OpenEvidence, the medical AI company that recently relocated its headquarters from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Miami, has announced a strategic partnership with the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO). The deal will integrate SSO's clinical content and educational resources directly into OpenEvidence's AI platform, marking a significant step in the application of artificial intelligence to surgical oncology.
As part of the collaboration, OpenEvidence is funding a $100,000 grant over 24 months to support surgeon-led research projects focused on emerging technologies. The grant program is set to launch this summer, with a recipient expected to be named in the fall, according to the SSO. This initiative underscores the growing role of AI in helping clinicians sift through medical evidence, follow treatment guidelines, and make informed decisions at the point of care.
The partnership comes at a time when AI adoption in healthcare is accelerating rapidly. In March, the American Medical Association reported that 81% of physicians surveyed now use AI in their clinical work—more than double the percentage from 2023. Common applications include summarizing medical research and handling documentation tasks. This trend underscores the relevance of OpenEvidence's platform, which draws its answers directly from peer-reviewed medical literature rather than the open web.
OpenEvidence has been aggressively expanding its oncology footprint. In late April, the company integrated treatment algorithms from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) into its platform, providing clinicians with direct links to source materials. Chief Medical Officer Travis Zack described the NCCN guidelines as central to his approach to patient care, highlighting the platform's potential to streamline access to authoritative content.
The company's expansion extends beyond oncology. In March, OpenEvidence launched Coding Intelligence, a tool designed to automate aspects of medical billing, as reported by Modern Healthcare. This follows last year's rollout of OpenEvidence Visits, which generates clinical notes. These moves signal the company's ambition to move beyond its roots in question-and-answer search and into broader clinical workflow solutions.
OpenEvidence's financial backing has been robust. In January, the company raised $250 million in a funding round led by Thrive Capital and DST Global, valuing the company at $12 billion—double its valuation from just three months earlier. Founder and CEO Daniel Nadler has noted that most of the firm's budget is allocated to model training and compute expenses, reflecting the capital-intensive nature of AI development.
The competitive landscape is heating up. Wolters Kluwer's UpToDate, a long-standing staple for clinicians, has begun incorporating generative AI features. Doximity has also expanded its AI capabilities through the acquisition of Pathway, a clinical AI startup, as reported by STAT. Trust remains a critical factor: while physicians are eager for faster access to evidence, the AMA survey indicates that most want robust validation, privacy protections, and clear liability rules before fully embracing AI. There are also concerns about trainees losing hands-on skills.
For surgeons, the key question is whether the platform can keep pace with rapidly evolving cancer guidelines without adding to their workload. The SSO partnership, combined with OpenEvidence's recent moves, positions the company at the forefront of AI-driven surgical oncology—but the real test will be in execution and adoption at the bedside.
