Team Member Category: Biomedical

Sophia P. Pilipchuk, Ph.D. BME, MSBME, BSBME

Having over 10 years of experience working with engineers and scientists in university-based research laboratories, I appreciate the effort and dedication that goes into the development and validation of novel technologies. As a doctoral student, I authored and co-authored research and review articles in Advanced Healthcare Materials, Dental Materials, and Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, obtaining substantial practice in the communication of novel concepts. I also worked as a Tech Transfer Fellow at the University of Michigan Office of Technology Transfer (OTT)—evaluating a wide range of invention disclosures, assessing prior art, drafting marketing abstracts, and identifying potential licensees—which significantly strengthened my interest in patent law. After completing a doctoral thesis, I worked with engineers and surgeons as a Biomedical Innovation Fellow in UM’s Pediatric Surgery Section to identify medical device needs through clinical immersion. This process inspired design and development of new product solutions to fulfill the needs and expectations of the Michigan Pediatric Device Consortium (MPED) program. This work expanded my knowledge of medical device technologies and commercialization strategies.

At HFZ, I work together with patent attorneys and patent engineers to help clients secure protection for their innovative ideas and maximize the economic value of their patents. At HFZ, I can utilize my previous experiences to help advocate for inventors and assist in securing the full extent of intellectual property protection to which they are entitled.

Charles R. McCormick, BSME

Prior to joining HFZ, I studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked as a thermodynamics tutor for the college of engineering. After graduating, I went on to work for Medline, a medical-surgical products and supply chain provider, as a quality engineer where I gained experience in both corporate and manufacturing-based roles. In the corporate setting, I gained experience drafting comprehensive technical specifications for Class I & II medical devices, leading corrective and preventative action plans, and designing test methods for a variety of urological products. In the manufacturing setting, I gained experience in the injection molding manufacturing process and helped contribute to a design patent for a medical device to be manufactured at the plant. My participation in the design patent process, from the inventor-side, fueled my desire to explore the world of intellectual property.

At HFZ, I am looking forward to leveraging my engineering background to help our clients protect their cutting-edge technology, as I pursue my aspiration of becoming a patent attorney.