Navigating Early Careers in Medical Devices
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In this final episode of the season, Viterbi Voices features Dominic Delatore, a junior in biomedical engineering, interviewing two graduating seniors—Ashani and Greg—about their early career experiences in the medical device industry. The conversation dives deep into internships at major companies like Edwards Life Sciences, Abbott, and Medtronic, highlighting their roles in research and development, test method development, and cross-functional collaboration. The guests share insights on day-to-day routines, the surprising blend of speed and regulatory slowness in product development, and the importance of foundational STEM knowledge and extracurriculars like design competitions and research. They also reflect on the vibrant intern communities, fun excursions like skydiving and Disneyland trips, and the value of networking and authenticity in job searches. The episode closes with a lighthearted vibe check on Coachella, personal retreats, and a memorable mud wrestling adventure, underscoring the balance between professional growth and personal joy during the final stretch of college. Key takeaways include: (1) Early career success in medical devices hinges on both technical skills—especially in 3D modeling and statistics—and soft skills like networking and authenticity; (2) Cross-functional teamwork is central to the industry, with roles spanning R&D, manufacturing, quality, and regulatory; (3) While industry moves fast day-to-day, long-term timelines are dictated by regulatory processes, requiring patience and strategic thinking; (4) Internship experiences are as much about culture and connection as they are about technical work—coffee chats, team events, and weekend trips build lasting bonds; (5) Students should explore diverse opportunities beyond the classroom, including clubs, startups, and research, to stand out in competitive hiring. The episode ends on a warm, reflective note, celebrating the transition from student to professional while encouraging future applicants to visit campus and engage with USC Viterbi’s vibrant community.
Technical skills in 3D modeling (SolidWorks) and statistics are foundational, but foundational STEM knowledge (physics, chemistry) often proves more valuable in real-world problem-solving.
Cross-functional collaboration is essential—R&D engineers work closely with quality, manufacturing, regulatory, and clinical teams, making adaptability and communication critical.
The medical device industry moves quickly in day-to-day execution but is constrained by long regulatory timelines (e.g., FDA submissions 5–10 years out), requiring patience and strategic planning.
Internship culture thrives on connection: coffee chats, team events, and weekend trips build camaraderie and professional networks that extend beyond the job.
Authenticity and diverse extracurriculars—like music, design competitions, or even mud wrestling—can be as impactful in interviews as technical achievements.
Introduction and Vibe Check
Hannah introduces the episode and hosts a light-hearted vibe check, discussing upcoming Coachella, personal retreats, and weekend plans including exploring LA and a memorable mud wrestling event.
Guest Introductions and Career Focus
Dominic, Ashani, and Greg introduce themselves, sharing their academic backgrounds, extracurriculars, and current roles. They set the stage for discussing early career experiences in medical device companies like Edwards Life Sciences, Abbott, and Medtronic.
Internship Roles and Projects
The guests detail their specific projects: Ashani worked on surgical heart valve testing and welder integration at Edwards; Greg focused on test fixtures and biocompatibility for cardiac rhythm management devices at Abbott; Dominic developed stiffness profiles for neurovascular catheters at Medtronic.
Day-to-Day Experience and Company Culture
They describe their typical workdays—starting at 8 AM, lab testing, coffee chats, meetings, and cookie time at Edwards. They highlight the balance of autonomy and structure, the importance of cross-functional communication, and the vibrant intern community.
Surprises and Lessons Learned
The guests reflect on unexpected aspects of industry work: the paradox of speed vs. regulatory slowness, the business-driven nature of projects, and the value of foundational science. They emphasize how classes like BME 415 and physics proved unexpectedly useful.
“Just keep kind of talking to people and hearing about what you're supposed to be doing... eventually you will end up landing something.”
“You have to plan projects 10 years out in advance and just seeing like the process development pipeline... I was like, guys, like that's kind of late.”
“If you're passionate about it, they can definitely tell. So like find something that you're interested in.”
Host
Guests
Dominic Delatore
person
Ashani
person
Hannah
person
Edwards Life Sciences
organization
Greg
person
USC Viterbi School of Engineering
organization
Medtronic
organization
Abbott
organization
SolidWorks
product
BME 415
other
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