I’ve spent most of my career in med tech, and early on I had an experience that stayed with me.
I was part of a startup developing a highly complex device for patients with respiratory failure. The technology itself worked well, but adoption was slow. As we dug in, it became clear the issue wasn’t the device; it was how people were being trained to use it. That experience shaped how I think about innovation: even the best technology can fall short if the people using it don’t feel confident applying it in high-risk, real-world situations.
A Training Gap We Don’t Talk About Enough
What I’ve come to appreciate over time is how much training has struggled to keep pace with innovation. Medical devices are more sophisticated than ever; increasingly software-driven, data-rich, and dependent on human decision-making yet many training approaches still look the same as they did a decade ago. Videos, slide decks, and one-time in-person sessions remain the norm.
The data reinforces what many teams already feel. Roughly one in five medical device recalls is linked to user error. This isn’t about capability or commitment. Healthcare professionals are under enormous pressure, often juggling multiple new technologies at once, with limited time to truly build confidence in each one.
Why We Focus on Software
There’s been a lot of excitement around new training technologies, particularly immersive hardware like VR and AR. Those tools can absolutely have a place. At the same time, we’ve seen real challenges with cost, upkeep, and scalability, especially when training needs to reach large, distributed teams quickly.
That’s why, at Monarch Learning Labs, we’ve focused on a software-first approach. Using digital twin technology, we create realistic simulations that allow people to practice with complex systems, whether that’s a surgical robot or advanced imaging equipment, in a safe, repeatable environment. No special hardware required. Just a browser and the opportunity to learn by doing.
For us, the goal is simple: make meaningful practice accessible, flexible, and scalable.
What That Looks Like in Practice
We’ve seen how powerful this can be through our partnerships. In one case, we worked with an orthopedic robotics company to support training on their knee replacement surgical system. Instead of relying solely on travel-heavy, in-person programs, they’re now able to reach thousands of surgeons through interactive simulations delivered online reducing cost, expanding access, and allowing learners to engage on their own time.
Seeing that kind of impact reinforces why this work matters.
Beyond MedTech
While healthcare is where our roots are, this challenge isn’t unique to medicine. As advanced technologies accelerate across industries from manufacturing to energy to transportation the gap between innovation and workforce readiness continues to grow. Training has to evolve alongside the tools people are expected to use.
At Monarch, we see ourselves as part of a broader effort to help organizations close that gap thoughtfully, practically, and with the end user in mind.
Looking Ahead
My hope is that training becomes something companies design with their technology, not after the fact. As systems evolve, education should evolve too continuously, not episodically.
Building something new always comes with uncertainty, but it’s energizing to work alongside teams who care deeply about getting this right. If you’re ready to move beyond traditional training models and build something that evolves with your technology, we’d welcome the opportunity to work together.
Jeremy Kimmel, PhD, is the CEO and founder of Monarch Learning Labs