NEWTOWN, Pa., April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSDT) (TSX: HSM), a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey S. Mathiesen, CPA, to its Board of Directors, effective as of June 9, 2020. Upon his appointment, Mr. Mathiesen will serve as Chair of the Company’s Audit Committee.

“Jeff joins our Board of Directors with more than 25 years of experience as Chief Financial Officer of numerous growth-oriented, technology-based companies, including significant experience in the healthcare sector,” said Philippe Deschamps, Chief Executive Officer of Helius Medical Technologies and Chairman of the Board of Directors. “I am very honored to welcome such an accomplished financial expert to our Board and look forward to leveraging his expertise as Chair of our Audit Committee.”

Mr. Mathiesen’s career experience includes executive and financial management positions with both public and private companies. He most recently worked for Teewinot Life Sciences Corporation, a privately held global leader in the biosynthetic development and production of cannabinoids and their derivatives for consumer and pharmaceutical products, from March 2019 to December 2019, where he served as Chief Financial Officer and later Advisor to the CEO. Mr. Mathiesen previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Gemphire Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, from 2015 to 2018. Prior to joining Gemphire Therapeutics, Mr. Mathiesen served as Chief Financial Officer of Sunshine Heart, Inc., a publicly traded medical technology company, from 2011 to 2015. Mr. Mathiesen began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP in 1983. He received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of South Dakota and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Mr. Mathiesen has served as Director and Audit Committee Chair of Sun BioPharma, Inc., a publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for pancreatic diseases, since 2015, NeuroOne Medical Technologies Corporation, a publicly-traded medical technology company providing neuromodulation continuous EEG monitoring and treatment solutions for patients suffering from epilepsy and other nerve related disorders, since 2017, and eNeura, Inc., a privately-held medical technology company providing therapy for both acute treatment and prevention of migraine, from 2018 to 2020.

About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc.
Helius Medical Technologies is a neurotech company focused on neurological wellness. The Company’s purpose is to develop, license and acquire unique and non-invasive platform technologies that amplify the brain’s ability to heal itself. The Company’s first product in development is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS^TM). For more information, visit www.heliusmedical.com.

About the PoNS Device and PoNS Treatment
The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS) is an authorized class II, non-implantable medical device authorized for sale in Canada. PoNS is intended as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy and indicated as a short term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. The PoNS is an investigational medical device in the United States, the European Union, and Australia, and is currently under review for clearance by the AUS Therapeutic Goods Administration. PoNS Treatment is currently not commercially available in the United States, the European Union or Australia.