Rolf Benirschke

Rolf Benirschke is a former NFL Man of the Year and All-Pro placekicker who played 10 seasons for the San Diego Chargers. After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and undergoing ileostomy surgery, he became the first professional athlete to play with an ostomy appliance. Rolf has championed the ostomy community for over 40 years and founded Embracing Ostomy Life, a non-profit organization offering support to those undergoing ostomy surgery. He also founded Legacy Health Strategies, a patient engagement company that brings the patient’s voice into clinical trials and commercialization strategies for new medical therapies. Rolf played a key role in founding Prometheus Biosciences, later acquired by Merck for $10.8 billion, to develop treatments for Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. He serves on several health-related boards, is a respected speaker and patient advocate, and is married with four children, three of whom have special needs. He is also the author of four books, including his autobiography, Alive & Kicking.