Thomas Cherry
In an interview with Business Management Review, he shared insights on leadership in medtech, the growing role of AI in healthcare and the importance of collaboration in improving patient outcomes.
Leadership Shaped By Patient Impact
My journey began in product development and management within the medical device industry, where I witnessed how the devices we created improved patient outcomes and patients’ lives worldwide. That experience shaped my leadership philosophy and approach to innovation.
In medtech, innovation begins by staying close to clinicians who understand challenges and unmet needs in minimally invasive patient care. Our company was built on deep physician relationships more than 63 years ago, and that foundation continues to guide us today by listening closely to customers, strengthening physician partnerships and seeking better ways to treat patients through minimally invasive solutions.
Transforming Care Through Ai And Robotics
I believe there is a tremendous opportunity for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help improve efficiency across healthcare delivery. Many healthcare systems still struggle with disconnected data, limited information sharing and fragmented processes. Inefficient tasks and administrative burdens often consume time that physicians, nurses and healthcare providers could otherwise spend on direct patient care.
AI can transform healthcare delivery by improving efficiency, diagnostic accuracy and procedural precision while reducing nonclinical workload for providers.
Another major area transforming healthcare is robotics. Over the past two decades, robotics has become increasingly procedure-specific across multiple specialties. AI is now being integrated with robotics that can help make future procedures more democratized than ever before. As a result, some complex procedures may no longer require the same level of specialized expertise that was once necessary.
Regulators globally are working to keep pace with the accelerating pace of technological advancement while continuing to ensure products remain safe, effective and clinically reliable.
Balancing Growth, Regulation and Patient Care
In a global medtech environment, growth is becoming increasingly complex as companies navigate evolving and unpredictable regulations across different markets. Over the past five to six years, for example, changes introduced through the European Union Medical Device Regulation (EUMDR) have significantly increased both the scrutiny and cost associated with maintaining long-standing products.
Our philosophy has always been to prioritize patients, even when it impacts short-term financial outcomes.
As a result, organizations are being forced to carefully balance growth with rigorous compliance requirements. These pressures have also reinforced the need for strong cross-functional collaboration to navigate these challenges, drive innovation and maintain compliance.
Amid this complexity, patient-centered innovation must remain the guiding priority. Our philosophy has always been to prioritize patients, even when doing so may impact short-term financial outcomes.
Disciplined Collaboration Driving Innovation
All medtech projects come with challenges because these products directly impact patient lives. Every stage of innovation undergoes intense scrutiny, testing and quality evaluation to ensure safety and effectiveness.
The most successful projects are those where cross-functional teams work together to solve problems early. Whether the challenge involves testing failures, material issues, regulatory hurdles or product-market fit, teams must continuously evaluate risks and address roadblocks throughout development.
In medtech, long-term success comes from aligned teams that communicate openly and solve issues early in the innovation cycle.
Advice for Emerging Medtech Leaders
My advice to emerging leaders in medtech and business management is to stay curious and keep asking questions. Innovation comes from understanding challenges, exploring how things can improve and remaining open to new ways of thinking.
This industry evolves rapidly, making lifelong learning essential. Technologies like AI are already reshaping healthcare, and leaders who embrace change and continue learning will adapt more effectively as the industry evolves.
