"Tattoos are very popular among 20-30-year-olds, both in the United States and in Poland. But some tattoos are later mourned and must be removed. Until recently, all methods except surgery were ineffective. We entered the market with very strong short-pulse lasers, called picosecond lasers. We have very good results in the removal of tattoos, but also in the fight against pigmentation problems. Our system allows to remove both artificial and natural discoloration that occurs, for example, under the influence of sunlight" - Orkiszewski told PAP.

The engineer designs medical equipment. He leads an R&D team in a public company in California, which designs laser equipment for dermatology. Warsaw University of Technology graduate explains that laser-based devices are used in both medical dermatology and cosmetics. Earlier, he specialised in the use of lasers in ophthalmology (treatment of diseases of the cornea, retina, treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, glaucoma) and urology. He cooperated with Polish academic centres in Katowice, Bydgoszcz and Warsaw.

In his opinion, it is very difficult to enter the medical equipment market with new devices. Doctors have plenty of equipment, which generally does not break. Still, his company managed to commercialise laser products for dermatological applications. Lasers and their control systems built by Cutera listed on NASDAQ are sold around the world, including Poland. In Europe, there are numerous commercial and servicing offices of the company, most devices are sold in the US and Asia, mainly in Japan and Korea.

Orkiszewski was inducted into the Golden Book of Warsaw University of Technology Graduates. The ceremony took place on 16 November. In an interview with PAP, the graduate confirmed his readiness to support a mentoring project in which the most talented students receive support from persons experienced in combining scientific achievements, applied research and business.

"I am an industrial employee rather than a scientist, but I have over 30 years of experience in conducting research related to the industrial use of lasers, with laser control systems and design of medical equipment. So I can bring practical knowledge to the education of future professionals. The relationship between more experienced person and a younger student is well-known. The mentoring program should include people who are valued at the university and have contributed to its history and reputation" - said the engineer.

Orkiszewski emphasised that in Silicon Valley, where he lives and works, all his colleagues know where he comes from and which university he graduated from. "The education that I received, allowed me develop comprehensively. I owe that to the people I met in the process of my education. I graduated in precision engineering, now it is the Faculty of Mechatronics. I studied biomedical engineering, my professor was Grzegorz Pawlicki, president of the Association of Graduates and Friends of the Warsaw University of Technology. My second mentor is Prof. Tadeusz Pałko. They, and the program they created, gave me a broad basis for further development" - he said.

President of USPTC actively organizes contacts between Polish universities and Stanford University. In collaboration with the National Centre for Research and Development and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education he participates in the Top 500 Innovators programme - his organization has already hosted nearly 500 students in California. USPTC also runs the Polish Innovation Hub created for young start-ups whose founders want to globalise operations, come to the United States and try their hand in the US market, in obtaining venture capital. Now, students of Warsaw University of Technology have a chance to travel as part of an internship.

"I would expect cooperation with students of biomedical engineering or electronics who would be interested in designing medical equipment, and even better if it is based on lasers. First thing I will look for are good intentions. Because mentoring works only when both parties are interested. Many years ago, when I was studying at Warsaw University of Technology, I had an individual course of study. This system was analogous to a mentoring, a relationship between a researcher and a student, who himself chose this learning mode. There were a few of us, in my case it worked very well. If I can give back and contribute to the professional development of young people, I\'ll do it with great pleasure" - declares the "golden" graduate.

Orkiszewski assured that he would be available to the selected students via teleconference and during stay. In this way, he may be consulted on selected issues in graduate or undergraduate projects. The entrepreneur advises all students, not just those who will participate in the mentoring program, that they should prepare for continuing their education after studies.

"I expect graduates who potentially come to work for us, to have more to offer than just academic knowledge. They will have to learn what my or another company does anyway. They should be versatile, aware that they need to develop and learn throughout their careers"- concluded Orkiszewski.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Karolina Olszewska

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