5 Questions with Principal Engineer John Hygelund
Arthrex California Technology Principal Engineer John Hygelund is a problem-solver. During his three years with Arthrex, John has made continuous innovation a top priority and continues to look for ways to make our Synergy camera head products even better. In this 5 Questions interview, we learn more about John and his work.
What does a typical day at Arthrex look like for you?
I typically ride my bike into work here at the Santa Barbara office. It’s a great commute and provides an excellent opportunity to strategize for the day ahead. A typical day involves designing and developing the mechanical and optical aspects of our Synergy camera head products. A great day is witnessing a surgeon's eyes light up while they're evaluating a prototype I've been hard at work on.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Seeing the outcome of our smart, genuine, hardworking employees around the world, all focused on the shared mission, Helping Surgeons Treat Their Patients Better™, continuously amazes me. I love working with and learning from my coworkers. Arthrex is a unique company and truly feels like family. In fact, I was able to convince a good friend of mine to apply here and now he sits right next to me at work – pretty neat!
Secondly, I like working on the forefront of technology here at Arthrex. Harnessing the complexities of illumination and visualization into a safe, elegant, user-friendly product is an immensely satisfying challenge to overcome. Our access to surgeons’ feedback, technical resources and a collaborative team provides the perfect environment for rapid innovation. Also, the catered lunches!
What has been a highlight during your time at Arthrex?
Before starting at Arthrex, I built astronomical telescopes. While the scale is very different, it was a highlight to uncover the many overlaps between optical instrumentation for the stars and the human body. This unique perspective allowed me to identify a number of improvement and development opportunities along the way.
What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your career?
Don't let your job get in the way of your career, meaning, find a challenging job where you can make progress toward your goals. I have certainly found that with Arthrex.
What do you do in your free time?
Bikes (both road and mountain) have been a huge part of my life since adolescence and are still my favorite way to spend my free time. I’m fortunate to have a beautiful wife who enjoys the same and we’ve had some incredible bikeadventures together.
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