During my time at Michigan State, I pursued an extensive program focused on human anatomy, physiology, and movement. After completing a rigorous curriculum, as well as four years of research, I decided to apply for a master's program in biomedical engineering/bioengineering. Upon discovering the MS-MPE program at Pitt, I recognized that this would be the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on experience in medical device innovation and development, and prepare for a successful career in the medical product industry.

 

As I began my first semester at Pitt, I found myself surrounded by a medical hub of opportunities. Eager to explore what Pitt had to offer, I enrolled in classes that focused on topics I wasn't familiar with, but wanted to learn more about. These classes included Human Factors, Biomechanics, and Neural Engineering. My goal was to determine the direction of my engineering career, and these classes helped me narrow my path. Ultimately, I realized that I wanted to pursue an engineering career that allowed me to work in a hands-on environment where I could develop and build devices that could enhance medical solutions and improve quality of life.

 

Through my experience in this program, I discovered that my foundational courses equipped me with the necessary skills to pursue my desired career. I gained valuable knowledge in areas such as innovation, design thinking, human-centered design, and prototyping, which are all crucial elements of the design process for medical devices. Moreover, I had the opportunity to work alongside experts in the field, including engineers, clinicians, and professors, to develop effective solutions to complex problems. From the early stages of ideation and prototyping to navigating regulatory pathways and developing business strategies, I was able to collaborate and learn from my courses and implement the knowledge I acquired into real-life situations.

 

Throughout my academic journey, my professors have been invaluable in providing me with guidance based on their industry experience. This helped me not only expand my professional network, but also standout when it came to applying to summer internships. As someone who is passionate and driven, I took the initiative to reach out to recruiters and apply for internships beyond the connections I developed at Pittsburgh. My efforts paid off and by the end of the semester, I had accepted a summer fellowship with the Department of Defense Military Performance Lab in San Antonio, Texas. During my time there, I worked on developing medical devices for combat medics to use in high-stress environments. This experience allowed me to work with the military and interact with service members while applying my knowledge of design principles and the valuable insights that I gained from my program curriculum. My summer internship was invaluable, as it has given me a glimpse of what I want my future career to look like as I begin to apply for full-time positions in this industry.