MTM Final Symposium 2022

Opening of Symposium  – Shuvo Roy

Intro to MTM Final Symposium – Moose O’Donnell

Welcoming Remarks – Sanjay Kumar

1. NeoTune
2. Nexocura
3. Glyphic Biotechnologies
4. Novonate
5. Smart Cough
6. Perikinetics

(Genentech Hall Atrium)

1. Drug Induced Tissue Regeneration
2. High Fidelity Surgical Simulation
3. Starlight
4. Bioxytech Retina
5. PyrAmes
6. Enteral Isolation Device

Final Thoughts – Moose O’Donnell

Closing Remarks – Shuvo Roy

Shuvo Roy, PhD

Faculty Director of the MTM Program

Dr. Shuvo Roy is the Faculty Director of the MTM Program, a professor in the UCSF Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences (BTS), and director of the Biodesign Laboratory at the Mission Bay Campus. He is the Technical Director of The Kidney Project, a national research project with a goal to create a small, surgically implanted, and free-standing bioartificial kidney to treat end-stage renal disease.

Michael “Moose” O’Donnell, PhD

Executive Director of the MTM Program

Moose O’Donnell is the Executive Director of the MTM Program working across both campuses to create the joint University experience for the students. He also oversees recruitment of new projects for MTM teams; to discuss sponsoring a project, please contact him at mooseo@berkeley.edu.

Dan Burnett, MD, MBA

Industry Director of the MTM Capstone Course

Dr. Burnett, a CEO of TheraNova, received his M.D. from Duke University and concurrently obtained an M.B.A. from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business. Since 2006 Dr. Burnett has raised over $100MM for the seven TheraNova spinouts. He is an inventor on 15 issued patents and over 200 patents pending worldwide. He recently joined University of California San Francisco as an entrepreneur in residence with QB3 and as adjunct faculty in the Bioengineering Department.

Faculty Director, Vice Chair of the Master’s Programs at UC Berkeley

Dorian Liepmann is a professor in the Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley specializing in the fields of micro-fluid dynamics and MEMS design. Dr. Liepmann received his B.A., B.S., and M.S. degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from Occidental College and Caltech. He received his PhD in Applied Mechanics from UCSD in 1990. Initially hired in 1992 by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Liepmann became the first full member of the new Bioengineering Department in 1999. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering and a former Chair of the
Bioengineering Department. He is currently working on the application of MEMS to biological and medical problems with a major part of his research focused on the development of novel approaches for improved health care including MEMS-based biosensors and drug delivery systems.

Prior to joining the MTM program, Ahmed completed medical school and residency training in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. During the course of his training, he developed an interest in biomedical innovation and entrepreneurship. He aims to be a part of the constant innovation in medicine.

Plans after graduation: I will be continuing my surgical training at Stanford University specializing in Sleep Apnea Surgery starting this upcoming July. Connect with Ahmed on LinkedIn.

Dhruv has previously been involved in medical device engineering, product management, and user experience development at med-tech companies in San Francisco and Atlanta. Dhruv is a hands-on, results-driven leader passionate about bridging the gaps between bench top and bedside through clinical strategy development, device innovation, commercialization, and product application. Helping develop and commercialize technologies that can improve the lives of humans drives Dhruv to be curious, challenge long-held assumptions, and fuel transformative change.

Plans after graduation: Dhruv is seeking a role in clinical engineering or product management in a medical device company. Connect with Dhruv on LinkedIn.

Previously, Jordan received his B.S. from the University of Tennessee in biochemistry and molecular biology. He then earned his M.D. at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, while continuing his research in endocannabinoid modulation of stress and metabolic changes in endocrine-related malignancies at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. His passion for translating scientific discovery and innovation to patient care brought him to the Masters of Translational Medicine (MTM) program at the University of California (UC) Berkeley and UC San Francisco. Through the MTM program, he focused on the applications of tissue regeneration which enhanced his understanding of regulatory pathways, go-to-market strategies, and financing approaches for early-stage start-ups branching from academia.

