In a Q&A with Startups Magazine, Nadine discussed Proximie, how emerging technologies will revolutionise the medical industry, and what’s next for the company.

What is Proximie and what is your mission?

Nadine discussed the origin story of Proximie: “Growing up in post-war Lebanon, I saw first-hand the importance of surgical care but also, the impact a lack of surgical availability has on patients. Throughout my career, I spent years working on global health initiatives to help build sustainable health models, providing surgical expertise in areas where it was lacking.

“Over time, I realised I could have a greater impact by building a technological solution, rather than being constrained by my in-person availability. There are only so many hours in a day!

“This spurred me to create Proximie and build a network of operating rooms interconnected by the world's best surgeons, empowered by real-time diagnostics, data, and analysis.

“By drawing on my desire to improve global access to safe surgical care, and my experience as a practicing NHS surgeon – I created Proximie to address some of the most pressing issues in healthcare and realise the potential of integrating technologies within ORs. Over five billion people – nearly two-thirds of the global population – lack access to safe surgery.”

What were some of the significant challenges you faced when transitioning from practising surgeon to tech entrepreneur?

With two high-intensity careers on the go, there has been challenges in Nadine’s founding journey.

“A major challenge is one likely familiar to many entrepreneurs and surgeons – how to balance my commitments and make the most effective use of time.

“I knew founding Proximie, with the ambition to scale the Company quickly and make a global impact, would require significant commitment – amplified by my desire to continue my surgical career.

“Maintaining my surgical career is vital to growing Proximie. It enables me to see first-hand how surgical practices are developing, and how the platform can support various healthcare stakeholders: surgeons, healthcare systems, medical device developers, and patients.”

What have been the highlights of the Proximie journey?

With challenges presenting themselves, there’s always highlights that make the challenges worth it.

“Proximie has scaled quickly since its founding in 2016, and the company is now consistently having a global impact on healthcare.

“Proximie’s partnerships with medical device developers are hugely exciting. Underpinned by Proximie’s Software Development Kit (SDK), we enable medical device manufacturers to obtain data on activity and outcomes from the OR; to understand exactly how devices are used in surgery.

“This breakthrough is critical given OR data is effectively siloed. Fragmented data means obtaining clear, actionable insights is extremely difficult. Proximie helps device manufacturers overcome this challenge, helping them see where opportunities exist for medical devices to improve patient outcomes and productivity.

“Other highlights include the impact Proximie is having on improving global health equity.

“Proximie’s platform capabilities allow surgeons to share expertise globally – either in real-time or via recordings of surgeries. We have one of the largest databases of recorded surgeries in the world – over 80,000 videos – a lot of expertise to share!

“Additionally, Proximie’s Global Health Initiative is having a tangible impact in widening global access to surgery. By partnering with local governments, NGOs, private hospitals, and other stakeholders in countries experiencing significant shortfalls in surgical supply, Proximie enables local surgeons to receive guidance about surgical best practices.

“Proximie is integrated into Saving Mothers’ (a nonprofit) clinical pathways to enhance surgical training and mentorship in gynaecologic laparoscopy; and recently donated refurbished hardware to improve maternal healthcare in Makueni and Mombasa – in Kenya.”

As a leader and innovator, what are the most valuable lessons you have learned throughout your journey with Proximie?

With the highlights and challenges of being a tech entrepreneur also come the lessons that are learned along the way. Nadine explained: “Time management and the importance of building a supportive team is incredibly important.

“I always knew I wanted to maintain my surgical career while scaling Proximie. To do this effectively, the team surrounding me needed to buy-in to my vision of Proximie and provide complementary skillsets.

“I’m very fortunate we have built such a team over time: both internally and with investors as Proximie has scaled.”

What emerging technologies will further revolutionise surgical practices and healthcare delivery in the next decade?

Working in both spaces, Nadine shared her thoughts: “Undoubtedly, the widespread use of AI will have a very significant impact on global healthcare. Its potential use cases are hugely exciting.

“Already, AI is critical in extracting the true value from data flows: audio-video capture, visual feeds from the cameras on keyhole surgical robots, the sensors and monitors, scans and medical images, electronic medical records, telemetry, and the system data from devices.

“Its ability to work with large data sets to produce meaningful outcomes in a very short space of time enables machine and deep learning algorithms to recognise patterns, spot anomalies, extrapolate potential negative healthcare outcomes, and advise action before issues occur.

“These capabilities are being used to minimise errors, optimise efficiency, and revolutionise patient care and global healthcare accessibility, by automating necessary, time-consuming, and tedious administrative processes, improving productivity and leading to more consistent, high-quality documentation.

“The transition of patient care between physicians therefore becomes quicker, less error prone and better for healthcare teams and patients.

“Long-term, AI will provide such a high-level of insight it will allow clinicians and surgeons to personalise patient healthcare, ensuring high levels of medical care and improving patient outcomes.”

How do you see the role of digital technologies evolving in healthcare, particularly in surgical practices?

“Digital connectivity within healthcare needs to improve – and I am confident Proximie will have a major impact in meeting this need.

“Over time, improved digital connectivity will spur a revolution in how we conduct surgeries; helping the development of robotics and other advanced medical technology innovations.

“The surgeon’s role will still be critical for the foreseeable future, but, digital connectivity is creating foundations for a paradigm shift across healthcare. Again, AI is going to be so invaluable in improving surgical practices; improving productivity, patient outcomes, and innovation. It will allow healthcare systems to monitor and evaluate the full patient care journey: from ambulance to surgery, improving care continuity and patient outcomes.

“It is a hugely exciting time to be in healthcare.”

What’s next for Proximie, and what goals do you have for the upcoming year?

“Over the next year we’re focused on deepening our partnerships with medical device developers and healthcare systems – making a greater global impact to improve health equity.

“We’re focused on maintaining the momentum achieved to date, providing value to stakeholders across developed and developing markets, while remaining cognisant of the unique challenges and opportunities in both.”