My experience as a Chinese American working in the medical device industry

My friend asked me to participate in a career development panel at first annual conference of the Minnesota Chinese Association for Science and Technology (mncast.org). It’s an honor and a good opportunity for self-reflection.

I thought about lessons I learned from my mentors, colleagues and my working experience after I came to the US in 1991, and starting my first job in the medical device industry in 2000.

Thirty years ago I entered college, majoring biomedical engineering. This is a field of improving our health through medical technologies. My training in math, engineering and physiology took me to my first job with the Guidant Corporation. I worked on cardiac pacemakers and ICDs, implantable devices that mitigate health issues of the heart. I joined Inspire Medical Systems in 2008, a twin cities-based startup company. We’ve developed the first FDA approved implantable device for treating obstructive sleep apnea, a chronic condition that affects 18 million Americans. Sleep apnea has been found to cause daytime sleepiness, cardiovascular functions, and neurocognitive disorders. Now the Inspire device has been implanted in more than 2,000 patients.

My reflection today is more related to being a Chinese American working in the Medical Device Industry

Think Independently (独立思考)

To solve a new medical problem is like coming to a new country, we encounter challenges that we have never faced in our lives before. We try to follow paths that have been shown to be successful. There are times, however, we need to make decisions on our own. The ability, skill, and recognition to think independently helped me to make the decision to leave a multi-national corporation for a small start-up of three people at the time. It has been a rewarding journey in the last 9 years.

Take Initiatives (迈一步)

It is hard to take initiatives when we worry about others may not understand you. It is easier and safer to stay in our comfort zone. Take initiatives helped me to expand my career path from being a good scientist to leading a team for bigger challenges. It’s a step I am glad that I took early in my career.

Pursue Your Passions (追求梦想)

I want to share two personal passions today. I play table tennis at the Shoreview Table Tennis Club (see svtt.info, we need new members) every Wednesday. Every Tuesday night, I dreamed about beating my friend FL the next day. FL just retired this year. He has been mercilessly beating me for the last 13 years. This reminds me a definition for passion, which is the pursuit of happiness through suffering. I think this year may be the year, as FL is slowing down in his forehand attack.

The second passion for me these days is to improve early diagnosis of congenital heart diseases in rural China. When diagnosed early, kids with a congenital heart defect can live a normal life after a surgery. Late diagnosis can miss the treatment window or leave poor outcome even with the best surgeon. Delayed diagnosis of congenital heart disease is still common in rural China and other parts of the world that lack of access to good healthcare. We have started a nonprofit organization this year that dedicate to this cause. Our name is One Heart Health (onehearthealth.org). I hope you will go to our website and support us when you can.