Plans after graduation: Jordan was awarded a T32 National Institute of Health grant to investigate the impact of space flight on chronic inflammation and metabolic disease at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging as a post-doctoral fellow in the Furman and Winer labs. His primary interests focus on the impact of chronic inflammation on accelerated aging pathology and immune system modulation in extended microgravity spaceflight and radiation exposure. He aims to use his range of experience to contribute to the development of interdisciplinary measures and therapeutics to enhance healthy aging and safe space travel. Connect with Jordan on LinkedIn.

Claire joined the MTM program after completing her B.S. in Bioengineering with an Armenian Studies minor at UC Berkeley. In undergrad, she completed 2 years of biomaterials research experience and taught other bioengineering students about bioprinting for 3 years. Her experiences with Nexocura as an MTM intern have solidified her understanding of how to bring a drug to market, and she hopes to use this knowledge in the future to help bridge more gaps in healthcare. As a medical student and eventually physician, she hopes to work as a consultant with start-up companies to build a better future for patients.

Plans after graduation: After graduating, Claire will be attending Keck School of Medicine of USC in Los Angeles, California as a first-year medical student. Connect with Claire on LinkedIn.

Prior to the MTM program, Sam attended Villanova University, where she competed in track and field as a Division I athlete, spent 2 years researching cellular engineering and gene therapy, and graduated as the class of 2021’s valedictorian with a B.S in Chemical Engineering. During the MTM program, Sam worked with PrinterPrezz to develop more accessible and higher-fidelity alternatives to on-patient surgical training, and interned at the San Francisco VA Medical Center as an applied clinical simulations engineer.

Plans after graduation: Sam plans to pursue a career in biotechnology that will allow her to integrate her passion for making equitable healthcare more accessible with her pre and post-MTM experiences. Connect with Sam on LinkedIn.

Cornelius is currently a registered nurse in the Emergency Department at UCSF. Approaching 14 years of nursing experience, he is excited to pivot away from bedside nursing and leverage his clinical expertise to enlighten and improve medical device development in the Biotech/Medtech space. During the MTM, Cornelius was a member of Team SmartCough sponsored by Genentech. He participated in early clinical development, engaging stakeholders within Genentech/Roche, pursuing regulatory pathways for FDA approval, and designing Usability studies emphasizing human factors and user experience.

Plans after graduation: Plans after graduation: Cornelius is ecstatic to combine his extensive clinical skills with the wealth of knowledge acquired through the MTM program. He is most passionate about working in global health and addressing health access across all healthcare spectrums, highlighting people of color and the LGBTQIA+ community. Immediately after graduation, Cornelius will embark on a 3 month international travel adventure, where he will harness cross-cultural experiences and his commitment to a solid work-life balance, allowing him to be a more well-rounded person and future innovator. Let’s change the world together! Connect with Cornelius on LinkedIn.

Nick is passionate about improving the standard of patient care. After graduating with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, he went on to join the MTM program to improve his understanding of the challenges preventing new devices from reaching patients. His prior experiences in research and quality control have helped him throughout his time working with Novonate, where he has been developing and testing the team’s prototype line management device. He plans to continue working in the medical device industry and hopes to see the impact his work has on patient’s lives.

Plans after graduation: Nick is seeking to continue working on medical devices. He is open to and seeking roles in different career paths, and is especially interested in engineering or consulting roles in research and development, quality, and manufacturing. Connect with Nick on LinkedIn.

Jacqueline is passionate about removing financial and usability barriers associated with healthcare accessibility. She received a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Cal Poly, SLO and then continued to the MTM program to develop a broader understanding of the overall healthcare industry and how she can combine her engineering expertise and business acumen to bring biomedical products to the people who need it most. She has had extensive experience in designing point-of-care diagnostics and assistive technologies such as prostheses and digital apps. This past year, she also worked with UCSF Innovation Ventures teams on supporting the development and commercialization of more than 20 innovations across different medical specialties. After graduation, Jacqueline will continue to work at the intersection of engineering, clinical research, and commercialization.

