2024 StarFish Group Awards

The 2024 StarFish Group awards mark a milestone for StarFish Medical as recipients were honored in both Victoria and Toronto for the first time ever, reflecting the company’s continued growth and strong commitment to recognizing excellence across all locations.

The twelfth annual StarFish Group awards for outstanding contributions to medical device success were presented to Sung Lee, Aaron Philippsen, Deborah Pinchev, Andy Hewitt, Disha Patel, Anthony Annibale, Joris van der Heijden, Kori Herlein, and Trinity MacRae at holiday celebrations held in Victoria (December 7, 2024) and Toronto (November 30, 2024). Nominations were submitted by employees, citing achievements that demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and cultural impact. A committee of senior group members reviewed the nominations and selected the recipients.

Chris Denny Memorial Award for Innovation

Chris Denny was a longstanding high innovator in our company who had a huge impact on our success. He passed away a few years back. Each year employees nominate colleagues who have immersed themselves deeply in a technical problem to find a brilliant solution to the design challenge, as-stated, or more deeply.

A person wearing a formal white shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a black bow tie. They are smiling while holding an award titled "Chris Denny Innovation Award." The award has a design resembling a technical or mechanical diagram. The person is shaking hands with someone whose arm is partially visible in the frame, wearing a black suit. The background suggests a formal event setting with dim lighting and some decorations.

Sung Lee

Sung Lee was recognized for championing the integration of virtual reality (VR) at StarFish, revolutionizing how teams collaborate and clients engage. His persistence led to impactful applications of VR, improving design validation and fostering creativity across several projects.

Aaron Philippsen

Aaron Philippsen’s innovation shone on multiple projects, where he developed groundbreaking solutions. His meticulous approach delivered transformative results for clients and StarFish.

A man smiling and holding an award with "Chris Denny Innovation Award" written on it, shaking hands with another person.

Keep Calm and Carry On Award

The Keep Calm and Carry On award honors employees who rises to challenging times with compassion and grace, making employees, customers, and leadership feel more confident, positive, and well looked after.

A woman dressed elegantly in a shimmering dress holding an award with "Keep Calm and Carry On" inscribed on it.

Deborah Pinchev

Deborah Pinchev stepped into a leadership role seamlessly, balancing critical FDA 510(k) submissions and managing the QA/RA team with composure and grace. Her efforts inspired confidence and delivered outstanding results.

Andy Hewitt

Andy Hewitt demonstrated resilience and dedication in managing an internal project while excelling in his role as a medical device engineering project manager.

A man wearing glasses and a light shirt holding a plaque labeled "Keep Calm and Carry On" while shaking hands with another individual.

Reach for the Stars Award

The Reach for the Starts award honors who came up with a process, innovation or idea that has helped StarFish and/or our clients get better. This might be a process that has increased efficiencies, or an innovation brought to a project that in turn has benefited our client’s success.

A woman with long hair wearing a black outfit holding an award that says "Reach for the Stars" while smiling.

Disha Patel

Disha Patel’s determination drove the setup of the Toronto cleanroom, bridging critical process gaps to support a medical device development project.

Anthony Annibale & Joris van der Heijden

Anthony Annibale and Joris van der Heijden developed a visionary five-year roadmap for Bio Services and MedTech, ensuring StarFish’s strategic growth and adaptability for the future.

A man in a checkered shirt shaking hands while holding an award with a star-shaped backdrop in the background.

Cultural Glue Award

The Cultural Glue Award goes to an employee who is a caretaker of the StarFish community, connecting their colleagues. They reinforce people’s sense of belonging and amplify StarFish culture.

Kori Herlein

Kori Herlein has become the heart of the Toronto office, fostering community through events, social initiatives, and unwavering support for her colleagues.

Trinity MacRae

Trinity MacRae embodies StarFish’s inclusive culture, connecting colleagues and spearheading initiatives like Social Committee and Wellbeing Wednesday to ensure a welcoming and cohesive workplace.

A woman in a gold outfit and red glasses holding a trophy labeled "Cultural Glue Award" while speaking at a podium, with a festive background.

About StarFish Medical

StarFish Medical provides award-winning design, development, commercialization, and flexible manufacturing outsourcing services —100% dedicated to the medical device and life science marketplace. StarFish Medical partners with innovative companies to create and manufacture breakthrough products for a full range of medical specialty areas including: Digital Health, Cardiovascular, Neurology, Urology, Gastroenterology, Otology, Ophthalmology, and In-Vitro Diagnostics.

StarFish Medical’s technical expertise includes electronics, mechanical, software/firmware systems engineering, in addition to industrial design and human factors. Regulatory Affairs (RA) and Quality Assurance (QA) consultants at StarFish Medical provide regulatory assistance for FDA, CE Mark and Health Canada submissions. Services include QA support for setting up QMS for start-up companies with implementation at the client’s site, and assisting with ISO 13485 certification audits..

Empowering MedTech Innovation®. www.starfishmedical.com

Contact Patrick Dean, Director of Marketing, for media inquiries.

StarFish Medical presents the 2024 StarFish Group awards for outstanding contributions to success