 2022, I successfully sold Bank’s Apothecary to a private equity firm, achieving an industry-leading valuation and solidifying my place as a leader in healthcare innovation”, says Srinu.

Srinu developed an unyielding work ethic, a tenacity to overcome, and a profound desire to uplift those in need — traits that would later define his professional and philanthropic pursuits.
Today, as a leading voice in the healthcare space, he channels his unique experiences to inspire, mentor, and transform. His story isn’t just about personal triumph; it’s about harnessing adversity, turning trials into strengths, and leveraging those strengths to make a lasting impact in pharmacy, medicine, and business practices.

In 2023 he founded ‘Workshop Strategy’ to deliver high-level strategic guidance to healthcare organizations, focusing on growth acceleration, operational optimization, and patient-centered innovation. Workshop Strategy symbolizes the intersection of industry expertise and a tenacious spirit borne from personal challenges and triumphs.

Using the same strategies that turned his local specialty pharmacy, Bank’s Apothecary, into a $250 million powerhouse, Workshop Strategy offers a unique approach to healthcare consulting. By merging industry-specific insights with the broader lessons learned from their founder’s journey, this company ensures that every strategy is grounded in experience, innovation, and a relentless drive to bring someone’s vision to life.

With diverse roles from Founder/CEO to Chief Clinical Officer, Srinu has cultivated a unique blend of skills that few can rival. Today, his mission extends beyond business—to inspire, mentor, and create lasting impact in the healthcare industry and broader society.

His mission has been to focus on human impact and create companies that can make the world a better place, be it in medicine, philanthropic organizations, emerging markets, or various other for-profit and non-profit ventures.

While his primary focus is on pharmacy, medicine, and the healthcare sector, his broad spectrum of skills makes him a valuable asset in diverse business scenarios. From philanthropy to Fortune 500 companies, to small businesses – his goal is for the betterment of humanity. While leading Bank’s Apothecary to significant success, he also built a fulfilling personal life, marrying in 2017 and welcoming two daughters in 2021 and 2024.

Srinu believes in giving back, using his success as a platform to uplift and inspire. “In addition to my professional achievements, I am deeply committed to philanthropy and mentorship, founding the Maddula Foundation to support underserved communities and advocating for mental health awareness and healthcare equity. I collaborate with academic institutions and healthcare organizations to shape the future of the industry”, adds Srinu.

From significant contributions to the Eye Foundation of America to mentoring the next generation of pharmacists, his philanthropic endeavors showcase his commitment to creating positive societal change. He is on the board of numerous nonprofits and civic organizations. Srinu is using his personal capital to make an impact for a more just society.

As a sought-after speaker, he has shared his insights and experiences at renowned institutions and organizations throughout the U.S. Srinu was recognized for Workshop Strategy’s collaboration with Temple University to empower the next generation of healthcare leaders. He was honored in the ACLU-NJ 2018 Annual Report for significant contributions to healthcare advocacy and civil liberties.

His future vision is to aspire to serve on the board of a leading healthcare organization or assume a strategic leadership role to drive transformative change in the industry and continue driving advancements in the pharmacy and healthcare sectors through thought leadership, strategic consulting, and mentorship of future leaders.