15.09.2021 / company news

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THE PEOPLE AT BONEBRIDGE: SARAH BÜRKI

Today we would like to introduce you to Sarah Bürki, our Head of Clinical Affairs. Sarah grew up in the alpine valley of Diemtigtal close to the famous Niesen mountain, so her winters were all about skiing as the slopes were just around the corner. But also in summer she was a very active kid participating in running contests. "I once even won 'z'schnäuste Bärner Modi' in the Canton of Berne over the 1km distance," she explains with a grin.

However, she decided to not pursue a professional sports career and opted for an apprenticeship as a dental technician. Even though she enjoyed very much the precise hand work and the great patience that is required to create dental implants she also realised that there were not too many options for further personal development in this profession. "I decided to go back to school and to enroll for a degree in biomedical science at the Federal Institute of Technology (FIT/ETH) in Zurich. " After graduating with a M.Sc. from ETH she worked as a clinical research assistant and as a clinical evaluation specialist of medical devices for regulatory purposes before joining Bonebridge in early 2021. What she enjoys most about her work at Bonebridge is the close collaboration with the surgeons and the staff at the hospital. "To me it is very important to capture clinical information to ensure our products are safe and effective for the patients we serve," she explains. Recently the collection of post-market data has become even more important, due to reforms to industry regulations. Tighter rules and increased clinical data requirements will generate more work for everyone. "However, due to the great cooperation and the efforts of our partners, we have it all covered," Sarah adds. Besides her work Sarah is a passionate outdoor person and adventure seeker. She loves mountaineering during summer and wintertime, trailrunning and climbing. Being physically active is a daily routine to her as it's her way to freshen the mind and to connect with people. Even though her first experience in climbing was when she was 11 years old it was only four years ago when she took up sports and alpine climbing as a serious hobby. "Already as a kid I enjoyed climbing a lot and I am still very fond of it. But I really picked up practising once I found a belaying partner, who's sharing this passion with me," she says. Climbing can be incredibly strenuous. Not only for the body but also the mind. "I fully trust the gear but there are often moments of fear that require courage to overcome, " Sarah knows. "These psychological aspects develop over time. With patience, training and discipline, you see improvement." It is this aspect of the sport that makes Sarah love it so much. When people start climbing for the first time, they are often unafraid. "First I thought I would progress quickly, but realised that it was way more challenging." This experience made her determined to practice even more to achieve progress as the sport requires a great deal of focus and endurance. It requires strategic thinking and problem solving. For her, it is very rewarding when she completes a day of climbing reaching the summit! So far Sarah has climbed in the Dolomites, Greece, Sardinia and Tenerife. However, she still prefers the Swiss mountains. "To be honest I think Switzerland has just about everything to offer for mountaineers and it's still just around the corner! " If you have something to share about clinical outcomes or you want to chat with Sarah about your next mountain trip feel free to contact her.

Running on the path of the famous Skyrace in Val di Fassa.

Running on the path of the famous Skyrace in Val di Fassa.

Climbing to the summit of the 'Kleine Zinne' in the Dolomites.

Climbing to the summit of the 'Kleine Zinne' in the Dolomites.

Mountaineering in the Bernese Alps in front of the Eiger mountain.

Mountaineering in the Bernese Alps in front of the Eiger mountain.