International Women in Engineering Day is June 23, 2022!

At HealthTech Connex, we are celebrating our amazing women in engineering in our team who have been instrumental in driving innovation in brain health technology. From software engineering, quality assurance, research, to data analysis, they have played a vital role in driving our purpose forward – to transform ground‐breaking research & development into solutions that can positively impact brain health around the world.

This is the story of Ailbhe O’Reilly, our QA Associate.

My name is Ailbhe O’Reilly, I am 26-year-old woman from Dublin, Ireland. I received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Trinity College, Dublin. I worked as a Research Assistant in St. James’s Hospital during my time in college. After college I moved to Galway, Ireland and worked with Medtronic as an Intern and then a Quality Associate. After over two years of working with Medtronic, I decided to make a bold move and emigrate to Canada at the beginning of March this year. I then started working with HealthTech Connex in April of this year as a Quality Associate for the NeuroCatch team.

Why did you choose engineering as a profession?

I chose engineering as a profession as I always had an interest in science and mathematics. I have a curious mind and I like understanding how things work, so engineering seemed like a good choice. My father is a Structural Engineer so that also helped in my decision as I aspire to be like him.

Considering your experience so far, what do you love most about engineering?

I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of engineering and how you work as a team to find a practical solution. I enjoy how not everyday is the same, and with a new day brings new problems to overcome. I enjoy knowing that I have impacted someone’s life in a good way as a biomedical engineer.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in engineering?

I feel there is a minority of women in engineering. Within my engineering university class of approximately 200 people, there were 30 women which is a small population of engineers. However, compared to when Trinity College, Dublin was first opened where women were not allowed to attend the college let alone study engineering, we have improved. Overall, my experiences as a female engineer have been positive and I have not been scrutinised due to my gender.  

What advice will you give women who are interested in pursuing engineering as a profession?

I would say go for it!! I feel my engineering degree is very valuable as I have worked in a variety of work settings from a hospital to industry. Now, I am working with HealthTech Connex over 7,000 km from where I received my degree. Engineering can bring you on an amazing path of having the ability to travel, meet terrific people and impact lives in a good way.

International Women in Engineering Day is June 23, 2022!

At HealthTech Connex, we are celebrating our amazing women in engineering in our team who have been instrumental in driving innovation in brain health technology. From software engineering, quality assurance, research, to data analysis, they have played a vital role in driving our purpose forward – to transform ground‐breaking research & development into solutions that can positively impact brain health around the world.

This is the story of Deneb Ragbar, our QA Specialist.

Why did you choose engineering as a profession?

I knew I wanted to work in healthcare or medicine, and I was always interested in bio-instrumentation and physiology so I thought that biomedical engineering would be a good combination of all of those things. I spoke to people in the engineering field and learned that it was a very broad field, and the degree would allow me the flexibility to eventually pursue a career in several different areas. I liked knowing that I wouldn’t be confined to a single industry after graduation.

Considering your experience so far, what do you love most about engineering?

I enjoy problem-solving and being involved in creating a product that has the potential to impact people’s lives. I also love that my engineering degree qualifies me to fulfill different roles such as designing, quality, project management and testing.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in engineering?

It can be difficult to be the only woman in a classroom or in a meeting and this can make you feel less confident. A challenge that I’ve faced and that I’m still working on, is learning to speak up and voice my opinion. I’ve been lucky to work in organizations that have been inclusive for women and women of colour and have fostered an open and collaborative environment.

What advice will you give women who are interested in pursuing engineering as a profession?

Don’t be put off by the idea that it’s a male dominated field, because that is slowly changing. Engineering is a broad discipline that can offer a lot of opportunities. The university workload is heavy but definitely worth it in the end. I’ve found my career in engineering to be very fulfilling, and I think the discipline will only benefit from the unique perspectives of women engineers.

International Women in Engineering Day is June 23, 2022!

At HealthTech Connex, we are celebrating our amazing women in engineering in our team who have been instrumental in driving innovation in brain health technology. From software engineering, quality assurance, research, to data analysis, they have played a vital role in driving our purpose forward – to transform ground‐breaking research & development into solutions that can positively impact brain health around the world.

This is the story of Shawna Lee, our Biomedical Engineer.

Why did you choose engineering as a profession?

I decided that I wanted to pursue biomedical engineering when I was in my graduating year of high school. I was very influenced by the classes I was taking at the time. My science teachers made me curious about medicine, chemistry, and biology. Many of my hobbies were artistic in nature, so I loved creative prototyping, designing, and problem solving. Outreach work as part of a global studies class made me want to pursue a career path where ultimately, I could empower and help others.

When researching career paths that would align with my goals, I came across the niche profession of biomedical engineering. It seemed to be the intersection of design, science, creative problem-solving, and impact that I was looking for. However, what really sealed the deal was when I saw how local biomedical companies were changing the field of healthcare globally. I wanted to be a part of that change.

Considering your experience so far, what do you love most about engineering?

When working with medical devices in general, there are a lot of constraints from regulations, so you always must work extra hard when problem solving to find solutions that you can implement. Seeing tangible results, whether they are results from clinical studies using our medical device the NeuroCatch® Platform, or even just watching projects being refined from their first prototypes to commercial models, is always my favourite part.

What are some of the challenges you have faced as a woman in engineering?

I think as a woman in engineering, sometimes I find myself being automatically more alert and self-aware regarding my career and work environment. It’s almost drilled into you to be on high alert, to question whether you’re being treated fairly because historically there are cases in this profession where many women have not been.

• Am I getting paid fairly in respect to male counterparts?
• Am I getting opportunities for growth at a pace that aligns with my ambition and skillset?
• Am I getting treated with respect and are my opinions being valued?

These are all check-in questions that I ask myself from time to time.

What advice will you give women who are interested in pursuing engineering as a profession?

Don’t be afraid to be ambitious. Be proactive and go out of your way to get the opportunities you deserve. There are also a lot of organizations/clubs like Women in Engineering that can offer mentorship and support as you go through university.

Finally, always be willing and open to learn and grow, because as an engineer you’re constantly having to adapt and shift perspectives.