Plans after graduation: Through the MTM, Jacqueline found an interest in the strategic, non-technical side of the medical device industry and recently accepted a job as a Regulatory Project Manager in the Clinical Evaluation team within the Global Regulatory Operation at Abbott in the Bay Area. Connect with Jacqueline on LinkedIn.

Arisa Chuklin is passionate about helping patients to lead healthier lives. Prior to the MTM, she pursued a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University before working in the pharmaceutical industry in marketing. During her time at Novartis, she has spent 2 years working in the transplant and respiratory space to aid in drug & indication launches and marketing strategy planning and execution. Arisa has joined the MTM Nexocura team to gain experience in the earlier phases of healthcare product development and hopes to pursue a career in the early stages of the development pipeline.

Plans after graduation: Arisa is seeking preclinical and clinical research positions in the medical devices and pharmaceutical industry where she can be actively involved in bridging the gap between the lab benchtop to a patient’s bedside. Connect with Arisa on LinkedIn.

Naveen previously earned a BA from UC Berkeley and an MBA from the USC Marshall School of Business before starting medical school at Nova Southeastern University. He has authored over 20 papers in peer-reviewed journals and serves on the Editorial Leadership Board of the Journal of Patient Experience. Naveen took a one-year leave from his medical studies to complete the MTM program. During his MTM year, he launched a medical device startup, won several business idea competitions, gained acceptance into five different incubator and accelerator programs, and participated in various pitch presentations to investors from Silicon Valley. He also stayed active with UCSF by participating as a Catalyst Summer intern, contributing to the campus newspaper, laughing two campus organizations, and serving as the student representative on the UCSF Academic Senate Committee on Library and Scholarly Communication. Naveen also participated in the Stanford-UCSF Exchange Program and completed coursework at Stanford University.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Naveen will continue working on his startup alongside his medical studies and career. He will also return to medical school clinical rotations to complete the MD degree (with just a little over one year remaining). Naveen looks forward to eventually completing an internal medicine residency to become a part-time hospitalist. He hopes to enjoy a hybrid career as a physician-entrepreneur and expects to launch numerous biotechnology companies in the coming years. Connect with Naveen on LinkedIn.

This year we worked on the product development and go to market strategy of one of Pyrames’s devices. There were a few key areas in the development process and market strategy that summarized our experience. First market segmentation and customer discovery second, regulatory pathway and finally designing a clinical study were all subjects we worked on and accomplished this year. I was able to get a better understanding of what it takes to be in a startup and what it takes to be in a good team

Plans after graduation: I plan on continuing my academic journey at Berkeley. I will be working with Dr. Mofrad as a PhD candidate in Applied Science and Technology. Connect with Nya on LinkedIn.

Crystal is a double bear who recently graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Bioengineering and a minor in Data Science. Before joining the MTM she had various academic experiences in cell & tissue engineering and chemical engineering research, and industry experiences through different internships at medical device companies. After MTM she is inspired to bring her knowledge from school to help commercialize and bring innovations to life.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Crystal plans to join Fujifilm Irvine Scientific as a Project Manager, where she could apply her knowledge in the intersection of engineering and business. Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn.

This year Stephen has focused on on digital health innovation, entrepreneurship, and novel applications of telehealth and digital therapeutics. He is a Flare Capital Scholar, the founder of the Digital Health Affinity Group at the UC Berkeley Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, FORM+FUND Fellow at Startup@BerkeleyLaw, Blackstone LaunchPad Fellow, and winner of the Haas Healthcare Conference pitch competition. This year he also studied Biodesign for Digital Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. Prior to graduate school, Stephen earned a BA in Computer Science at Carleton College.

