Helixism TEAM
Janie
Quality Representative
Ottawa University, Biomedical Science.
Meet our quality representative from the R&D team. Before joining us at Helixism, she gained valuable startup experience at a biotech company. When she’s not busy navigating the complexities of regulations, she loves to catch up on the latest trends by watching Netflix and YouTube. Weekends for her are all about hitting the gym to stay fit and healthy.
Team Member Interviews
01
What are your responsibilities and duties at Helixism?
I primarily serve in the Research and Development department, focusing on regulatory compliance. I need to understand the domestic regulations for medical products and assist the department in estimating the time frame for bringing our ECP products to market. I also help ensure that our product design meets the required specifications. When submitting applications to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, I gather information on similar products already on the market to provide supporting evidence for our application.
02
What gives you the most sense of accomplishment in this job?
The existence of regulations gives me a framework to follow, which is the work style I prefer. Being able to produce a document in compliance with the regulations, evaluate projects according to procedures, and complete a report from scratch gives me a sense of both challenge and accomplishment.
03
What are your biggest challenges and difficulties in this job?
Transforming a conceptual idea into a prototype and then into a mass-produced, market-ready product involves many more steps, processes, and considerations than one might initially think. However, this has trained me to think comprehensively when dealing with tasks.
04
What is the culture at Helixism like?
I joined Helixism in its early stages. Helixism is a startup, and for most people in the company, this is their first experience with medical device applications and market launches. So, everyone here is learning and exploring together, seeking the most efficient and effective solutions to challenges.
I think our R&D team leader, CK, is a critical figure within the company. He is not only a team leader but also an important coordinator. Whenever we encounter difficulties, we come together to discuss, integrate everyone’s suggestions, and find the most efficient way to address the issue.
05
What kind of personal or professional development have you undergone while working at Helixism?
I think the change has been in how I view issues and how I go about my work. Rather than acting impulsively, I now take a holistic view, considering all the factors that need attention and compliance.
Currently, my work focuses on applying for medical device regulations in Taiwan. In the future, I also hope to assist the company in obtaining medical device approvals in Europe, America, and Japan, bringing our quality products to more people in need.
Helixism TEAM
Jackie
Senior Software Engineer
National Taipei University, Computer Science and Information Engineering.
When good weather on weekends, he loves exploring different scenic spots. Hiking up mountains or discovering trails with waterfalls are some of his favorites. If the weather isn’t cooperating, he’s just as content at home drumming, painting, gaming, or listening to music.
Team Member Interviews
01
What do you think of the team at Helixism?
After graduating from college, I first worked in Professor Yang’s laboratory. When I learned that Professor Yang was going to establish Helixism, I immediately joined. Under the leadership of Professor Yang and CK, I feel that our working environment is quite flat and free, similar to the atmosphere in the laboratory. However, everyone knows their responsibilities and ensures their tasks are completed on time.
Although Helixism is a small team, I really enjoy the sense of learning and growing together. Given that Professor Yang was once in charge of TSMC’s R&D department, his approach is goal-oriented. This means our team needs to be agile and embrace new challenges swiftly.
02
How did you overcome the professional challenges of transitioning from information engineering to medical devices?
My main responsibility is to design the sensors, computing, and display programs for our devices. When I first joined Helixism, I even picked up textbooks to study and understand electrocardiograms. Fortunately, there are many resources and connections at Helixism to assist. Just as when I encounter bottlenecks in programming or learning new languages, seeking advice from seniors or leveraging their experiences can help me overcome these faster. Whenever I face challenges, I often discuss them with CK and Professor Yang. They might not always have the solution, but they can help me find the necessary resources.
Since medical devices are a new domain for all of us, apart from proactive self-learning, we also need to share and learn from each other. For instance, when encountering certain problems, solutions might come from suggestions by me or other team members to CK.
03
What makes Helixism an attractive team to join?
In fact many of my classmates work in Hsinchu Science Park, but they are part of large, established corporations. This confines them to smaller roles within larger projects, limiting their understanding of the complete lifecycle of a plan or product.
In contrast, I believe the learning experience at Helixism is just as valuable, if not more so, than what one might gain in a large corporation. Furthermore, with guidance from mentors like Professor Yang and CK, who steer us toward clear objectives, the experience is both challenging and highly practical.
Helixism TEAM
Jun
Clinical Administrator
Ching Kuo Institute of Management and Health (now Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health), Department of Nursing.
Served as outpatient nurse at Ministry of Health and Welfare Keelung Hospital.
She enjoys watching TV series, particularly animated and Chinese and Japanese dramas, in her leisure time. On weekends, she often engages in activities like bowling, billiards, and badminton at the National Sports Center. These physical pursuits provide her with a refreshing way to unwind.
In good weather, she enjoys hiking, while on rainy days, she explores art exhibitions, horror experiences, anime conventions, book fairs, and relishes in afternoon tea, desserts, and movies.
Team Member Interviews
01
What initially led you to join Helixism?
After graduating with a nursing degree and working for a while in hospital emergency rooms and outpatient clinics, I found that the night shifts were taking a toll on my health. I started to consider other career options and happened to come across Helixism’s job posting for a Nursing Manager position. I found it intriguing and decided to apply.
Joining Helixism has not only enabled me to successfully shift career tracks but also allowed me to transfer my previous nursing experience to benefit the company. For example, I can offer insights to our product designers on how user interfaces and operating procedures should be designed to better align with nursing practices. After all, many medical product designers haven’t necessarily worked on the front lines and might lack extensive hands-on nursing care experience. Helixism offers a platform where I can add value based on my background.
02
From a nursing perspective, what advantages do you see in Helixism products?
During the interview process, I learned that Helixism’s products can non-invasively assist patients in regulating blood pressure and improving cardiovascular issues. I was quite excited about this. Currently, clinical options mainly involve medications or surgical procedures like stent placements. If we can offer patients a less harmful alternative, that would truly be an incredible invention.
03
What are your career aspirations for the future?
When we were being interviewed, CK informed all of us that we are the future reserve leaders of the company. I am very hopeful that I can share my experience with more nurses or other medical device developers in the future. I aim to help nurses discover other career opportunities available to them and make medical device companies realize that introducing nursing expertise and experience can make their products better aligned with user needs.
Once Helixism’s products go to market, my role will shift to teaching other nurses how to operate and use our devices. I also hope that this will provide an opportunity for everyone to see the range of career possibilities available to them.