Pyxera

Tad Simons, PhD, co-founder of Pyxera and Managing Director, has designed healthcare products since 1982. Prior to co-founding Pyxera, Tad was co-leader in IDEO's global Health Practice for over 11 years, during which the global health effort grew over seven-fold, expanding work into all sectors of healthcare and life sciences (pharma, devices, diagnostics, biotechnology, consumer health, and hospital systems). Tad has deep and wide technical and business knowledge across health care and the life sciences, along with knowledge of the competitive business landscape and the regulatory process. With experience in program management and physiological measurements, he has worked as a technical designer and leader on many medical projects, including blood pressure systems, oxygen saturation, infusions systems, cardiology products, in vitro diagnostic measurements, and airway gas monitoring for anesthesia.

This work has resulted in nineteen US patents. Current work involves examining healthcare systems, helping companies build internal innovation capabilities, and supporting teams that bring together a wide range of human and technical disciplines. Prior to joining IDEO, Tad also applied his design, clinical, and business experience to research and strategic planning for healthcare and life sciences at Hewlett-Packard Laboratories. Tad has spoken at numerous health forums, and holds BS (with distinction) and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and an MS degree from the California Institute of Technology (Daniel & Florence Guggenheim Fellow).

Don Westwood is a co-founder of Pyxera and Managing Director. Prior to founding Pyxera, Don was a senior leader at IDEO for 20 years, and was the co-director of IDEO’s global Health Practice (~25% of IDEO’s total business). Don has a keen knowledge of the realities of innovation and product development – from early conceptualization through implementation - and an exceptional record of leadership and mentorship of teams. An experienced designer and project manager, Don was responsible for design teams working in all domains of health (devices, pharma, diagnostics and services), and for providing design mentorship, portfolio leadership, and relationship management for major clients. Project work has included infusion systems, drug delivery systems, diabetes care, tools for cardiac care, and consumer electronics.

Don’s work has resulted in ten patents, ranging from disk drive servo-mechanisms to medical disposables. In the past, Don participated in two successful start-up ventures, Quantum Corporation and Plus Development Corporation, where he gained valuable experience in high-volume manufacturing. Don holds a BSME from the University of California at Davis.

All of the individuals in the network have close connections to the leaders of Pyxera based on successful past collaborations. Because these team members share a common development process, and a strong human-centered approach to design, these Pyxera partners work exceptionally well together, unlike a random team of assembled experts from various disciplines. With the health care knowledge provided by the founders, this collaborative ability is a very important aspect of the Pyxera network. Each person in the network joins Pyxera by invitation from the founders, who select collaborators for their integrity, skill and demonstrated effectiveness.

This network provides significant advantages to clients.

• Pyxera performs as if it were much larger in scale, extending our capacity and competency wisely, and with unique and specialized experts.
• Hand-selected teams, organized specifically for the challenge at hand, provide key creative development skills, experienced program management, and an assurance of quality.
• Teams respond flexibly and nimbly to new collaborations.
• Pyxera partners have aligned their values and passions with our company missions of great patient care and accelerated life science research.