Plans after graduation: Stephen is continuing to work on his digital health startup in the summer following graduation from UC Berkeley and UCSF. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn.

Sofia has a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester. She has 2 years of academic research experience in biomechanics and has had internship experience in medical device project management and quality and regulatory affairs. Through the MTM and previous projects, Sofia has gained extensive experience in product development through iterative prototyping, clinical needs finding, market analysis and regulatory strategy development. Sofia hopes to use her education and experience to be the bridge between end users and engineers to make better medical devices.

Plans after graduation: Sofia will be joining Intuitive Surgical as a Clinical Development Engineer on their Vision Team. Connect with Sofia on LinkedIn.

Andrea graduated with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Engineering and a minor in French from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was inspired by product development courses and her research in low-cost technologies design for underserved populations. Andrea also graduated with a Masters’ in Biomedical Engineering from a joint program between the Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC), where she focused her thesis around microfluidics and organ-on-a-chip technologies. Throughout the MTM she has been focused on building her business strategy knowledge and device development skills during her capstone experience.

Plans after graduation: Andrea is seeking a product management or product development role in the medical technologies industry. Her goal is to leverage her knowledge and international perspective to bring medical devices a step further and increase access across the world to such technologies.

Prior to MTM, Nikhil graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. During his undergraduate career, he had experience with surgical robotics, machine learning, neuroscience, and teaching. As an MTM intern at Genentech, he developed usability studies, evaluated regulatory strategies, and conducted competitor analysis to facilitate the use of digital health tools in clinical trials. He is passionate about taking cutting-edge engineering and ensuring it safely arrives to patients and clinicians.

Plans after graduation: After graduating, Nikhil will be working as a Regulatory Affairs Associate at Veranex to develop regulatory strategies for medical devices. Connect with Nikhil on LinkedIn.

Bethany is passionate about creating patient-focused medical device innovations. She received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Cal Poly SLO and has worked on designing and developing a range of medical devices from prosthetics to heart valves. Currently, she is working on an enteral isolation device to help improve palliative care for pancreatic cancer patients. This year she has enjoyed the hands-on prototyping and testing, as well improving her skills and knowledge in the business and regulatory components.

Plans after graduation: After graduating, Bethany will be joining Edwards Lifesciences as an engineer in their Technical Development Program located in Irvine, CA. Connect with Bethany on LinkedIn.

The MTM program exposed me to many great people who come from all walks of life. I had the privilege to be a member of multiple groups and organizations, participate in numerous internships, and grow my vast network all within 10 months. My expectations of this program were far surpassed and pursuing the MTM program was one of the best decisions I’ve made throughout my life. I would like to thank our program directors, coordinators, and faculty/staff for fostering a worthwhile experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. None of this would’ve been possible without them.

Plans after graduation: My plan is to dive into the industry after graduation. At the moment, I’m exploring options within the fields of tissue engineering, 3D printing, bioprinting, robotic technologies, neurotechnology, and medical devices. I would ideally like to work as a Clinical, Product Development, or R&D Engineer, however, I’m still playing out my options and seeing where this journey we call life takes me. Connect with Raed on LinkedIn.

Prior to MTM, Henry received his M.D. from National Yang-Ming University in Taiwan and was selected to the Young Talent Path program with a pre-admission to the MBA program at IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Barcelona. He has completed the postgraduate-year residency training in general practice, and has worked in AI healthcare startups including Babylon Health and Taiwan AI Labs as a clinical researcher. During the MTM program, Henry has collaborated closely with PrinterPrezz to develop high-fidelity simulated gastrointestinal models to elevate the training quality of medical staff and enhance patient outcome. His interests lie in urology, surgery, infertility, digital health and AI in healthcare.

Plans after graduation: Henry will be starting his residency training in Urology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and also acting as the translational role in his clinical practice to bring more innovation to improve patient care. Connect with Henry on LinkedIn.

