About the Author: Jonathan Govette

CEO/Co-Founder @ Oatmeal Health | AI Lung Cancer Screening | Almost Became a Doctor | Engineer | Follow to Share What I’ve Learned Along the Way

I help patients get the care they need earlier, preventing late-stage cancer.

That's been the throughline across three companies and almost 20 years in healthcare. At ReferralMD, we fixed broken referral networks so patients didn't fall through the cracks. At Oatmeal Health, it's lung cancer: building the diagnostic and screening infrastructure so the 85% of cases caught too late get caught early instead. Today as CEO of Oatmeal Health, I lead a team embedding AI into radiology workflows to turn routine lung CT scans into reimbursable cancer risk assessments. We partner with FQHCs to reach underserved communities, and with health systems and payers to make early detection economically sustainable. Think HeartFlow or Cleerly, but for lungs. Between companies, I advised at Techstars and Plug and Play, mentoring founders building in digital health. That experience shaped how I think about what separates companies that ship from companies that stall: distribution, reimbursement, and clinical trust, not just technology. I'm a CancerX alumnus, a 3x healthcare founder, and someone who believes the biggest problems in cancer aren't scientific. They're operational. We're hiring mission-driven builders at Oatmeal Health. If you want to work on something that matters, reach out. When I'm not working, I'm traveling, mentoring, and keeping up with one very energetic husky. 🐾 Substack - The Oatmeal Bite: Millions of patients get less care because of who they are, where they live, or how they look. I'm fighting to change that. CEO @OatmealHealth, a startup built for the underserved. The Oatmeal Bite: intel for clinicians, investors, and advocates. Jonathan Govette CEO of Oatmeal Health Substack: https://oatmealhealthjonathangovette.substack.com/

FQHC Funding Cliff September 2025

By |December 13th, 2025|

30 million Americans could lose their doctors in 8 months. That's not hyperbole. The Community Health Center Fund expired September 30, 2025, and Congress hasn't acted other then a basic extension until January 30th, 2026. This fund provides 70% of federal funding for FQHCs. Without it, community health centers face an existential crisis. Here's what's at stake: 📊 The numbers tell a devastating story: • 1,400+ FQHCs serving vulnerable communities • 34 million patients annually, 91% below 200% poverty line • $5.8 billion in annual funding disappearing overnight • 51,000 healthcare workers potentially losing jobs But the real tragedy? Congress knows this deadline. They've known for years. Yet here we are, 8 months away, with no long-term solution. Just political ...

AI-Powered MRI Revolution

By |December 11th, 2025|

Not slowed them down. Cut them by two-thirds. Philips' SmartSpeed Precise MR technology just received FDA clearance, and it's a game-changer for patients and overwhelmed radiology departments. As someone who's spent years in healthcare optimization, I can tell you this is revolutionary. Here's why this dual-AI breakthrough matters right now: 🔍 The tech combines two AI systems - one that accelerates image acquisition and another that enhances image quality 🏥 Early adopters are completing brain scans in under 10 seconds (not minutes) ⏱️ Radiology departments can see up to 2 additional patients per day with multi-parametric whole-body exams 👨‍⚕️ One-click operation makes it accessible to all technologists, not just AI specialists The timing couldn't be more critical. With radiology departments ...

AI-Powered Liquid Biopsy Revolution

By |December 10th, 2025|

A game-changing breakthrough for cancer detection just emerged from the Korea Institute of Materials Science. 🔬 Their AI-powered optical biosensor can detect cancer from a single drop of blood in under 20 minutes with 99% accuracy. Here's why healthcare leaders should pay attention: • It's 1,000x more sensitive than previous biosensors, detecting methylated cancer DNA at concentrations as low as 25 fg/mL • Requires only 100 μL of blood (essentially a drop) and delivers results faster than your morning coffee break • Can distinguish between cancer stages (I-IV), crucial for early intervention • Uses plasmonic materials to amplify DNA signals by over 100 million times For imaging centers and hospital executives, this represents both opportunity and disruption. The technology bypasses ...

