Director, Quality Management
Please provide a summary of your job or research. What is an average day like? What are some duties performed?
I am a leader at a large, diversified healthcare company. My job is to make sure that the healthcare products we ship, like medical devices and drugs, are handled with care and that our operational processes meet all the necessary regulations. Every day, I collaborate with different teams to improve our processes, negotiate deals with third-party service providers (providers outside our company), and support our leaders in making important decisions. My main goal is to ensure everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
What is your educational background and what prompted you to go this direction?
I studied Human Resources for my bachelor’s degree, then earned a master’s degree in English/Science education, and also completed a master’s of science certification in Medical Neuroscience. Additionally, I took a course in Supply Chain Management at Harvard. I chose this career because I enjoy combining science with management to help make healthcare products safer and better. The idea of ensuring patient safety and improving healthcare quality really inspired me to pursue this path.
What have you struggled with or overcome in your educational path or life path to get to this point?
In order to pace with the changing dynamics in the healthcare industry, to gain a broader knowledge base and experience, I had to take a step back in my career at times. This meant accepting roles that allowed me to learn new skills and keep pace with industry changes, even if they weren’t advancements or promotions.
What is the best part of your job/research?
The best part of my job is knowing that my work helps keep people safe.
What is the worst part?
The worst part of my job is knowing there are parts of the world that don’t have access to proper care.
What’s the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part of my job is leading projects that make significant improvements in how we operate.
What has changed about your profession in the past ten years?
In the last ten years, my profession has seen a big shift towards deeper regulations in the supply chain and the adoption of new technologies. We’ve started using advanced data analytics and digital tools to improve how we monitor and ensure compliance with safety standards.
What do you think will change in the next ten?
In the next ten years, I think we’ll see even more advancements in digital health technologies and personalized medicine. Quality management will likely incorporate more predictive analytics and AI-driven solutions to enhance patient safety and efficiency. The regulatory landscape will also continue to evolve, requiring us to constantly adapt and innovate our strategies.
