12 October 2020
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Touching people's lives by improving healthcare
Minimal invasive surgery is causing a silent revolution in healthcare. Biomedical Engineer Lúcia Fonseca considers herself fortunate to work on innovations that will shape the future of this technology: "I want to touch people’s lives and contribute to a better society. I feel fortunate for what I have, and I want to spread that further.”
She talks about her work at Philips, and about moving from Portugal to the Eindhoven region: "So much is going on in the Brainport ecosystem. Ground-breaking technologies that help society are invented right here."
Contributing to a better society
Lúcia first moved to the Netherlands for her master's degree at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e): “During my studies at TU/e I experienced that both the university and the Eindhoven region attract a lot of like-minded people who all want to contribute to a better society."
"Philips is exactly in line with my core-values with its patient- and customer-centric mindset. I got to know Philips during my studies, and it is a great company to work for, it is very supportive, respectful and offers a lot of educational possibilities."
Philips is exactly in line with my core-values with its patient- and customer-centric mindset.
Lúcia Fonseca, Biomedical Engineer
Innovating interventions
As a member of the concept and feasibility group in the innovation department of Image Guided Therapy Systems, her role is to innovate the way interventions are done. "These interventions go from fixing small vessels in the brain to the biggest vessels in our body, but also help with diagnosis and treatment of cancer as minimally invasive as possible.
You simply do not want to open bodies if it is not strictly necessary. After all, each surgery brings along risks. These interventions lead to less chance of infections a shorter recovery time and the doctor has a better view of what is happening inside the patient."
Disruptive thinking
What she likes about her job, is that she gets to take a helicopter view to look at the technology: "We challenge ourselves to think disruptively by trying to imagine what interventions could look like in the future. Working here feels like working for a start-up and has a lot of additional advantages."
We challenge ourselves to think disruptively by trying to imagine what interventions could look like in the future.
Lúcia Fonseca, Biomedical Engineer
"Of course, our innovations must be feasible from a clinical, technical, and financial perspective but at the same time we have a lot of freedom to operate and a lot of internal experts and a broad network of external experts that you can appeal to and work with. Besides researchers and engineers, I for instance work with marketing and designers."
Open culture
In the interview she also talks about her experience as an expat in the Brainport region. “The Dutch culture is open, and people here make you feel welcome. Internationals are really seen as added value and therefore we are well received. People were very willing to help me. My Dutch colleagues are also very respectful and always willing to share their experiences.”
