Transforming Ideas into Devices

Founder

Executive Chairman of the Board

Chief Executive Officer

James Michelinie is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of engineering experience, including 15 years in orthopedics. As CEO of Surgeon Design Center, he shapes the company’s vision and strategy, leading the development of innovative medical technologies in close collaboration with surgeons and industry leaders. With expertise in biomedical engineering, product design, and business development, James has a proven record of leading cross-functional teams to solve clinical challenges and drive the successful commercialization of medical devices. 

Before joining SDC, James founded Fulcrum Design, an engineering consulting firm for orthopedic OEMs, and held senior roles at Acumed and Johnson Design, where he contributed to the development of orthopedic implant technologies. 

When he isn’t working, you can find James under a pile of LEGO with his kids or trying to stay young on the soccer field. 

VP of Product and Commercialization

Andy Seykora brings over 15 years of experience in the medical device industry and 20+ pending and granted patents. As Vice President of Product and Commercialization at Surgeon Design Center, Andy drives innovation and leads high-performing teams to bring market-leading solutions to life. Andy also serves as the CEO of Axia Orthopedics – a Series A-funded company born at SDC with a mission to revolutionize fracture reduction. His career includes leadership roles at major companies like Acumed, as well as key contributions to the growth of startups such as Acute Innovations, and Outerpull. 

Andy’s expertise spans research and development, intellectual property, product development, project management, quality assurance, supply chain management, and operations, enabling him to approach startup challenges with a comprehensive, results-driven mindset. 

When he isn't working you can find Andy attached to a kite at one of Oregon's many amazing kiteboarding spots or exploring the woods with his wife and daughter. 

Senior Project Engineer

Chad brings 20 years of experience split between the industrial, biomedical, and medical fields. He specializes in design and problem analysis, process optimization and automation, and coming up with creative solutions to novel problems. This enables him to quickly and efficiently move from problem statement to concept, thanks to a mixture of out-of-the-box creativity, strong analytical skills, proficiency with a variety of analysis tools, and a distinctly varied background to draw inspiration from. Chad is passionate about creatively yet practically solving real-world problems and is committed to bringing these values to each of the projects he works on and each of the teams he's a member of. 

When he isn’t working, he enjoys coding, photography, riding horses, oil painting, and learning about almost anything. 

Senior Project Engineer

Andrew brings seven years of experience in orthopedic design. He specializes in transforming early concepts into functional prototypes. With a collaborative, hands-on approach, he works closely with surgeons to bring their ideas to life. Andrew is deeply committed to a patient-centered design philosophy, striving to create innovative solutions that enhance patient care and address their unique needs. 

When he isn’t working, Andrew enjoys playing soccer and taking walks with his wife and their dog. 

Project Engineer

Bex brings three years of experience in orthopedic medical device development. They specialize in product development, helping SDC bring ideas to life through product ideation and design, CAD modeling, and rapid prototyping. Bex is passionate about identifying critical clinical problems and is committed to designing innovative medical devices that improve patient outcomes and address unmet needs. 

When they aren’t working, you can find them roller skating, biking around Portland, or cooking meals with friends. 

Principal Project Engineer

Zach brings 14 years of experience in medical devices. He specializes in complex mechanism design and mechanical testing, helping achieve engineering excellence through both analysis and simulated use. Zach is passionate about all things mechanical and is committed to creating robust solutions to complex problems. 

When he isn’t working, you can find him rebuilding an engine or an entire car in his shop, or hiking along the Oregon coast. 

Staff Project Engineer

Steve brings 10 years of experience in orthopedic medical devices. He specializes in product design and development, delivering high‑quality medical devices that elevate patient care through analytical problem‑solving and user‑centered design. He is passionate about tackling real‑world challenges faced by healthcare professionals and committed to developing innovative solutions that address unmet clinical needs.

When he isn’t working, you can find him enjoying the outdoors, hiking, or rock climbing.

Staff Project Engineer 

Steph brings 12 years of experience in medical devices. She specializes in leading cross-functional teams and driving product development, helping SDC achieve meaningful innovation and growth in the orthopedic space. She is passionate about improving patient outcomes through novel advancements that support healing and improve quality of life. 

When she isn’t working, you can find her playing golf, traveling, knitting, or exploring the Oregon wine country. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and their cat, and dog.