A pioneering figure in the healthcare industry, known for his multidimensional expertise as a cardiologist, innovator, and entrepreneur, Masahiko Hara founded MEDIVR, an innovative platform with a vision to transform healthcare through Virtual Reality (VR) technology. Under his leadership, MEDIVR has been at the forefront of leveraging VR to enhance treatment methodologies. As CEO and Founder of MEDIVR, Masahiko Hara continues to lead the charge in merging cutting-edge technology with healthcare, aspiring to create impactful changes in the medical landscape and improve patient outcomes through innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors. Let’s hear more from him in this one on one interaction.
Give us an overview of your academic experience in Osaka University. How did your experience there chart a course for your entrepreneurial journey?
During my tenure at Osaka University from 2010 to 2015, my involvement in academic pursuits as a cardiologist resulted in numerous accolades, showcasing my dedication to advancing treatment methodologies through scholarly endeavors. Notably in Japan, I earned the Young Investigators Award (First Place) at the 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Japanese College of Cardiology in 2013, along with the Young Investigators Award (First Place) at the 33rd Scientific Conference of Acute Myocardial Infarction in Japan in the same year, and the International Heart Journal Best Article Award (First Place) in 2015.
On an international scale, I was privileged to receive several awards, including recognition such as an honorable mention for the Cardiovascular Disease in the Young Early Career Investigator Award at the American Heart Association Annual Scientific Sessions 2015, among others. As a Japanese and Asian clinician, these achievements held significant importance, notably being the sole clinician globally to receive Young Investigators Awards from three different Councils of the American Heart Association.
Despite my academic accomplishments, I realized their limitations in catalyzing transformative changes in medical practice. This revelation primarily spurred me to establish MEDIVR. Alongside, as an additional venture, I also established IDEVICE, a company specializing in a non-invasive positive pressure ventilation mask named ‘javalla’, which features an innovative accordion design, enabling effective seal with minimal skin contact pressure, enhancing both comfort and functional integrity.
Moreover, my profound familiarity with groundbreaking innovations in cardiology, witnessing shifts such as coronary artery bypass surgery evolving into catheter intervention and the emergence of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI), significantly influenced my entrepreneurial journey. These pivotal changes in cardiology have profoundly shaped my perspective on innovation and entrepreneurship within the medical domain.
You also have a strong research background, how did it add to your current professional skillsets?
In my entrepreneurial journey, the skills cultivated during my academic tenure at Osaka University have proven invaluable.
Understanding unmet medical needs became a cornerstone for product development, leveraging my grasp of disease mechanisms and technology evolution.
My role in research, exemplified by leading the Japan Society of Clinical Research, significantly reduces operational costs, facilitating concurrent trials and evidence generation pivotal for medical device adoption. This proficiency led to extensive presentations at prestigious conferences, fueling our growth organically without substantial advertising expenses.
Our traction in educational lectures and live treatment demonstrations at major conferences further validates the impact of our products, showcasing the fusion of academic expertise and entrepreneurial success in promoting innovative healthcare solutions. Overall, my research background continues to underpin and shape my entrepreneurial endeavors significantly.
Could you elaborate on the founding principle behind MEDIVR?
The core aim of establishing MEDIVR is to provide global care for patients facing challenging diseases. Initially driven by a dedication to academic research for superior healthcare, my transition into managing a company hasn't shifted my primary commitment: patient care. Witnessing patient recovery and their families' gratitude remains deeply fulfilling.
Believing in hope for a brighter future, I aim to enhance well-being through Somato- Cognitive Coordination Therapy (SCCT). This innovative therapy, administered by our medical device MEDIVR KAGURA, aims to reprogram the brain. This pursuit stems from a belief that hope enriches lives, acknowledging disparities in perceived happiness between nations and envisioning a revitalized Japan contributing on a global healthcare platform.
As a business leader, how do you inspire your workforce to perform better. What is your guiding leadership philosophy?
At MEDIVR, our motivation stems from the profound satisfaction in healing patients globally. Our primary focus involves manufacturing and selling the MEDIVR KAGURA for SCCT, conscious of its significant impact on numerous patients' lives. Operating a unique rehabilitation center with a payment plan based on successful outcomes reflects our commitment to patient recovery and our confidence in achieving positive results.
Masahiko Hara founded MEDIVR, an innovative platform with a vision to transform healthcare through Virtual Reality (VR) technology
This center serves multifaceted purposes: patient treatment, staff training, clinical research, and showcasing our innovations, directly exposing our team to the social impact of our work. Ultimately, our collective drive at MEDIVR revolves around making a profound difference in patients' lives, fuelling and inspiring our entire team's dedication.
How demanding is it to manage the dual roles of a medical practitioner and a businessman?
This question frequently arises, yet personally, I've never found it challenging to harmonize these roles. My primary objective remains providing effective patient treatments, blurring the lines between being a medical practitioner and a businessman. Instead of balancing these as distinct roles, I perceive them as diverse avenues leading to the same goal. Within MEDIVR, there's no need to compartmentalize these identities.
To illustrate, it's akin to choosing between a bicycle and a car for transportation. Practicing medicine reflects riding a bicycle, emphasizing personal, immediate care, while business management parallels driving a car, extending our services to a wider audience. Including the role of a scientist, akin to a motorcycle, combines elements of both. Effectively delivering quality medical care necessitates embodying all three roles – the medical practitioner, the businessman, and the scientist. Focusing solely on one aspect would prove insufficient.
As an accomplished business leader, what advice do you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs aiming for future leadership roles?
I acknowledge that despite my achievements, complete satisfaction with success remains a journey ongoing. The global expansion of SCCT might take another five to ten years. Drawing from my experience leading successful projects and earning accolades in academia, as well as achieving recognition as Japan's top intellectual property venture, and winning the top grand prize at the Japan Healthcare Business Contest in 2018, I emphasize that there are no shortcuts to success. Resembling professional athletes, unwavering effort is pivotal. To sustain this effort, unwavering conviction is essential. I encourage young entrepreneurs to persistently pursue their chosen path with conviction.
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