By combining tech, empathy, and clinical expertise, Haven is transforming how people with migraine find relief.
Izac Ross remembers the moment he realized something had to change, not just for himself, but for millions. Another migraine attack in 2016 had slammed into his day, sending him to the ER after not being able to eat or drink for 8 hours. From that point onward he had a migraine attack every day for 2 years. A specialist was 12 months away. Another “you just have to manage it” left him unheard. But this time, instead of enduring it alone, he decided to redesign the entire experience.
That decision became Haven Headache & Migraine Center, a fast-growing, virtual-first specialty clinic that is revolutionizing how patients across California receive care for one of the world’s most disabling yet misunderstood conditions: migraine.
“I’ve lived with this condition since I was two years old,” says Izac, now CEO and Founder of Haven. “The system wasn’t built for us. So we’re building a new one.”
The Future of Migraine Care Isn’t Just Virtual. It’s Human.
At first glance, Haven looks like a modern telehealth platform. Patients can schedule appointments, access clinical specialists, and track symptoms, all online. But the real innovation is what happens in between.
Where traditional clinics might check in once every few months, Haven uses Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) to connect with patients every single day. The system tracks real-time data, symptoms, triggers, medications, and adapts treatment plans quickly.
This means that when life changes, care changes too.
“It’s not just about seeing a clinician faster,” Izac explains. “It’s about having someone stay with you through the hard days, the small wins, and the constant fluctuations that come with chronic migraine.”
Dr. Nada Hindiyeh, MD, FAHS, Haven’s Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder, brings deep clinical authority to the table. As the former director of the Stanford HeadacheClinical Research program and a nationally recognized expert in headache and migraine, she ensures every aspect of Haven’s model is evidence-based and patient-centered.
“We’re not just moving faster,” says Dr. Hindiyeh, “we’re moving smarter. We’re bringing together science, technology, and compassion in a way that actually works for real people. This is what I wish we had at Stanford, we had the clinical down but not the patient experience!”
Why Traditional Care Falls Short, and Why Haven Doesn’t
The statistics tell a clear story: in cities like San Francisco, patients regularly wait six to twelve months for an appointment with a headache specialist. During that time, conditions worsen, ER visits spike, and quality of life deteriorates. Most care systems are not designed for the daily realities of migraine. They treat episodes, not people.
Haven was created to fill that gap.
In contrast, Haven offers:
- Appointments within two to four weeks
- Daily clinical monitoring
- Specialists who focus solely on headache medicine
- Botox and procedure access via local partners and pop-ups
- In-network coverage with PPOs, EPOs, TRICARE, and Medicare
- Outcomes that matter: Patients report a ~70% reduction in disability within the first year
And perhaps most importantly, patients at Haven feel seen.
“Migraine is invisible, but it affects every part of your life,” Izac says. “Most people and even clinicians don’t understand it. We do.”
A New Language for Living With Migraine
Most healthcare brands speak clinically. Haven speaks with empathy. Their brand language and patient experience are designed to bring ease, clarity, and validation to a population that is too often met with skepticism or silence.
Instead of clinical jargon, Haven centers on phrases like:
- “The Burden should not be on you.”
- “We don’t shame the pain.”
- “Ease is the strategy.”
These aren’t just marketing lines. They’re woven into everything, how patients are welcomed, how support is offered, and how care is delivered.
“We wanted to create a space where patients don’t have to prove their pain,” says Dr. Hindiyeh. “They just need to show up, and we take it from there.”
The Botox Pop-Up: Creative Access in Action
One of Haven’s boldest innovations is its Botox pop-up model, localized events where patients can receive in-person procedures, including nerve blocks and injections, without navigating fragmented systems or long delays.
This hybrid approach, virtual-first, in-person when needed, eliminates the need for endless referrals and disconnected clinicians. In Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Orange County, where Haven is rapidly expanding, this flexibility is unlocking faster, more effective care than many patients have ever experienced.
“Virtual care should never mean less care,” Dr. Hindiyeh emphasizes. “It should mean smarter, more coordinated support.”
Designing the Care You’d Want for Yourself
Haven isn’t a story of innovation for innovation’s sake. It’s personal. Izac’s background spans health-tech giants like Alto Pharmacy, Hinge Health, and Collective Health. He’s spent years designing better healthcare systems, but with Haven, he’s finally building the system he wishes existed for himself.
Dr. Hindiyeh brings the counterpart: deep clinical excellence, a national voice in headache care, and a commitment to shaping the future of neurology through inclusion, research, and better outcomes.
Together, their leadership is rare, and resonating.
“Nada understands science and patient care better than anyone. I understand the lived experience and how to design the future,” says Ross. “Haven exists because we combine those two perspectives in every decision.”
From Unseen to Understood
In 2025, Haven’s growth speaks to a larger shift. People are no longer settling for delayed appointments, outdated care models, or disjointed communication. They want more. More speed. More empathy. More outcomes. More clarity.
And Haven is delivering.
Patients aren’t just reducing their migraine attacks. They’re returning to work. Reclaiming relationships. Rediscovering the ability to plan, to hope, to live.
As Dr. Hindiyeh puts it, “Migraine care should give people their lives back. That’s what we’re here to do.”
Start Feeling Better, Faster
If you’ve been living with migraine or chronic headache and struggling to get real support, Haven Headache & Migraine Center offers a new path forward.
Visit www.havenheadache.com to learn more or book your first appointment.
Follow @havenheadache on all platforms for updates, tips, and patient stories.
Connect with Founder @gaywithaheadache and CMO @nadahindiyehmd to hear the story behind the mission.