AI Revolution in Breast Cancer Screening

By |December 8th, 2025|

The largest AI breast cancer screening trial in U.S. history just launched, and the early data is mind-blowing. 🔍 The $16 million PRISM Trial (Pragmatic Randomized Trial of AI for Screening Mammography) is evaluating how AI transforms breast cancer detection across hundreds of thousands of mammograms. Here's why every healthcare leader should be paying attention: • Real-world data shows the Transpara AI system detects 29% more breast cancers compared to standard screening • Radiologist workload is reduced by 44% without increasing recall rates • Sensitivity improved from 81.7% to 87.2% in clinical studies • The system flags 76% of mammograms initially read as normal but later linked to interval cancers • Low-risk exams show a 99.97% negative predictive value, reliably ...

Medicare Coverage for Alzheimer’s Blood Tests

By |December 7th, 2025|

The days of expensive PET scans and invasive spinal taps for Alzheimer's diagnosis are now behind us. In a groundbreaking policy shift, CMS has finalized a $130 reimbursement rate for the newly FDA-approved blood tests that detect Alzheimer's biomarkers. Why this matters to every healthcare provider: • These blood tests cost 80-90% less than traditional diagnostics • They deliver results with 97.9% negative predictive value • They're FDA-approved for adults 55+ showing cognitive symptoms • Primary care physicians can now rule out Alzheimer's without specialist referrals But the real impact goes beyond diagnostics. This decision directly connects to the new wave of disease-modifying Alzheimer's treatments. Earlier diagnosis means earlier treatment, potentially slowing cognitive decline by 30-60% in eligible patients. For ...

AI Pancreatic Cancer Detection Breakthrough

By |December 6th, 2025|

Pancreatic cancer has always been a silent killer, often detected too late for effective treatment. But a breakthrough AI system might change everything about how we fight this disease. Microsoft and collaborating researchers have developed a deep learning model that can detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma up to THREE YEARS before clinical diagnosis using standard non-contrast abdominal CT scans. 🔍 Why this matters: • Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers with a 5-year survival rate of just 12% • Early detection is extremely challenging with current methods • Most patients are diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment options are limited 🧠 The technical breakthrough: The AI model achieved an AUROC (a measure of accuracy) above 0.92 in preprint studies, ...

Agentic AI Revolutionizes Radiology Workflow

By |December 5th, 2025|

The radiologist shortage just got a powerful new ally. GE HealthCare unveiled their agentic AI diagnostic imaging assistant this month, and it's unlike anything we've seen before. What makes it revolutionary? 🔍 Unlike traditional AI tools that only analyze images, this assistant coordinates and automates multi-step diagnostic workflows. It's essentially an AI conductor orchestrating a symphony of specialized AI agents. How it works: • Radiologists interact with it using natural voice commands • The system coordinates specialized AI agents to complete tasks • It can identify incidental findings and recommend appropriate follow-up imaging • Interactive reporting streamlines documentation The timing couldn't be better. With radiologist shortages reaching critical levels and imaging volumes increasing 15% year-over-year, automation that maintains quality is ...

AI-Powered Rapid Diagnostics Revolution

By |December 5th, 2025|

The rumors are true: We've officially entered the AI diagnostic revolution in healthcare. The FDA has now approved over 1,250 AI-enabled medical devices, with 750+ in radiology alone. But it's not just about quantity - the quality and capability advancements are mind-blowing. 🔍 Philips' new SmartSpeed Precise technology is a game-changer, delivering: • Brain scans in under 10 SECONDS (vs. traditional 30+ minutes) • Up to 3X faster overall scan times • 80% sharper images with enhanced detail This isn't incremental improvement - it's transformative. For patients: Less time in the claustrophobic tube, fewer motion artifacts, and dramatically reduced waiting lists. One hospital system reported cutting their MRI backlog by 61% in just three months. For radiologists: Higher throughput without ...

AI-Powered MRI Breakthrough

By |December 4th, 2025|

I've just analyzed Philips' new SmartSpeed Precise dual-AI MRI technology, and it's a game-changer for radiology departments struggling with efficiency and staffing challenges. Here's why this matters right now: The average imaging center faces a 15% radiologist shortage while demand for complex MRI studies continues to climb. Patient backlogs are stretching into weeks at many facilities. Philips' breakthrough directly addresses these pain points with impressive results: • Scan times cut by up to 66% (that's 3x faster) • Image sharpness improved by 80% • Complete multi-parametric whole-body exams in under 60 minutes • Capacity for 2+ additional patients daily per scanner What makes this technology unique is the dual-AI approach - one AI engine accelerates acquisition while another simultaneously enhances ...