Inside MedTech Event: Turning Science into Real World Innovation

Carolina Franco
5 days ago
4 min read

On March 26th, BCLA hosted Inside MedTech: Careers at the Intersection of Engineering, Medicine, and Industry, bringing together the Los Angeles biotech and MedTech community for an evening centered on how science, engineering, and clinical insight come together to shape real-world healthcare innovation.

From the moment attendees arrived at California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, the space quickly filled with energy, curiosity, and a shared interest in what it means to build technologies that directly impact patients’ lives. What began as a gathering of individuals from diverse scientific and engineering backgrounds evolved into thoughtful conversations about career transitions, real-world problem solving, and the many ways to contribute within the MedTech ecosystem.

The evening opened with keynote speaker Dr. Farzad Azimpour, Senior Vice President of Advanced Innovation & Technology at Edwards Lifesciences, whose story set the tone for the night — not as a linear path, but as a series of opportunities shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to step outside of traditional boundaries. Trained as a cardiologist, he shared how exposure to breakthrough technologies, like transcatheter heart valve therapies, led him into MedTech innovation. His perspective highlighted that impactful technologies are rarely built in isolation; they emerge from partnerships between clinicians, engineers, and scientists working together to solve meaningful problems. A central theme throughout the keynote was that innovation is not just about having the “best idea,” but about identifying the right problem. Whether through clinical insight, engineering design, or translational strategy, meaningful progress begins with understanding unmet needs and building solutions that truly improve patient outcomes.

This perspective carried seamlessly into the panel discussion, thoughtfully moderated by Enoch Omale (Illuminant Surgical), who guided a dynamic conversation across leaders from multiple sectors of MedTech, each offering a unique lens on career pathways and day-to-day work in the field, with panelists sharing perspectives spanning R&D, clinical strategy, corporate leadership, and startups. Eric Johnson, PhD (Abbott) shared his experience working on cardiac devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators, illustrating how technical and physiological knowledge can directly translate into life-saving technologies, while Megan Estes, PhD (Boston Scientific) provided insight into clinical research and strategy, emphasizing how skills developed during a PhD, particularly critical thinking and data interpretation, extend far beyond the bench. Tarun Mahajan, MD, MBA (Zimmer Biomet) offered a perspective on corporate strategy and portfolio development, highlighting how clinical training can evolve into roles that shape the direction and growth of entire organizations, and Kathryn Zavala, PhD (MedTech Innovator) brought a startup and venture perspective, sharing her experience supporting early-stage companies and underscoring the importance of adaptability, resourcefulness, and learning by doing in fast-moving environments. Together, the panelists reinforced a common message: there is no single path into MedTech, as careers are shaped by transferable skills developed in academia, such as critical thinking, persistence, and resourcefulness, and refined through real-world experience, while also emphasizing the importance of expanding beyond one’s specific research focus to understand the end user, the business landscape, and the full lifecycle of a product.

The discussion highlighted the inherently collaborative nature of MedTech, emphasizing that from early-stage concept development to clinical validation and commercialization, success depends on cross-functional teamwork that brings together expertise from engineering, clinical research, regulatory affairs, and business strategy; innovation does not happen in a silo, but is driven by teams willing to learn from one another and build collectively. Beyond career pathways, the conversation also explored the future of MedTech—from the growing role of AI and data to advances in robotics, sensors, and home-based healthcare—while reinforcing a central idea that, despite rapid technological evolution, innovation must always remain grounded in real clinical need and patient impact.

With a room full of engaged attendees, the energy throughout the night was undeniable, as questions extended beyond the formal discussion and conversations flowed seamlessly into an interactive and lively networking session, where attendees gathered around informal discussions, connected over light refreshments and snacks, and had the opportunity to engage directly with all of the speakers in a more personal setting, exchanging ideas, asking follow-up questions, and gaining deeper insights into different career paths. Many participants left not only with new connections, but also with a clearer vision of how their own skills could translate into meaningful careers in MedTech. Ultimately, events like this serve as a powerful reminder that the future of healthcare innovation is shaped not only by technology, but by individuals who are willing to explore new paths, collaborate across disciplines, and build solutions that truly matter.

BCLA extends its sincere gratitude to everyone who joined us and contributed to such a thoughtful and inspiring evening. We are especially grateful to our core sponsors, Amgen, Teknova, LA BioSpace, and Magnify at CNSI, and to our event sponsor, the Consulate General of Finland for their support in making this event possible.