POSTED BY
Liz Moyles
This was quite a bit of a rollercoaster interview for me as it brought back so many memories. Many of you may remember that last year during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I shared details of my own journey and diagnosis of breast cancer. I am well now. My own journey involved chemotherapy, a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. I too had to have a localisation wire implanted on the day of surgery. This was a painful procedure and something which MOLLI Surgical’s technology would have avoided.
MOLLI Surgical started with one patient’s voice — a patient who asked if there was a way to make her breast cancer journey better. Her voice led to the creation of the company’s flagship wire and radiation-free technologies — MOLLI 2® and MOLLI re.markable™. These products replace the more common outdated procedures used to mark lesions for surgical removal.
I posted this week about MOLLI Surgical’s award and trophy cabinet being absolutely crammed. They have recently won even more awards and are up yet again for other recognitions. MOLLI® was recognized by TIME as one of 2022’s “Best Inventions” in the Medical Care category and named in Fast Company’s list of the “Next Big Things in Tech,” recognizing technology breakthroughs across industries that promise to transform the future.
I love this space and I have special affinities for certain sectors — one naturally being women’s health and cancer management. It was a pleasure, to speak to Ananth Ravi, President and CEO of MOLLI Surgical. Here’s what he had to say…
- Hi Ananth, I love asking about how others in this industry ended up where they are today. What led you to choose a path in medical devices? where did your passion for medical devices / medical technology come from?
Growing up in Zambia, I experienced the loss of a family member followed by a close friend at a young age. Those experiences taught me that healthcare was inequitable and influenced by socioeconomic status, and it stuck with me.
During my education and early career, I realized that the research I was conducting was focused on improving disease control and finding a cure. But a cure is not enough. Sometimes, there are long-term consequences to a cure that a patient needs to live with, so one of the goals of medical technology is to develop advances that reduces unintended harm and long-term challenges for the patient. Cosmetic outcomes and discomfort are not trivial for the patient or the physician.
To me, the experience of care is just as important as the medical therapy being provided. After winning an award for my work on MRI-guided and interstitial brachytherapy six years ago, I shifted my focus more fully to creating technologies that help improve the patient experience.
- Time and again, I hear from so many people in our industry how their lives and career choices were significantly influenced by a family / friend’s health and / or socioeconomic health disparities they witnessed. It is great to feel that so many of us are here because of our values / because we are purpose driven. So, that changed your life significantly. How did you land your first role after academia, and was it everything you had hoped it would be?
One of my first roles was with Sunnybrook Hospital at the Odette Cancer Centre in the medical physics department. It was a wonderful experience that I will always cherish. I worked with extremely talented and passionate people who inspired me and left a lasting impact.
- So that’s how you ended up at MOLLI Surgical eventually. Why are you so passionate about MOLLI Surgical and your technology? What difference is this making to the patient and surgical / physician team?
We are making a difference in healthcare that benefits patients, physicians and care teams. Many hospitals use wire-guided localization, a technique introduced in the 1970s. It involves inserting protruding wires near the abnormal or cancerous tissue and creates severe discomfort for the patient. The procedure also creates scheduling issues because of the need to coordinate wire placement and localization on the same day.
With MOLLI Surgical’s wire-free technology, the localization procedure takes about five minutes and can happen days or weeks before surgery. Patients benefit from MOLLI because they no longer have to deal with the discomfort of wires. By decoupling localization from surgery, care teams can improve their workflows to create a better, more patient-centred experience in addition to a more efficient experience for clinicians.
- Ananth, as you know, I suffered breast cancer in 2021 and had a wire inserted just before the operation. I can tell you it was bad. Second only to the biopsy which was excruciating because the tumour kept moving but I remember the clinician apologising profusely to me for the pain she knew she was inflicting whilst putting the wire in. I would have welcomed the opportunity to have had access to MOLLI’s technology.
So, what are you working towards next – what are your priorities?
We’re going to keep pushing boundaries and striving for excellence. We are committed to improving the lives of individuals by providing medical devices that empower care teams to deliver the highest standard of care.
- How have patients and surgeons responded to MOLLI’s solutions and what makes you most proud in this area?
We’ve really made an impact. The feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re extremely grateful to be able to make a difference in people’s lives.
I’m proud to play a factor in democratizing healthcare. As I mentioned earlier, I learned about the inequities of healthcare at an early age. I’m proud that patients from a wide range of socioeconomic classes are benefitting from MOLLI. The team and I get so much feedback and messages from patients and surgeons. It is really humbling and emotional but also so rewarding and satisfying. It keeps us focused on our journey.
- What opportunities do you see out there in the medical devices world to be more innovative in offering patients and surgeons / clinicians a more joined up approach?
That’s a great question. We are constantly striving to utilize technology to benefit patients, physicians and surgeons. Last year, we launched MOLLI re.markable, the only tool on the market allowing surgeons and radiologists to reposition a localization marker with minimal impact or discomfort to patients.
We also introduced MOLLI 2, which utilizes a unique feature, directional 3D guidance. It guides the surgeon to the lesion with millimeter precision and enhances surgical procedures, making them more efficient. I believe there are several pathways to new innovations that can benefit patients and surgeons and we are committed to launching them in the future.
- Has anyone one played a particularly key role in your career / work life- perhaps a mentor ….. what and how did / do they influence you?
There have been several and I am grateful to all of them.
- What advice would you give to someone who's looking to enter this space, whether that's a fresh grad straight out of university, or someone looking to transition their career?
Believe in yourself. You can do it! Creativity is the foundation of innovation. In my field, we are looking for creative, talented people. Whether you’re straight out of university or a professional looking to make a career transition, it’s imperative to reach out to people in this field and get to know them – and not just online – but also in person. A great way to do this is to attend conferences related to this sphere. Determination and persistence are crucial factors in achieving success.
- Finally, what song would get you jigging on the dance floor / what do you do in your spare time to relax and inspire / re-energise you?
As for dancing, I can’t say for certain. More than anything, I enjoy spending time with my family. They are my inspiration.
Thanks, Ananth for this insightful interview. I know MOLLI Surgical’s website also includes tonnes and tonnes of tools and resources to help individuals affected by cancer and their families. You have a strong online community and I have tapped into several of those resources.
You never mentioned that in the interview, but I thought it was worth sharing with people. You can access these tools, from anywhere in the world and they are FREE. It says a lot about you and the team that you have provided a holistic site. I know Diana Chan, your Chief Marketing Officer and Jennifer Tatum, your wonderful Customer Experience Manager and they are just like you and everyone I have met at MOLLI Surgical – passionate, energetic, positive, and insightful.
You have a great team around you, Ananth. Keep on pushing the boundaries and making a difference to so many people.
If you want to find out more about MOLLI Surgical please check out the website http://mollisurgical.com and if you are a company, CEO, or founder interested in forming a collaboration with MOLLI perhaps to break new frontiers and push technology further please contact Ananth directly!
PS- good luck with all the forthcoming awards!
Thanks for your time, Ananth – it’s an honour!