After finishing his undergrad in mechanical engineering at UCLA, Trevor sought out specialized education in the medical device field, leading him to choosing to get a masters of translational medicine. Ever since he was a kid, problem solving and innovation came naturally to Trevor, as he would construct complex lincoln log structures and develop intricate hot wheels tracks. This inquisitive nature led Trevor to pursuing engineering as his degree, where he worked with engineers without borders to employ those engineering skills to improve peoples quality of life. Growing up the son of a physician, Trevor also spent lots of time observing his mom diagnosing and treating patients while volunteering in clinics, where he gained an appreciation for and interest in healthcare. All of these experiences culminated to leading Trevor to where he is today, pursuing a career where he can innovate and develop novel solutions to problems throughout the healthcare landscape.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Trevor is hoping to either work as a clinical engineer finding solutions to problems in the hospital or as a R&D engineer working at a medical device company. Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn.

Katie has a B.S. in Exercise and Health Science with minors in Chemistry and Mathematics from Willamette University, where she researched the impact of neurodegeneration on proprioceptive acuity. Prior to MTM, she conducted a study on nerve regeneration and muscle atrophy prevention in a bioengineering collaboration between Northwestern University and the University of California, Los Angeles, which fostered her interest in the research and product development space, evolving into a keen interest in cognition, sleep, and neurological disorders.

Plans after graduation: Katie will be leveraging her experiences from MTM to springboard her career with NextSense, a Google X startup dedicated to building the foundation of brain health. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn.

Jessica has a Bachelor’s in Bioengineering from Berkeley where she did research evaluating factors that influence neural stem cells’ fate decisions. She also taught multiple Bioengineering courses, helping her to advance the journeys of future engineers. Outside of the department, she worked in campus residential life and volunteered as an ESL tutor, understanding and helping overcome the challenges of these diverse communities. MTM has expanded on her technical experience and dedication to community empowerment by revealing new avenues through which to advance healthcare.

Plans after graduation: Jessica is looking for roles in which she can engage with clinicians, engineers, and other stakeholders to understand areas of need and increase accessibility of medical innovations. These would likely be in clinical or human factors engineering, though given how broad this field in, she’d be happy to connect about other relevant or interesting opportunities. Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn.

Prior to MTM, Brendan completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at UCLA. During this time, he worked in a bioengineering research lab, an electronics manufacturing company, and a radiation oncology company. This year, he applied his technical skills to medical devices through his capstone project, where he assisted Dr. Craig Munroe in the design of a novel balloon catheter device.

Plans after graduation: Brendan plans to bring his mechanical engineering skills and broad knowledge acquired in the MTM program to R&D efforts in the medical device industry. Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn.

A board-certified endocrinologist and pediatrician with ten years of clinical and medical research experience at National Taiwan University Hospital. Served as attending physician in the pediatric department, designing and conducting the medical education program. Broad expertise in diabetic care, clinical development, team management, and healthcare organization strategy. Also worked at NTU Children’s Health Foundation for the fundraising campaign internationally. A confident presenter and communicator accomplished in imparting complex information to audiences of all levels.

Plans after graduation: Aim to join the biomedical innovation ecosystem, facilitating translational development to solve clinical challenges. Looking forward to applying medical knowledge and experience to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, and related healthcare fields. Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn.

Fiara is a curious and driven bioengineer passionate about building novel, equitable healthcare technologies. She developed her technical skills at San Jose State University, graduating with a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering in 2021. With hands-on experiences in research, engineering, and quality control, Fiara joined the MTM program to explore the collaboration involved to take product from idea to commercialization. Fiara is currently working with the SSF-based company Novonate, designing a novel medical device in an interdisciplinary team to address a critical problem in the NICU.

Plans after graduation: Through MTM, Fiara believes she can best contribute to medical device innovation as a product manager or clinical engineer. She aspires to apply her technical foundation in a user-facing role, engaging with patients and clinicians to pinpoint unmet clinical needs and spearhead the design process. As a new grad, Fiara is excited to continue supporting and empowering the next generation of leaders in STEM. Connect with Fiara on LinkedIn.

