Whitecoat Technologies is embarking on an exciting new chapter with the appointment of Josh Long as its first Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Josh brings diverse experience from various industries, including medical devices and manufacturing. He is ready to lay the groundwork for the company's next stage of growth and innovation.
Defining the CTO Role
Josh's role as CTO is central to Whitecoat's mission of creating user-friendly, scalable solutions in clinical education. He is leading the development of Whitecoat's software platform, implementing internal technologies, ensuring compliance and security and building a team capable of scaling the business.
Reflecting on early impressions of Whitecoat, Josh emphasized the company's growth potential and its focus on developing a product that is not only functional but also enjoyable for users.
He aims to create a technological foundation that can seamlessly adapt to rapid scaling demands—a lesson he learned firsthand at SmileDirectClub, where he spearheaded the development of an innovative, automated manufacturing process, among other responsibilities.
Lessons from SmileDirectClub: Turning Challenges into Innovation
Josh's tenure at SmileDirectClub exemplifies his ability to thrive under pressure. Tasked with automating the production of dental aligners in a mere six months, Josh and his team improvised by using unconventional tools, such as readily available hobbyist machines, to create prototypes.
The project required designing custom software and hardware solutions to meet stringent FDA compliance standards while improving production speed from two minutes to just six seconds per unit.
"Given the right resources and motivation, you can accomplish anything," Josh said, reflecting on the experience. This can-do attitude now drives his approach at Whitecoat, where he's eager to replicate such ingenuity to build scalable systems that meet Whitecoat's ambitious goals.
The Role of Data in Driving Product Development
Data plays a pivotal role in Josh's vision for Whitecoat's future. He emphasizes the importance of collecting data and understanding its context and intent. The company's data has the potential to provide users with a comprehensive record of their experiences, enabling them to track progress and improvements throughout their clinical careers.
One of Josh's priorities is to build a data-driven system that captures the "why" behind users' actions. This approach allows for greater flexibility and insight over time while driving continuous improvement.
By storing data holistically, Whitecoat can revisit past decisions and metrics, uncover new trends and leverage artificial intelligence to predict future needs. For instance, AI-driven insights could optimize student rotations by analyzing historical patterns, benefiting students and healthcare institution leaders.
Immediate Priorities for Growth
Josh's top priority is building a dynamic, scalable technology platform to support Whitecoat's growth into new markets as a leader in the educational technology sector.
The work includes creating agile development processes and enabling university programs to customize features independently while ensuring compliance with regulatory and accrediting body requirements.
Josh's vision also extends to leveraging data and AI to enhance the user experience. He envisions a system that collects and normalizes data to provide actionable insights, enabling students and institutions to track progress and outcomes effectively.
Message to Investors and Partners
Josh's message to investors and partners considering Whitecoat is clear: the company is dedicated to creating tools that foster innovation and prioritize user experience, performance, reliability and enjoyment.
This intentional focus aligns with a broader industry trend of companies moving away from 'minimum viable effort' to solutions designed with the end user in mind.
"If the people using our product don't enjoy it, then we're failing," Josh stated, underscoring the team's unwavering commitment to a customer-focused product.
Exploring Passions Beyond Technology
As a hobby, Josh enjoys road trips and exploring the joys of domestic travel. A once passionate off-roading enthusiast, he has fond memories of building jeeps designed to tackle rugged terrain.
Lately, he has been exploring the world of digital music production, rekindling his love for the science of music and recording.
These personal interests give a glimpse into Josh's creative and adventurous spirit, which he brings to his professional endeavors.