He joined Merck, first in marketing division, spending over 33 years at the multinational pharmaceutical company.

[2][3] While studying pharmacy, Helfand began collecting medical ephemera after taking a class in art at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia.

He continued to collect for over fifty years, at home and while on trips abroad working for Merck.

[3][1] Helfand published widely on the social history of prints, posters, and pharmaceutical ephemera.

Helfand published numerous articles on the history of medicine and pharmacy.