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What if surgeons could see cancer cells in real-time during surgery?
Yesterday, Intermountain Health made this a reality.
They just deployed AI-powered OCT imaging across their 34 hospitals that lets surgeons visualize surgical margins during breast cancer operations. Think of it as giving surgeons microscopic vision while they operate.
Here’s why this matters:
→ Up to 40% of breast cancer patients need repeat surgeries because surgeons can’t see microscopic cancer cells at tissue edges
→ Each reoperation costs $16,000 and delays radiation therapy by weeks
→ 300,000 women undergo breast-conserving surgery annually in the U.S.
The technology uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) with AI algorithms that highlight suspicious regions in real-time. Surgeons can immediately check if they got all the cancer, right there in the OR.
This isn’t just another AI pilot program. Intermountain is rolling this out systemwide after a pivotal trial showed it could reduce reoperations. The FDA is currently reviewing the AI component for full approval.
What strikes me most: We’ve had the imaging capability for years. But adding AI that can interpret these images in real-time, helping surgeons make split-second decisions, that’s the game changer.
This is exactly the type of AI implementation healthcare needs. Not replacing surgeons, but giving them superhuman abilities when patients need it most.
The question now: If AI can help surgeons see cancer margins in real-time, what other invisible problems in healthcare could become visible with the right technology?
♻️ Repost if cancer patients deserve one surgery, not two
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Author:
Jonathan Govette is a seasoned healthcare and technology executive with more than two decades of experience building, scaling, and advising digital health companies. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Oatmeal Health, an AI-driven Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnostics company focused on expanding access to early detection for underrepresented populations, particularly patients served by Federally Qualified Health Centers and value-based health plans.
With a background in engineering, product development, and strategic partnerships, Jonathan has founded and led multiple health technology ventures across clinical care delivery, regulated medical software, and AI-enabled diagnostics. His work sits at the intersection of medicine, technology, and health equity, with a consistent focus on translating complex clinical problems into scalable, real-world solutions.
Jonathan has spent much of his professional life dedicated to improving outcomes for marginalized and underserved communities. He has designed and implemented frameworks that align clinical quality, reimbursement, and technology to sustainably advance health equity at scale. This mission is deeply personal and informs his leadership philosophy and long-term vision for healthcare transformation.
In addition to his operating experience, Jonathan is an author and long-time writer in the healthcare domain, with over 20 years of published work covering digital health, medical innovation, and healthcare systems. He is a frequent mentor to early-stage founders and regularly advises startups on product strategy, partnerships, and go-to-market execution in regulated healthcare environments.
Before entering industry full-time, Jonathan nearly pursued a career in medicine with an early path toward cardiothoracic surgery, an experience that continues to shape his clinical perspective and respect for frontline care delivery.
CEO | Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Startup | Engineer | Writer | Almost Became a Doctor (Cardiac Thoracic Surgeon) | 3x Health Tech Founder | Startup Mentor | Follow to share what I’ve learned along the way.