Alexandro is a recent graduate of UC Davis with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Prior to the MTM program, Alexandro conducted research in biophotonics for label-free detection of neurons and drug delivery for rehabilitation efforts in wildlife at UC Davis. During the MTM, his team worked with PrinterPrezz to develop a high-fidelity training model to train residents to perform polypectomies. Additionally, he and his team worked with the SF VA clinical simulation lab where they led the efforts in the development of a high fidelity jaw to place in a mannequin for a maxillomandibular fixation study. Alexandro hopes to continue growing as an engineer in the medical device industry, working closely with clinicians.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Maggie is looking for a position that could combine her biomedical engineering and translational medicine background in the product management career pathway. Connect with Alexandro on LinkedIn.

Bailey joined the MTM program after receiving her B.S. in Biological Sciences and Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. She has over 4 years of research in academia and industry, including publications in the American Heart Association, Journal of American Society of Nephrology, and FASEB Journal, and is eager to apply her understanding of science and ethics as they relate to clinical regulation and research. During her time with MTM, she worked on developing a novel intraperitoneal insulin delivery device with Perikinetics, assessing user needs and further indications for the device.

Plans after graduation: Bailey is looking forward to working as a clinical and translational research coordinator, advocating for novel and affordable diagnostic techniques and treatments. Connect with Bailey on LinkedIn.

John Merritt has three years of pre-clinical/startup research experience developing novel nanoparticle formulations for biologics. His practical experience in lipid nanoparticles, polymers, spray drying and lyophilization has led him to pursue a career in drug delivery for biologics and pharmaceuticals that will improve patient care.

Plans after graduation: John Merritt plans on working in drug development in San Francisco after graduating from UC Berkeley. Connect with John on LinkedIn. 

Prior to attending the MTM program, Mustafa graduated from UC San Diego with a B.S. in Bioengineering: Biotechnology. While at UCSD, he pursued bioengineering research, while also participating in multiple clinical experiences such as hospital volunteering and scribing. Through these experiences, he found his passion for combining engineering and medicine, and he intends to continue to do so as he explores innovative and elegant solutions for the patient groups he will serve in the future. During the MTM, Mustafa worked with the Starlight Cardiovascular capstone team, helping them weigh different factors to determine their next product for helping pediatric interventional cardiologists treat children with congenital heart defects.

Plans after graduation: In the fall, Mustafa will be attending medical school and hopes to become a physician dedicated to innovation and improving patient care. Connect with Mustafa on LinkedIn.

Dylan joined the MTM program after completing a B.S. in Bioengineering at UCLA. He has 3 years of research experience in a software capacity for a cardiac MRI imaging lab. Through the MTM program, he has been working with Bioxytech Retina to develop clinical, regulatory, and reimbursement strategies for their Biorexa device to be used for early-stage diabetic retinopathy detection.

Plans after graduation: Dylan is seeking an R&D or systems engineering role in a medical device company. Connect with Dylan on LinkedIn.

Prior to the MTM program, Archana received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC San Diego. She chose to pursue translational medicine because while she enjoys the creative engineering process, she found that she is more interested in interacting with key stakeholders to define user pain points and develop personalized solutions. Through her capstone project NeoTune and her part-time internship at Willow Innovations, she has leveraged insights from both patients and scientific advisors such as neonatologists, OB-GYNs, and pediatricians in order to guide key design decisions. Archana has several relevant experiences in the fields of women’s health and minimally invasive surgery and is passionate about delivering innovative and accessible solutions to underserved patient populations.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Archana intends to pursue a role in marketing or product management where she can apply her technical skills and user-centric approach to address health inequities. Connect with Archana on LinkedIn. 

