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At Azra AI, we’re building more than just a technology company—we’re on a mission to transform how cancer patients are identified, connected, and supported through their care journey. That’s why we’re thrilled to welcome Tom Shearer as our new Vice President of Growth & Partnerships.
With more than two decades of experience at the intersection of healthcare, advanced visualization, and AI, Tom brings a unique blend of strategic insight, deep clinical fluency, and a passion for impact. In this Q&A, we sat down with Tom to learn more about his decision to join Azra AI, his perspective on what sets our solution apart, and what excites him most about the road ahead.
Q: What inspired you to join Azra AI at this stage in your career? What stood out most about our mission?
Joining Azra AI represents an incredibly purposeful chapter of my career. I’ve had the privilege of bringing impactful technology to providers, from advanced visualization software to AI tools that assist radiologists and cardiologists by detecting pathologies and aiding in care coordination. But Azra’s focus on accelerating time to treatment for cancer patients deeply resonates with me on both a personal and professional level.
What’s even more exciting is that Azra has already processed more than 100 million patient cases from our customers—real proof that we’re operating at scale. And it’s not just about the numbers; numerous facilities tell us our solutions are helping them detect, identify, and locate cancer patients faster and with fewer resources than they’ve ever experienced. That kind of impact on patients and care teams is exactly why I’m here.
Q: How do you define meaningful innovation in healthcare? What does it take to deliver it at scale?
There’s a huge opportunity to expand our value story around automation’s impact on oncology navigation teams, especially in underserved and overburdened health systems. By quantifying time savings, earlier patient identification and care coordination, and revenue lift, we position Azra as not just an innovation, but a necessity. And by co-developing success metrics with our partners, we can build trust and tailor our solutions to each institution’s goals.
Q: Where do you see the biggest opportunity for Azra AI to accelerate impact over the next 12 months?
There’s a huge opportunity to expand our value story around automation’s impact on oncology navigation teams, especially in underserved and overburdened health systems. By quantifying time savings, earlier patient identification and care coordination, and revenue lift we position Azra as not just an innovation, but a necessity. And by co-developing success metrics with our partners, we can build trust and tailor our solutions to each institution’s goals.
Q: How does your background in radiology, cardiology, and advanced visualization uniquely prepare you for this role?
Having spent my career being involved introducing new technologies—like cardiac CTA, 3D printing, and AI triage tools—into radiology and cardiology, I understand the hurdles providers face when adopting something new. That experience taught me how to speak both the clinical and administrative language, how to connect value to outcomes, and how to build trust through transparency and collaboration. That’s the mindset I’m a part of with every partnership at Azra.
Q: What makes Azra AI different from other healthcare AI vendors you’ve worked with or seen in the market?
Azra AI stands apart because we focus not just on detection or diagnostics, but on coordination, a critical but often overlooked part of the care continuum. We’re not just identifying patients; we’re enabling hospitals engage earlier, more reliably, and with less manual burden. Our automation doesn’t replace people, it empowers them. That’s a game-changer in this space and bringing value to providers and most importantly, patients.
Q: What are the most important factors in earning trust from health systems evaluating AI and automation?
Trust is earned by proving value early, aligning with clinical goals, and being honest about what the technology can and can’t do. Health systems don’t want a black box, they want a partner. We earn trust by showing measurable outcomes, having strong clinical governance, and maintaining an open feedback loop throughout the engagement. That’s how long-term partnerships are built and are sustained.
Q: Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that shaped how you lead or drive adoption of new technology?
I've been incredibly fortunate to be involved in bringing a handful of new technologies to healthcare. One pivotal moment was being part of the adoption of 3D printing for surgical and treatment planning software. I was incredibly humbled to meet an individual that benefited from the 3D software that was used to have his face transplanted after a horrific accident. That project required close collaboration between surgeons, radiologists, and IT, and it was a powerful reminder that successful innovation is always a team sport. It reinforced my belief that cross-functional alignment—and empathy for everyone involved—is essential for driving real change.
Q: What excites you most about the future of AI in oncology and beyond?
I’m excited about how AI is removing delays that have historically held cancer care delivery back, especially delays in diagnosis and care coordination. When you can reduce unnecessary administrative burden in a healthcare system, you give time back to clinicians and potentially save lives. And oncology is just the start. The same principles of smart automation and workflow integration can extend to cardiology, neurology, liver disease, even chronic care. Azra’s platform is built for that kind of growth, and I’m honored to lead the commercial efforts to bring over 200 Azra AI algorithms to the next 100M patients.
Final Thoughts
At Azra AI, we believe great technology is only as powerful as the people behind it, and we’re proud to have Tom Shearer joining our leadership team to help deliver our mission. If you’re a health system leader looking to simplify workflows, reduce care delays, and empower your teams, we’d love to connect.
Learn more about our end-to-end oncology platform on our website.
Schedule a conversation with Tom at partnerships@azra.ai
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