What first drew you to MedTech?
It’s amazing to work with the ultrasmall mechanical cables we produce for the MedTech space because our components are helping people get treatment faster, get well faster, and are exposed to less surgical risk. It’s wonderful to participate in creating such tiny parts that make such a huge impact on the entire world.
When did you first know you wanted to be in the industry?
I have family who are medical doctors and chemists, all who chose careers that help people. So, it was a natural urge to work with MedTech. I chose engineering because I wanted to produce the tools that help medical professionals help their patients.
What are some of the barriers women face in today’s MedTech industry?
I grew up in Mexico. Since childhood, the mentality was that engineers are largely men. Upon entering the workforce, after completing my degree, I recall being asked, “Are you going to be able to do this?” Today I don’t experience the inequality as much as when I was a student in Mexico. Today, on the merits of my contributions I am measured, and that fact has reduced the barriers dramatically.
In your opinion, what more can be done to promote the greater participation of young women in the MedTech industry today?
I think schools could do more to publicly advocate for young, female learners in general. When I was a student, I didn’t see a great deal of advertising or campus signage that urged females to enter engineering. I think women make incredible engineers in MedTech, or any discipline. I would recommend high schools and colleges, around the world, plainly encourage women to see themselves as the engineering difference-makers I am grateful to have become.
Why is it important for companies to be more inclusive and have more women in charge?
For me, the emphasis on gender, as a defining principle, leads to missed opportunity. Diversity is important because one can easily overlook great talent in favor of the antiquated comforts had in assigning value to gender. When a company spots talent, over gender, it’s poised to succeed due to its commitment to diversity, not in spite of it.
What projects, past or present, have made you love what you do?
While I can’t single out a specific project, what I love about engineering is that we’re tasked with process improvement. So, when my scientific colleagues and I are addressing a process challenge, my love for what I do is automatically renewed.
What projects are you most looking forward to?
More and more at Sava, we’re solving some of the most complex surgical robotics mechanical cable challenges the world is facing. It is an honor to participate in getting the next generation of surgical robots to the markets from which all of our loved ones will benefit.
Talk about your leadership skills. What is the most important lesson you have learned that has guided you in your career?
I always like to listen to what a customer needs to achieve. To be successful, engineers need to tend to the smallest variables and it’s those that are most often overlooked. In surgical robotics mechanical cable assembly design, the tolerances are extremely difficult to achieve. Listening and studying intently the application’s requirements ensures we meet those hard-to-make tolerances and that is as satisfying a professional experience as I think I’ll ever have.