Rico served in the US Army for seven years as a special operations combat medic for the 75th Ranger Regiment, including five combat deployments to Afghanistan. After being honorably discharged from the military, he earned a BA in Computer Science from Columbia University while completing his premedical requirements. During the first wave of the pandemic, he worked on the front lines for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital providing nursing care in a field hospital and as a COVID tracheostomy care provider at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Rico also has experience as a clinical research intern at New York University.

Plans after graduation: Rico is currently applying to medical schools and plans to become a physician innovator, applying the many skills learned during the MTM program to develop medical solutions aimed at improving people’s human experience. Connect with Rico on LinkedIn.

Taylor has always been interested in the intersection of technology and the brain. At Lehigh University, she studied electrical engineering and cognitive science. She was also involved in research experiences related to ALS and bioengineering. The MTM program helped her to explore the commercialization of research from the lab to a clinical setting.

Plans after graduation: After graduating from MTM, Taylor plans to pursue a research assistant position in a neuroscience lab. She plans to apply for a PhD in Neuroscience after spending some time in this position. Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn.

Prarthana is a bioengineer passionate about driving change and bringing clinical innovations to the patients that need them. After pursuing her B.S. in Bioengineering from UC San Diego, she gained experience in the pharmacology space at Genentech and in the wearable medical device space at Dexcom. This past year, she worked on evaluating a novel cough monitoring solution for Genentech’s upcoming clinical trial as the team’s project manager. Through her experiences at the MTM, she developed a deeper understanding of how to leverage market research, evaluate competitors, strategize appropriate regulatory pathways, and build products and processes for the end-user through a human factors lens.

Plans after graduation: Prarthana has greatly enjoyed combining her passion for engineering, leadership, and innovation through a patient-centric lens in her endeavors so far. In the same vein, she hopes to pursue a career in Product Management and related interdisciplinary roles to commercialize healthcare technologies for the patients that need them. Connect with Prarthana on LinkedIn.

Kuval is interested in designing a circular bioeconomy and democratizing scientific discovery. After receiving his B.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, he worked in academia and the diagnostics industry. After observing the lack of sustainability in the biotech industry and witnessing systemic barriers in scientific research, he joined the MTM to fix these issues.

Plans after graduation: Kuval will be joining Nonfiction as a Project Manager in San Francisco. He hopes to learn more about design and what it takes to create a sustainable future. Connect with Kuval on LinkedIn.

Bryce came to the MTM from Colorado College, where he built a background in neuroscience and biochemistry. This year, Bryce focused on building deep experience in micromachining, microfluidics engineering and digital health entrepreneurship. As part of his capstone, he constructed a manufacturing plan for Nexocura’s multi-part therapeutic. He is driven to leverage his understanding of micromachining and biology to build socially responsible solutions in medicine.

Plans after graduation Bryce will be moving to Boston, Massachusetts, where he will seek a position in biotechnology industry as either an inter-departmental emotional liaison or as a microfluidics engineer. Connect with Bryce on LinkedIn.

Eera is a physician passionate about leveraging technology and entrepreneurship to solve problems in maternal health. The intersection of business, engineering and medicine in the MTM aligns perfectly with her aspirations and background. This year, she gained tremendous knowledge and hands on experience in the health-tech space through her capstone project (Novonate) and startup incubator (Health-Tech CoLab). Prior to the MTM, Eera gained her medical degree (MBBS) from Newcastle & Durham University, UK. She is from Nepal and spent 8 years in a boarding school in India; a major goal in her life is to give back to the developing world.

Plans after graduation: Next year, Eera is working as a junior doctor in the University Hospital of North Durham, UK and plans to continue developing her startup with Bryce and Prarthana. Connect with Eera on LinkedIn.

Anna received her bachelor degree in Biomedical Engineering at Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona. She has a strong interest in understanding clinical unmet needs and fostering the development of innovative solutions that are patient-centric, through the collaboration of outstanding individuals to create a positive impact on our society. The development of health care ecosystems that improve clinical practice and make health care more accessible. She worked for 3 years in a engineering services company in the medical devices business unit as project manager and business developer.

