Notre Dame Students See Opportunities In Medical Device Industry
April 28, 2022 at 1:21 a.m.
Notre Dame Students See Opportunities In Medical Device Industry
By Staff Report-
The tour, organized by OrthoWorx, as part of the ThinkOrtho program, featured tours and conversations with personnel at DePuy Synthes, The Orthopaedics Company of Johnson & Johnson and Paragon Medical.
“We have such great opportunities for careers in innovative, global companies here in our area,” said Nichole Rouached, communications and projects manager for OrthoWorx. “But what really distinguishes these companies is that they are helping patients lead better lives through the products and services they provide. That’s meaningful to college students today.”
The tour started at Paragon Medical where the students saw how orthopedic implants, instrument and instrument cases are designed and produced. They also saw Paragon’s BioSkills lab, where medical professionals are trained on the latest techniques in orthopedic surgery. The students discussed technologies and careers, with Paragon Medical employees Dan Smallwood, operational excellence leader, and Andre Chilafoe, bioskills manager. MaRissa Thatcher, talent and acquisition and development specialist, helped organize the tour for students. She emphasized that internship opportunities through Paragon Medical “are an immersive experience, where engineering candidates gain skills operating a range of equipment so they know the process for creating products they may design.”
The last stop on the tour was at DePuy Synthes, where the students met with Liz Wiederhold, senior project manager, and Steph Recker, product development engineer. Students were able to hear how Revra DePuy first began the Orthopedic Capital of the World® with the formation of DePuy in 1895. Additionally, students were able to tour the manufacturing facility and get a glimpse of activities in laboratories. They also were introduced to the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution, which can be used during total knee reconstruction surgery.
Susan Clark, who led the tour for Notre Dame, said such field visits are important for students.
“What impresses me and our students is the incredible variety of career fields and disciplines the medical device industry offers,” said Clark. “The fact that these devices must interact with the human body in a safe and effective manner makes the engineering challenges that much more interesting.”
According to Rouached, OrthoWorx intends to conduct future such tours with students from various universities.
“This is a program we’ve had to put on hold because of COVID restrictions,” she said, “but we’re anxious to gear back up and let a range of students know about the great career possibilities here in the area.”
Formed in 2009 with initial funding from the Lilly Endowment for the Orthopedics Capital Foundation, the OrthoWorx (www.orthoworxindiana.com) initiatives feature community-based strategic collaborations with the orthopedic industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the Warsaw region continues to reap the social and economic benefits that derive from its position as The Orthopedic Capital of the World.® Learn more about the ThinkOrtho program at www.thinkortho.net.
The tour, organized by OrthoWorx, as part of the ThinkOrtho program, featured tours and conversations with personnel at DePuy Synthes, The Orthopaedics Company of Johnson & Johnson and Paragon Medical.
“We have such great opportunities for careers in innovative, global companies here in our area,” said Nichole Rouached, communications and projects manager for OrthoWorx. “But what really distinguishes these companies is that they are helping patients lead better lives through the products and services they provide. That’s meaningful to college students today.”
The tour started at Paragon Medical where the students saw how orthopedic implants, instrument and instrument cases are designed and produced. They also saw Paragon’s BioSkills lab, where medical professionals are trained on the latest techniques in orthopedic surgery. The students discussed technologies and careers, with Paragon Medical employees Dan Smallwood, operational excellence leader, and Andre Chilafoe, bioskills manager. MaRissa Thatcher, talent and acquisition and development specialist, helped organize the tour for students. She emphasized that internship opportunities through Paragon Medical “are an immersive experience, where engineering candidates gain skills operating a range of equipment so they know the process for creating products they may design.”
The last stop on the tour was at DePuy Synthes, where the students met with Liz Wiederhold, senior project manager, and Steph Recker, product development engineer. Students were able to hear how Revra DePuy first began the Orthopedic Capital of the World® with the formation of DePuy in 1895. Additionally, students were able to tour the manufacturing facility and get a glimpse of activities in laboratories. They also were introduced to the VELYS™ Robotic-Assisted Solution, which can be used during total knee reconstruction surgery.
Susan Clark, who led the tour for Notre Dame, said such field visits are important for students.
“What impresses me and our students is the incredible variety of career fields and disciplines the medical device industry offers,” said Clark. “The fact that these devices must interact with the human body in a safe and effective manner makes the engineering challenges that much more interesting.”
According to Rouached, OrthoWorx intends to conduct future such tours with students from various universities.
“This is a program we’ve had to put on hold because of COVID restrictions,” she said, “but we’re anxious to gear back up and let a range of students know about the great career possibilities here in the area.”
Formed in 2009 with initial funding from the Lilly Endowment for the Orthopedics Capital Foundation, the OrthoWorx (www.orthoworxindiana.com) initiatives feature community-based strategic collaborations with the orthopedic industry and other stakeholders to ensure that the Warsaw region continues to reap the social and economic benefits that derive from its position as The Orthopedic Capital of the World.® Learn more about the ThinkOrtho program at www.thinkortho.net.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092