MRI Online, an ed-tech startup launched in 2020 that offers virtual training for radiologists, has rebranded to Medality. The name change, announced this week, comes amid triple-digit growth and a more comprehensive scope.
CEO and co-founder Daniel Arnold (formerly of Google) and Dr. Stephen Pomeranz (CEO of Columbia Township-based ProScan Imaging) started the company to help radiologists improve their skills online — offering a single MRI course.
The company, a 2022 Cincy Inno “Startup to Watch,” has since grown its user base by more than 400% in less than three years, offering more than 100 case-based video courses from radiology educators, and one of the largest volumes of cases across all key imaging modalities and subspecialties.
Arnold said the name change is long overdue. Medality, a combination of “medicine” and “modality,” also enables the company to grow and expand beyond radiology to cover additional medical specialties.
Arnold told me that will be coming in 2023.
“Our mission is to transform the way radiologists learn and thrive,” Arnold said in a release. “Since we originally launched with MSK MRI (for musculoskeletal injuries), our platform has broadened to help radiologists upskill across all modalities and subspecialties, including high-growth advanced imaging areas such as PET, CT, ultrasound, breast tomosynthesis and more.”
Medality, in the release, also announced the launch of its “practice development platform” to help both radiologists and practice leaders. The platform will cater to radiology groups looking to grow their practice, meet increased imaging demands or invest in their team's skills without significant burden to their workload, given its online offerings.
The roll out comes amid a shortage of radiologists, Arnold said, an issue exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Practice leaders and imaging departments are looking for ways to “alleviate overworked, burned out radiologists that are increasingly practicing outside of their subspecialty training.”
More than 98% of radiologists in the U.S. are fellowship trained, yet the majority, 55%, practice in three or more subspecialties, while 85% practice in two or more subspecialties.
Throughout the process, Medality gathers performance data as the learners progress through trainings. With this data, leaders and readers can assess whether they are showcasing improvement in accuracy, confidence and efficiency before being placed into a new subspecialty.
Arnold said the Medality team has grown to around 30 employees. The company shares half of the PFF (formerly known as Pro Football Focus) building on Central Parkway in Over-the-Rhine.
