James Maitland is an expert in robotics and IoT applications in medicine, driven by a strong passion for leveraging technology to advance healthcare solutions. In this interview, James discusses his journey into healthcare, the challenges of fragmented health data, his experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and how these experiences influenced the creation of Jonda Health.
Can you tell us about your background and what led you to pursue a career in healthcare? How did growing up in South Africa influence your career choices? What inspired you to specialize in oncology during your time in the UK?
I started my career as a doctor, and growing up in South Africa, I saw firsthand the disparities in healthcare access and quality. This fueled my desire to pursue a career in healthcare. Specializing in oncology in the UK was inspired by a deep commitment to helping those in critical need and a recognition of the potential impact I could have in this field.
You mentioned that you faced challenges with fragmented health data both as a doctor and a patient. Can you elaborate on these challenges? How did fragmented health data affect your ability to provide care? What was your personal experience like when dealing with your own multiple autoimmune disorders?
Fragmented health data creates significant hurdles in delivering effective care. As a doctor, it was frustrating to miss critical patient information, leading to potential treatment delays and inefficiencies. Personally, managing multiple autoimmune disorders meant repeatedly explaining my medical history and piecing together health records from various providers, which was both exhausting and time-consuming.
How did your experience in the pharmaceutical industry shape your views on health data? What specific issues did you see regarding the accessibility and usability of health data? How did these issues impact patient outcomes in your opinion?
My time in the pharmaceutical industry highlighted the inaccessibility and unstructured nature of health data. Critical data often remained locked away or difficult to use, hampering the ability to optimize patient care. These issues undoubtedly impact patient outcomes, as missed information can result in less effective treatments and increased stress for patients.
Can you share how supporting your brother-in-law through his battle with cancer influenced your mission? What specific struggles did you face in managing his health records? Did this experience provide any particular insights or motivation for creating Jonda Health?
Supporting my brother-in-law through stage four pancreatic cancer revealed how disconnected health records can exacerbate an already stressful situation. We faced significant challenges managing his health records across different healthcare providers, which motivated me to create Jonda Health. The goal was to develop a solution that would alleviate such struggles for others by making health data more accessible and comprehensible.
You founded Jonda Health to address the issues with fragmented health data. What are the primary goals of your startup? What specific problems is Jonda Health aiming to solve? How does Jonda Health aim to improve the patient experience and outcomes?
Jonda Health’s primary goals are to make health data truly accessible and standardized. We aim to solve the problem of fragmented data that causes unnecessary delays and stress for patients and doctors. By harmonizing health data, we hope to improve patient experiences and outcomes, making it easier for individuals to manage their health information and for doctors to provide better care.
Tell us about the two products you and your team have developed: JondaX and the Jonda application. How does JondaX benefit healthcare providers in managing patient data? What features does the Jonda application offer to users for managing their health data?
JondaX is designed for healthcare providers, automating the extraction, structuring, and harmonizing of medical data, reducing errors and saving time. The Jonda application allows users to collect, store, and manage their health data from various providers, giving them a comprehensive and unified health record that is easy to access and use.
How do you envision harmonized health data contributing to medical research and individual empowerment? What impact do you hope to achieve with more accessible and standard health data? How might this data support doctors in providing better care?
Harmonized health data can significantly accelerate medical research by providing researchers with comprehensive and standardized data sets. For individuals, having control over their health data means they can make more informed decisions about their care. For doctors, accessible and standardized data supports better insights and more effective treatments.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from being a healthcare provider to a startup founder? How did you adapt to the new mindset required for entrepreneurship? What were some specific obstacles you encountered that were different from your medical career?
Transitioning from a healthcare provider to a startup founder was challenging due to the need to embrace uncertainty and navigate uncharted territory. Adapting required shifting from a structured, protocol-driven mindset to one that welcomed risk-taking and innovation. Unlike my medical career, I faced obstacles such as building a business, securing funding, and learning about technology development.
As a female and non-technical founder, what unique challenges did you encounter in the startup world? Did you ever feel the need to prove yourself more compared to others? How did you overcome any feelings of self-doubt or imposter syndrome?
Being a female and non-technical founder often meant walking into rooms where I was the only woman and feeling the need to prove myself. Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome involved internalizing the value of my unique perspective and strengths, such as resilience and the ability to connect disparate ideas, and recognizing that these qualities were indeed assets.
Over time, you mentioned that your perspective became one of your greatest strengths. Can you expand on that?
My unique perspective, shaped by my diverse experiences in medicine and personal health challenges, has become a strength. It allows me to see connections and solutions where others might not. This perspective is invaluable in creating innovative health tech solutions that address real-world problems effectively.
