Physician Uses Passion for Digital Health Care Solutions to Fuel New Griswold Franchise in San Mateo, California

Before purchasing his Griswold franchise, Hao Sun, MD understood how difficult it could be to find reliable senior care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his family struggled to find trustworthy and reliable Caregivers for his grandparents, and he soon learned personalized in-home care wasn’t as accessible as it should be. Given his passion for creating innovative solutions to health care challenges, bringing Griswold’s compassionate senior care to his community in San Mateo, California, felt like a natural next step.

Sun says he’s keenly aware of the task ahead, understanding that caregiving is a huge responsibility and that the demand for caregiving services will only grow as the population ages. What’s most pressing for Sun as he opens is ensuring he provides the assurance and relief his Clients need while strengthening the local Caregiver ecosystem with new, meaningful work.

Sun sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how his background in health care technology and his family’s experience finding care for his grandparents led him to Griswold. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Hao Sun: I graduated from medical school in 2014, about 12 years ago. Since then, I’ve spent more than a decade working in digital health. Rather than going into traditional clinical practice, I’ve focused on health care technology and innovation.

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Sun: I have worked on health care AI solutions in the past, and prior to becoming a Griswold franchisee, I founded a company focused on clinical trials, speeding up the patient recruitment and retention process by using AI solutions. I’ve always been driven by improving health care because that’s what I studied and what I’m passionate about. I really like the idea of being able to influence health care outcomes on a large scale by developing innovative AI solutions.

I decided franchising made sense because of what I've personally experienced. During COVID, my grandparents needed care that our family members couldn't provide. We had a lot of difficulty finding trustworthy and reliable Caregivers for them. That made me realize there is a huge need for this type of service. I realized this kind of personalized, localized care is more meaningful and even more impactful than what I was doing before.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Sun: I really like the fact that it's been in business for more than 40 years, so it has a lot of history. The fact that it was started by a physician also resonated with me. Looking at the company's track record, it has received a lot of recognition for its franchising.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Sun: I think the goal is definitely knowing that I'll be making a difference for the Clients I serve. It's a huge responsibility because we're providing assurance and relief for our Clients' families. I'll also be able to hire Caregivers, provide job opportunities, and make a meaningful impact in my local community.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Sun: I think everyone should recognize that as the population ages, there will be more demand for this type of service. If you've ever had someone in your family who needed care, you realize this is a huge burden for families.

ABOUT GRISWOLD:
With over 200 locations across 32 states, Griswold is one of the country’s top home care companies, providing and referring professional, compassionate Caregivers around the clock. Griswold’s “Live Assured” promise gives both Clients and their loved ones peace of mind, so they can live without the weight of worry. Griswold helps adults maintain quality of life despite advanced age, onset of illness or post-surgery recovery through services including companion care, home services, personal care and respite care. Founded by the late Jean Griswold in 1982, the company has maintained its founder’s profound sense of empathy for older and disabled adults and those living with chronic conditions. Griswold has been recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500® and named a 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 Best of Home Care® Endorsed National Provider. For more information, visit www.GriswoldCare.com or call 215.402.0200.