Shane Wood is the Director of Technology for polymers (filmcast, extrusion, complex catheter manufacturing, and balloons) for Confluent Medical Technologies.
She has approximately 19 years of experience in medical device manufacturing, and, in that time, has led production and new product introduction engineering teams utilizing filmcast, extrusion, and catheter assembly technologies. Prior to medical device manufacturing, she held engineering positions in the semiconductor and optical fiber industries. Shane holds undergraduate degrees in chemistry/math and chemical engineering from Agnes Scott College and the Georgia Institute of Technology. She has a Master of Engineering Degree from North Carolina State and a Master of Biomedical Engineering from Colorado State University. Shane also holds a graduate certificate in Regulatory Affairs from the University of Georgia and is a Certified Six Sigma Blackbelt.
She lives in Chattanooga, TN with her wife and two awesome kids. In her spare time, she enjoys hands-on projects and artistic welding.
What initially attracted you to the medtech industry? How has your perspective on the industry evolved over the course of your career?
I was originally interested in the medtech/pharmaceutical industry because I wanted the opportunity to build a long-term career in a stable manufacturing engineering environment. At that time, I had seen, firsthand, the impact of sustained volatility in the semiconductor and optical fiber markets. Thankfully, over the last 19 years, the medtech industry has given me the opportunity to build a career while improving lives and doing work that matters.
As a seasoned professional in the industry, how do you envision the future of medtech? What emerging technologies or trends do you believe will have the most significant impact?
The future of medtech will be driven by those willing to innovate and consistently challenge the status quo. The trend toward decreasing size (thinner walls, tighter tolerances) without sacrificing device performance will continue to have a significant impact in the coming years.
From your experience, what are some of the key challenges that medtech engineers are likely to face in the coming years? How can professionals in the industry prepare for and navigate these challenges effectively? I think there are a number of trends that will challenge engineers in the medical device industry in the coming years. These trends include increasing regulatory scrutiny of materials (for example pigments, PFAS, solvent regulation, etc), the tendency toward increased performance while decreasing device size, and sustained cost pressure. In most of these cases, innovation is key. Innovation can help solve the first two and, in most cases, help minimize the downward pressure on cost.
In your opinion, what areas or applications within medtech have the greatest potential for growth and innovation? Why do you consider them promising? Advances in stroke treatment have been, and will likely continue to be, a significant area of growth and innovation in medtech. This will be an area of focus because of the sheer number of patients impacted and the potential for innovation (aspiration, robotic-assisted procedures, performance improvement of catheters, pharmacological treatments, etc). Treating irregular heart rhythms using safer and more efficient ablation methods like Pulsed-Field Ablation (PFA) will also be a big focus in the upcoming years.
As technology continues to advance rapidly, how do you think medtech engineers can stay ahead of the curve and ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge? Honestly, I think that the key to long-term success in most careers is to cultivate a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. This learning may come in many forms beyond formal coursework, including, but not limited to trade shows, industry magazines, self-study, mentorship programs, etc. Having platforms like LinkedIn allow you to stay in touch with both customers and colleagues in order to collaborate on new ideas and project opportunities.
From a broader perspective, how do you see the role of medtech engineering in shaping the future of healthcare? What impact do you anticipate it will have on patient care and outcomes? I see medtech engineers as partners with clinicians in the design and manufacturing of cutting-edge devices to enable new treatments aimed at improving patient outcomes.
Considering the increasing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, how do you think medtech engineers can effectively collaborate with professionals from other fields, such as medicine and computer science, to drive innovation in the industry? Utilizing the expertise of experts outside of our specific industry/discipline can be a powerful tool to drive advancement. Our team in Chattanooga regularly collaborates with chemists, material scientists, and practitioners from the wire and cable industry to help us understand where there may be opportunities to improve our processes and product offerings.
How do you think diversity and inclusion can contribute to the advancement of medtech engineering? How do you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization? Research shows that more diverse ideas consistently lead to better overall results. Teams with diverse backgrounds and perspectives bring a wider range of ideas, which lead to more creative and effective solutions to problems. Innovation is a core value at Confluent. As leaders, we help foster that culture by supporting an environment where we are not afraid to fail. Learning through failure is a necessary part of a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.