Meet Nordion's Sterilization A-Team

In each issue of the update, we will be profiling one of Nordion’s sterilization experts. In this edition, meet Kevin O’Hara, Production Irradiator Sales Manager

How long have you been at Nordion?

Kevin O’Hara: I have been with Nordion for just over 24 years. I joined Nordion when it was part of the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) Radiochemical Company in the summer of 1987.

How long have you been in the sterilization business and how did you get into it?

KO: After graduating with a physics degree from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario in 1985, I was working in satellite communications research and development at an Ottawa-based company when AECL advertized for a Radiation Physicist in the Ottawa Citizen. I was originally hired in AECL’s Industrial Irradiation Division, which had a very similar scope to today’s Sterilization business.

What is the biggest or most important transformation you’ve seen in the Sterilization business since you started?

KO: The most important transformation since I joined Nordion is the recent corporate refocus on our core products and services. Cobalt-60 manufactured by Nordion is used for a number of important healthcare related applications, including sterilization of single-use medical products and radiosurgery to treat brain tumours. The healthcare applications have always been a motivational factor and source of pride for the employees who work in Sterilization.

What are the three most important things you and your team aim for when working with Nordion’s Sterilization customers?

KO: The important first step is to understand the customer’s requirements-- not just their needs today, but to recognize where the customer’s business will be in five or 10 years. In addition, there are many competitive technologies. Our goal is to present Nordion’s gamma technology in a fair and equitable manner when discussing the advantages and disadvantages of the various sterilization modalities. Gamma is very well-positioned to compete with any other technology. However, we recognize that choice of technology is also driven by economics. We’ll work with the customer to determine the radiation processing cost using Nordion’s technology. Finally, Nordion’s engineering and physics support for the customer is unmatched in the industry. This is not a one-time sale; we are committed to developing a long-term relationship with all of our customers.