Mercadante grew up in the healthcare world. His father, a pharmacist, built a national apothecary pharmacy chain. “I knew I wanted a meaningful career rooted in entrepreneurship and impact, but I wasn’t sure whether that would be in healthcare or something else,” he said. Taking courses across liberal arts disciplines at Fairfield fueled his curiosity and encouraged him to explore his interests beyond a defined professional track.
“Rather than narrowing my focus, Fairfield nurtured my curiosity and sense of purpose,” he noted. “Ignatian principles — like questioning assumptions, seeking the greater good, and applying what I learn to real-world challenges — directly influenced the path I am on today.”
In 2019, Me rcadante launched PursueCare, a telemedicine platform focused on virtual addiction treatment. With a goal of improving patient care through better healthcare accessibility, the company combines medical care with software solutions to offer virtual, personalized treatment.
It wasn’t long before the entrepreneur’s work caught the attention of the School of Engineering and Computing (SEC) and sparked an ongoing collaboration. “They saw where I was heading with telemedicine and reached out,” Mercadante said.
Mercadante mentors engineering students, sponsors senior design projects, and serves on the engineering school’s advisory board. As a lead sponsor of StagHack, he challenges students to solve real-world healthcare problems. One recent student project — a provider scheduling tool — originated at StagHack and was passed along to his PursueCare team for potential implementation.
He also actively recruits Fairfield students for internships and full-time roles. Recently, alumnus Tim Gould MS’23, a data science graduate, transitioned from intern to PursueCare team member. “Many engineering programs put blinders on students but Fairfield’s liberal arts foundation encourages broader thinking,” Mercadante said. “That perspective is invaluable in industries like healthcare, where technical skills must be applied within complex, real-world contexts.”
As a School of Engineering and Computing Advisory Board member, Mercadante is helping to shape the school’s future, championing fields like AI and data security and preparing students for an evolving tech landscape. One of the most exciting developments, he said, is SEC’s planned expansion and refined curriculum. “Fairfield isn’t just preparing students for where technology is now — it’s preparing them for where it’s going.”
For Mercadante, mentorship isn’t just about giving back — it’s about shaping the future of engineers. “It’s easy to follow the traditional engineering school path… where you’re cushioned from broader challenges and focus solely on your assigned work,” he said. “But stepping into a field like healthcare, where you’re tackling complex issues like population health, requires a different mindset. It demands a missiondriven approach. I believe Fairfield uniquely prepares students for that kind of work.”
