Figure 1

About Figure 1

Figure 1, founded in Toronto in 2012 by Dr. Joshua Landy, Gregory Levey, and Richard Penner, operates a digital platform for medical collaboration on real patient cases. The idea originated when Dr. Landy, a critical care physician, noticed that medical professionals were informally sharing patient cases via text and email. This observation led to the creation of a dedicated and secure application for this purpose. The platform launched in North America in May 2013 and has since expanded its reach to over 100 countries, with a reported user base of over a million healthcare professionals.

The core of Figure 1's business is a social networking service where healthcare professionals can post, view, and discuss medical images and cases. This facilitates real-time knowledge sharing and collaboration, aiming to improve patient diagnosis and treatment outcomes globally. The platform is designed for a professional audience, and users must be verified as licensed healthcare professionals or students to post cases and comment. To address privacy concerns, Figure 1 has integrated features like automatic face blocking and other de-identification tools to ensure patient anonymity. Each case is reviewed by a team of moderators before being published to ensure no identifying information is present and that it holds educational value.

Figure 1's platform allows for the sharing of various medical imagery, including the ability to upload and scroll through full stacks of CT or MR images, mimicking a PACS workstation experience on a mobile device. The service is free for users, with the company historically focusing on growing its community, backed by venture capital funding. In February 2024, Figure 1 was acquired by Physician's Weekly, a medical news and education platform, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to enhance the combined offering of clinical insights and resources for healthcare professionals.