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With nearly two decades at the forefront of financial technology organizations, Jonathan Chan is a veteran technology executive with an unparalleled track record. Time and again, he has demonstrated his ability to reframe IT and cybersecurity from cost centers into revenue-driving growth engines.
Chan’s extensive experience on the front lines of the financial technology revolution, made him an early adopter of innovative thinking and disruptive strategies that propelled his organization years ahead of their industries. His bold vision for harnessing technology as a competitive advantage, combined with his proven expertise in driving transformative change, positions Chan as a truly pioneering thought leader.
How did Jonathan Chan wind up in healthcare? The current head of global IT and security at Episource had a career-altering epiphany when he led the cybersecurity function for a healthcare nonprofit for over one year.
“That healthcare nonprofit experience was eye-opening.” Chan explains. “This was a health system providing care for underprivileged populations in desperate need. I found myself wondering why I was still working in fintech when it seemed like so many people needed help. I have a new mission to leverage my skills and expertise to transform healthcare for those most in need of affordable, quality care.”
Chan tries to undercut the premise that his evolution was completely altruistic. The technology executive says that if the US healthcare system fails to innovate and improve, it will directly impact the population quality of life down the road when people rely on it in their elder years. By driving necessary changes now, he’s pragmatically investing in a system that will eventually determine the care he and his loved ones receive. Fixing healthcare’s flaws is both a moral imperative and a matter of self-preservation.
“I hope that my work can impact society,” Chan explains. “We are not going to be able to boil the ocean, but let’s start with a cup of water. We all depend on quality healthcare, especially as we age, so it is imperative that we take action now to address inefficiencies.”
Driving true innovation in healthcare IT requires more than just adopting the latest technologies—that’s actually a recipe for failure, Chan says. “We must shift away from reactive IT and start a proactive business case for transformative change. Real innovation begins by changing conversation through compelling storytelling that captures the need for and benefits of a new approach. Only then can we harness technology power to revolutionize healthcare delivery,” he emphasizes.
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Chan explains much of healthcare still relies on antiquated paper-based processes in this digital age. While most people no longer carry paper currency in their pockets, why should so much healthcare admin and data still be in physical form?
“The easier we make the healthcare system for all stakeholders, the more streamlined the system will become,” Chan says. “Can I help create that kind of change that will ultimately make part of the system so much better? I’d like to try.”
As a data company at its core, Episource optimizes electronic processes like medical record retrieval and chart coding to free up caregivers and support to prioritize what truly matters. And Chan says healthcare IT shouldn’t see their roles as reactive bystanders, awaiting workers to ask for IT help.
“We empower ourselves and our organizations to boldly embrace the future of healthcare technology. We must pioneer innovations that will positively revolutionize a healthcare system desperately in need of disruptive solutions,” he says. “As leaders, we have an obligation to drive this transformative change through visionary thinking and decisive action.”
But not everyone adapts quickly to new technology. “People once resisted new technologies like the PalmPilot, internet, and AI.” Chan explains. “The US is a tech leader who has created a world where tech has become an integral part of our lives. If you are scared of things like automation or AI, think about the auto prompts that you might use in your emails. Think about how virtual conferencing software has altered many of our lives. If you employ tech with ethics and foresight, cutting-edge technologies have the power to create lasting positive change that improves lives and simplifies processes.”
Matt Thompson, VP of customer success at StackHawk, emphasizes Chan’s point. “Jonathan is a change agent for the health tech industry. We see many organizations struggling to adopt modern security best practices due to an inability or desire to influence change at high levels,” he says. “Jonathan’s ability to use his experience and business value storytelling skills to impact change on how the organization thinks about and operates with security is inspiring.”
Tech investment, Chan says, must be viewed as return on investment (ROI) opportunities, not sunken costs. Just as the value-based care model proactively prioritizes preventative and holistic improvements over reactive crisis management, a forward-thinking approach to information security and IT spending pays continuous dividends.
“We cannot afford to address systemic issues as mere after-the-fact fixes when it is often too little, too late. Instead, we must make upfront investments in people and technology that drive comprehensive solutions, mitigate risks, and generate compounding positive impacts across all areas of operations. This strategic mindset is essential for realizing the transformative potential of technology,” Chan says.
Since moving to the healthcare space, Chan has been dragging friends from fintech into the industry. His pitch? He asks: “The incentive is clear—does money equate to their long-term health? Do they want to create change for people that can afford it, or for everyone? Do they want to drive innovation for solely a set of population, or impactful changes that improves lives on a massive scale.”
He continues, “Don’t look at the problems; look at the tremendous opportunities to reshape the system. Build the case for change, acknowledge the challenges that need solutions, and help create the path there. You are not there to merely support the outdated processes. Technology can drive change in healthcare. You are there to enable it. You just have to believe in the mission and help people to open their minds.”
StackHawk champions a shift-left approach to API and application security testing, giving organizations the confidence to find and fix security issues prior to production. As organizations look to improve their security posture, a core strategy involves integrating security measures earlier in the software development lifecycle, aiming to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they can impact production environments. StackHawk helps teams modernize their security best practices, enabling secure-by-design elements and removing friction between AppSec and Engineering teams. Organizations looking to build and improve their AppSec programs, rely on StackHawk’s Shift-Left Maturity Model to help navigate the various stages of shifting security left.