Plans after graduation: Upon graduation, Anna is seeking for product management roles in the biomedical space or other opportunities that involve medical device strategy to support the process of commercializing medical products. Connect with Anna on LinkedIn.

Salim’s main driving focus is improving access to medical technologies in underdeveloped regions of the world. As a graduate from Arizona State University with a degree in biochemistry/biology, Salim gained experience working in the biotechnology sector as a scientific sales specialist. Through his capstone project, Salim was able to learn how to utilize 3D printing technology to create an innovative high-fidelity simulator of the colon and improve clinician surgical training. Salim was able to use the MTM program to understand the holistic process of medical device development, and is focused on discovering unmet clinical needs while concurrently building his technical and business expertise to devise innovative solutions.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Salim is interested in pursuing clinical engineering and product development roles in the medical device industry where he can utilize his unique background to help create affordable, effective, and necessary medical technologies for all. Connect with Salim on LinkedIn. 

Nicolette is continuously inspired by simple, elegant solutions that bring about great impact. Prior to the MTM, she received a B.Eng. (Hons.) in Biomedical Engineering from the National University of Singapore (NUS). She also worked at three MedTech start-ups where she had the privilege to meet great mentors who gave her space to grow and discover her professional interests. With skills and knowledge acquired from the MTM program, Nicolette aspires to address unmet clinical needs through novel medical technologies.

Plans after graduation: Nicolette will be joining Hannah Life Technologies – a Y Combinator-backed fertility MedTech startup focused on providing couples with accessible and affordable fertility solutions – as Product Manager, Innovation. She will be joining their mission to help 1 million couples trying to conceive, conceive – over the next 10 years. Connect with Nicolette on LinkedIn.

Marialena graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of St Andrews in the United Kingdom. After graduating, she explored different career paths through positions in scientific writing, communications in Pharma, venture capital, and consulting. Through this journey, she demonstrated adaptability and out-of-the-box thinking by introducing innovation in established departmental processes and achieving corporate growth by expanding project scope to reach international recognition. During this time, she also shadowed a pediatric surgeon in one of the top maternal and children’s hospitals in Athens, Greece, where she discovered how to apply her diverse skillset to address unmet needs. The MTM program provided her with a multidisciplinary and rigorous academic environment to develop her skills in regulatory strategy design and discover a passion for clinical research.

Plans after graduation: Leveraging her experience in the MTM program, Marialena intends to pursue a career in clinical research. Her ultimate goal is to create a lasting impact in patients’ lives by addressing the clinical challenges that hamper regulatory approval and the adoption of novel solutions. Connect with Maria on LinkedIn.

John graduated from Johns Hopkins in 2018 with a B.S. in computer science. For the past 4 years, he has worked as a bioinformatics software engineer building cancer diagnostics.

Plans after graduation: John plans to continue remote bioinformatics work at Personalis to make cancer tests more accurate, accessible, and affordable. Connect with John on LinkedIn.

Feyza Yazar is a Masters of Translational Medicine student and got her Bachelor’s of Science degree cum laude in Biomedical Engineering at San Jose State University. At San Jose State, she worked on two different research teams, both involving microfluidics. Through these experiences, she co-authored a protocol paper on studying the biomechanics of red blood cells and another paper on in-vitro diagnostic tools to evaluate antithrombotic agents for use in COVID-19 patients. Feyza was also very involved with the Biomedical Engineering Society Chapter at her school, and even served as secretary throughout her senior year. During her time with the MTM program working alongside Starlight Cardiovascular, she lead the regulatory and reimbursement strategy development for her capstone project team.

Plans after graduation: After graduation, Feyza plans to work for companies that are researching cures for cancers. She is passionate about saving lives and making a difference wherever she can. Connect with Feyza on LinkedIn.