About us
Employee Owned and Proud to Serve Our Customers
For over four decades, Sawbones, the originators of "hands-on" workshop models, continues to be the leader in medical models for orthopedic and medical education.
Pacific Research Lab was founded in 1975 by Foss Miller, a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University.
The company’s first products were prepreg composite parts for the sporting goods industry. Soon a connection was made with Dr. Frederick Lippert who was the Chief of Orthopaedics at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Seattle and Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Dr. Lippert was concerned that the orthopaedic resident training programs did not include enough hands-on training. Lippert’s vision was to have a plastic artificial bone that cut, drilled, and felt like real bone to be used to practice all the various procedures of orthopaedic surgery. With the aid of Dr. Lippert’s enthusiasm and guidance, the right combination of materials was formulated at PRL and SAWBONES was born.
The company, headquartered on Vashon Island, now has over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space and provides Sawbones products to customers all over the world.
Foss Miller and Denzil Miller of Sawbones at an early trade show.
For over four decades, Sawbones, the originators of "hands-on" workshop models, continues to be the leader in medical models for orthopedic and medical education.
Foss Miller and Denzil Miller of Sawbones at an early trade show.
OUR HISTORY
Pacific Research Lab was founded in 1975 by Foss Miller, a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University.
The company’s first products were prepreg composite parts for the sporting goods industry. Soon a connection was made with Dr. Frederick Lippert who was the Chief of Orthopaedics at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Seattle and Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
Dr. Lippert was concerned that the orthopaedic resident training programs did not include enough hands-on training. Lippert’s vision was to have a plastic artificial bone that cut, drilled, and felt like real bone to be used to practice all the various procedures of orthopaedic surgery. With the aid of Dr. Lippert’s enthusiasm and guidance, the right combination of materials was formulated at PRL and SAWBONES was born.
The company, headquartered on Vashon Island, now has over 100,000 square feet of manufacturing space and provides Sawbones products to customers all over the world.
WHO WE ARE
Mission
As employee owners, we deliver an exceptional customer experience through sustainable partnerships and effective solutions.
Vision
We commit to…
- being the trusted partner for medical education and simulation training models worldwide.
- building a thriving company for the prosperity of our people and our community.
Values
Integrity
We strive to do the right thing every day.
Stewardship
We listen, attend, and commit to our team and our customers.
Curiosity
We seek to understand.
Respect
We build trust and address challenges with compassion and empathy.
MEET OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Norine Martinsen
Chief Executive Officer
Foss Miller
Founder
Chairman of the Board
Kit Gruver
Director of Human Resources
McKee Buxton
Chief of Product Strategy
Cindy Scheelsmith
Controller
Amber Williamson
Plant Manager
Thom Porro
Director of New Product Development
Rusty Knowler
Director of Engineering
Kell Christopherson
Plant Engineering Manager
