We are pleased to announce that Andy Knapik has joined the team at SmartTRAK as Senior Analyst, Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Technologies. Andy has 20+ years’ experience in US and International sales and marketing for the orthopedics and sports medicine markets, including 12 years at Smith & Nephew.
Meet Andy Knapik:
What is your role with SmartTRAK? As Senior Analyst for Soft Tissue Fixation and Arthroscopic Technologies, I am currently developing and supporting the Arthroscopic Technologies module, which is new to SmartTRAK, as well as the Sports Medicine Repair module.
What do you like about SmartTRAK? I love the depth and range of experience of all of the analysts. There is a lot of industry knowledge that we can offer customers, and it’s really impressive to me.
What is something special or unique that you bring to SmartTRAK subscribers? I have 20 years of experience in orthopedics working with just about every product that an orthopedist would use from sports medicine and arthroscopy, to trauma and reconstruction. I have also worked in diverse geographies, working in both the US market and internationally in both established as well as emerging markets. So even though my current specialty lies in sports medicine and arthroscopy, there is quite a bit of cross over in general orthopedics that I am able to discuss.
What do you think the biggest promise of medical technology (in your area) is? For arthroscopic technologies things will move to smaller, lighter and cordless instruments and visualization devices. In sports medicine repair, I see more bio-compatible/bio-integrative technologies that help promote healing and fixation of repairs.
How will it change everything? Arthroscopic instruments can be heavy and cumbersome to use for long periods of time, so making them smaller, lighter and without cords can allow surgeons to work more easily in the arthroscopic space. This can open other opportunities for diagnostic arthroscopy giving physicians more accurate and faster means of providing diagnoses to their patients, as well as providing the means to perform arthroscopic surgery in places not easily performed currently. For repair, moving more towards bio-compatible/integrative ways of fixing sports injuries could lead to faster and more complete healing of repairs, or even possibly repairing injuries that aren’t currently considered repairable.
What are your favorite online websites or resources that you check every day? SmartTRAK news feeds, Journal of Arthroscopy, American Journal of Sports Medicine, New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA.
How do you keep your medical device research skills sharp? Lots of reading through journals and keeping in touch with my colleagues in the industry.
If you could have one super power what would it be? I think my superpower would to be able to fly. It would allow me to get around much easier!
What was the last show you binge-watched? Cobra Kai
What is your life like outside of SmartTRAK? I spend time with my wife and daughter, cooking, watching movies, and traveling as much as possible. I am also a photographer and artist specializing in portraits. I have had my art shown in galleries around the world and have even published a book featuring some of my art.
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