“Inspire others to dream, learn, act, and grow”

Jack W. Choi, founder and CEO, got his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in 1996 and launched Anatomage Inc. in 2004. After graduation, he knew he wanted to make an impact on the world by building a company. His entrepreneurial journey led him to the medical imaging business, which flourished organically. It has been 18 years since the founding of Anatomage, and, as with all startups, there have been challenges. Over time, the company garnered a reputation as the most diverse, complete and accurate digital anatomy of the human body.

An early role model for Jack, Jeong H. Kim was the founder of Yurie Systems and later, the CEO of Bell Labs. This Korean entrepreneur from humble beginnings served as proof the American Dream was attainable. Today, renowned entrepreneur, scientist and politician, Benjamin Franklin inspires Jack’s passion for innovation. Franklin’s dedication to improving the world through invention and enhancement culminated in his participation in the founding of America.

Outside of work, Jack enjoys fostering his creative side through art, music and furniture-making. These activities challenge him to gain confidence and build perseverance, as well as learn how to cope with self-doubt. He says his creative outlets give him the courage to think outside the box and try new things.

Jack feels it's a common misconception that CEOs succeed alone. For him, a solid team is essential, and each person has unique skills. Hiring talent who share Anatomage's values isn’t always easy. Putting in the extra effort is worth it, he adds. "We're stronger as a strong team with a shared vision," he says.

A relatively small company, Anatomage has around 100 employees. Because of this, Jack can spend ample time with his employees. He believes in-person communication and collaboration is vital for innovation. Employees work together towards the central goal of developing technology and fostering the Anatomage community. Every key business decision is driven by the company’s core principles, including fostering a corporate environment of high integrity, putting customers at the center of everything, and creating superior, high-quality products that drive healthcare forward.

During the COVID-19 outbreak, the entire world was forced to act quickly, and Anatomage was no different, Jack explains. They developed Table on Cloud in less than a month to provide remote access to the Anatomage Table’s content for free even when in-person technology wasn’t an option. “Every year, there is development towards the next version of the Anatomage Table and the product becomes more advanced to continually meet the needs of our community,” Jack says.

Jack stresses the importance of trusting and inspiring your team. His favorite quote regarding leadership is from John Quincy Adams: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” He believes a manager who encourages their team and trusts individual expertise will automatically create a learning environment where ideas can be communicated freely. Similarly, feedback, whether from customers or employees, is important to Anatomage and its leader. Jack encourages everyone to be active listeners when receiving feedback to take it all in and take time to reflect on its validity and decide next steps from there.

Anatomage’s goal is to be the absolute reference for human anatomy for generations, Jack says. Every year, there is development towards the next version of the Anatomage Table and the product becomes more advanced to continually meet the needs of the community. The most recent iteration of the Anatomage Table is Table 9. The company’s Table 9 delivers 3D anatomy visualization through life-size digital dissection, enabling the unsurpassed and in-depth study of male and female bodies that can and does inform how students, instructors, clinicians and researchers diagnose and treat various medical conditions. This update includes refined cardiology, kinesiology and dental anatomy, as well as new tools and improved existing features. Students can now review anatomy concepts after class with our new Lecture tool. The existing Learning Assistant Tool is now available in high resolution, allowing students to access information on high-quality anatomical scans. Additionally, the renovated Quiz Mode workflow optimizes self-evaluation activities.

Used in more than 10,000 university, institutional, clinical and hospital settings worldwide, Anatomage’s products are making a difference and improving patient care across a multitude of healthcare fields as well as in medical education. “Our team is inspired by our united drive towards the common goal of improving the quality of life for all people. Seeing our products in action and helping people for generations to come, motivates us all to continue innovating for the future,” Jack says.