In this series, we’re introducing some of our long-standing employees at MedEngine. Mirkka Koivusalo serves as a Scientific Consultant on the Medical Data Science team.
Mirkka is kind, witty, and possesses a sharp sense of humor. It’s unmistakable when she’s in the office—the jokes never stop flowing!
Mirkka shares her lifelong passion for biology and medicine. “I earned a PhD in cell biology from the University of Helsinki. My PhD thesis focused on intracellular membrane trafficking. After my PhD, I undertook two postdocs in cell biology: one at the University of Helsinki and another at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON, Canada. Those experiences deepened my understanding and appreciation of scientific research in a leading cell biology lab. Nevertheless, I realized that a career in academia was not my calling. I decided to turn my hobby of animal training into a profession, becoming an animal trainer and running a dog training school in the Toronto area for over six years. During my years as an animal trainer, I worked on one particularly eccentric research project in canine scent detection at a major hospital in Toronto. I trained dogs to detect hospital-acquired pathogens by scent! But then, eventually, I chose to return to Finland, determined to find a position where I could apply my research-oriented mindset in the medical field.”
“Mirkka is intrigued by the blend of medical research and real-life problem solving at MedEngine.”
Mirkka says she was drawn to MedEngine from the start, intrigued by its blend of medical research and real-life problem solving. “I thought, could this be a job where I can use my research skills to work more directly with clients and help improve healthcare?” The answer was a resounding yes!
Since Mirkka joined in 2017, the company has grown significantly in size and expanded across the Nordics. Despite MedEngine’s growth, Mirkka finds it’s the motivated team spirit that has continually propelled the work forward.
“It’s clear that Mirkka is a devoted animal lover!”
“At MedEngine, I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of interesting real-world evidence projects in fields such as IBD, rare diseases, and diabetes. It’s rewarding to see research concepts come to life through the retrieval of register data and collaboration with our data analysis team.”
It’s clear from everything said that Mirkka is a devoted animal lover. She has always had dogs and remains passionate about horseback riding, a hobby she’s enjoyed since childhood and has recently rekindled. Additionally, she is a fitness enthusiast, particularly enjoying pilates and running in her free time. Mirkka lives by a simple philosophy: “If something isn’t working for you, have the courage to trust your instincts and don’t be afraid to try something new.”
Wonderful! Thank you, Mirkka—it’s great to have a colleague like you!
