Career Diaries by Elemed

Raina Dauria has been a leader in the Johnson and Johnson family of companies since 2003. She is currently the Vice President Global Regulatory Affairs Policy at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, where she provides dedicated focus on critical regulatory policy issues to shape new and emerging regulations globally. In addition to her policy responsibilities, Raina leads the Regulatory Talent Management Strategy and the MedTech R&D Learning Sponsorship, which drives the benchmark Culture of Learning at Johnson & Johnson. Raina is dedicated to nurturing diverse talent, sponsoring leadership development and diversity recruitment programs. Tune in for- Misconceptions about soft skill- Overcoming adversity in your career- The hardest feedback Raina ever had to hear- Mistakes people make on their way to the topAnd much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Frédérique, a pharmacist with a Ph.D., has extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career with Novartis, gaining expertise in Operations, Quality, and Global Project Management. She later joined Edwards Lifesciences, where she held various leadership roles in Quality, eventually relocating to the US to lead Quality for Surgical and Implantable Therapies. She then moved to Becton Dickinson as Vice President International & Post-Market Quality, overseeing Quality Management globally. Frédérique is also dedicated to promoting women's advancement in leadership roles.Tune in for:Mastering the art of executive presenceTips for virtual executive presenceWhat makes great storytellingWhy practice makes perfectAnd much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Dr. Bill Hunter is the Founding Member and CEO of Canary Medical, a medical datacompany focused on the development and commercialization of its patentedimplantable sensor technology and complementary data and analytics ecosystem.Bill brings more than 30 years of experience in healthcare as a former practicingphysician, serial medtech entrepreneur and chief executive. Bill holds a Doctorate ofMedicine from University of British Columbia, a Master of Science from University ofBritish Columbia and a Bachelor of Science from McGill University.Tune in for:Three honest lessons learnt from failingWhat it really means to be disruptiveHow company culture changes with growthAdvice on how to become a CEOAnd much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Diana Saraceni is Co-Founder and General Partner at Panakes, a Venture Capital firm dedicated to early-stage investments in Life Sciences primarily in Europe and Israel. With over 20 years of VC experience, she has also co-founded and managed 360 Capital Partners. She has led investments in a significant number of companies all over Europe, not only in the Life Sciences sector, and generated several exits as IPO and M&A transactions. Diana is also part of several committees in Europe and in the US for public/private grants and awards allocation to start-ups. She also follows several portfolios in brain health tech. Tune in for:Insights into the current funding climateWhat VCs are looking for when they evaluate deals and the best way to ask for investmentTechnologies that are HOT right nowHow startups can really make moneyAnd much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

In this special podcast, elemed's CEO and founder Elena Kyria speaks to Virginie Schwartz, Vice President Quality Assurance at Mölnlycke.Virginie is a Quality professional with 20 years’ experience in medical devices regulations and 25 years’ experience in highly regulated industries, with a strong sense for patients’ safety and customers’ satisfaction.In this celebration of all things Quality, Virginie shares insights on:- how to build a Quality culture- how to engage the whole company in Quality- why top-down buy-in is crucialAnd much more! ✨ Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Elemed is Europe's leading medical device and IVD recruiter.Struggling to find a perfect match for your position?Exploring new opportunities to catapult your career and find your dream job?Want to see more of our content? From behind-the-scenes videos to being the first to see new jobs being posted? Follow our LinkedIn!------Eric Klasen is the founder of Waypoint Life Sciences Consulting. Eric has had a diverse career spanning several decades, starting in Human Genetics research and progressing through various senior roles at organisations such as Serono and Novartis. After retiring as Vice President RA & Quality EMEA for Medtronic in 2019, he now consults for life sciences industry startups, serves on the boards of life sciences startup companies and the European Forum for Good Clinical Practice in Belgium, and is a member of the Supervisory Board of a group of Obesity Clinics (NOK) in the Netherlands. Tune in for:How to change the narrative and talk BUSINESSRA and the PR problemStrategies for connecting with other business functions and becoming an enablerAnd much more ✨Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Elemed is Europe's leading medical device and IVD recruiter.Struggling to find a perfect match for your position?Exploring new opportunities to catapult your career and find your dream job?Want to see more of our content? From behind-the-scenes videos to being the first to see new jobs being posted? Follow our LinkedIn!------Annette Brüls has served as CEO of Medela since May 2018. She has more than 20 years of experience in the medical device industry, having held a number of global leadership positions in several multinational companies. Annette has a lifelong fascination with the roles that innovation and technology play in improving our lives. As a woman leader of an organisation committed to women’s health, and a mother and wife who has pursued career growth alongside motherhood responsibilities, Annette is personally dedicated to improving the opportunities available to mothers in the workplace.Tune in for:Insights into balancing a highly successful career and motherhoodDiscussion around why fewer women make it into leadership roles, despite more working in the industryHow companies can support mums who are returning to workAnd more ✨ Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Elemed is Europe's leading medical device and IVD recruiter.Struggling to find a perfect match for your position?Exploring new opportunities to catapult your career and find your dream job?Want to see more of our content? From behind-the-scenes videos to being the first to see new jobs being posted? Follow our LinkedIn!***Steve C de Baca is Executive Vice President and Chief Patient Safety & Quality Officer of Royal Philips as of February 2023 and brings more than 30 years of quality and regulatory affairs (QRA) experience in the medical technology industry.Additionally, Steve served as VP of QRA for Orthopedics and Americas for Zimmer Biomet, where he was responsible for supporting multiple business segments as well as the Americas region for international regulatory and compliance.Tune in toGain insights from advice offered to those apprehensive about career risks and blundersFind out how to strike a balance between risk and cautionExplore his approach to gauging the triumphs of taking risks...And so much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Olga van Grol-Lawlor is an experienced Regulatory Affairs professional in the medical devices sector. She has over 10 years of experience and currently holds the position of Global Regulatory Intelligence and Advocacy Manager at Boston Scientific. Olga is actively involved in various industry groups and committees, representing Boston Scientific and participating in EU Commission meetings. She is also a frequent speaker at regulatory conferences and has a background in Equine Science.Join in to:Harness the significant power of self-awareness and its role in shaping personal values to create your own unique path.Find out more about the pervasive impact of imposter syndrome on individuals of diverse backgrounds.Embracing a proactive mindset, unearthing positive results, and showcasing the power of proactivity.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Suzie, the Vice President of Regulatory at BSI, has an impressive eighteen years of experience and currently develops strategies, policies, and processes for the Medical Devices team to ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements. She also represents all Notified Bodies as one of the Chairs of NBCG-Med and Vice-President of TeamNB. Tune in to find out the following!Her global traveling experience and how it enhances her ability to effectively communicate with companies from diverse countries and cultures.The advantageous role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the MedTech industry, while also highlighting the continued importance of human involvement.How fostering a flexible work-place environment has a positive impact on promoting a dynamic and adaptable environment.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Tom Melvin is Associate Professor of Medical Device Regulatory Affairs at Trinity College Dublin. Prior to his current role, he worked for HPRA and as a medical doctor. This episode looks at his fascinating career journey and delves into the inside scoop of going from working at a Competent Authority to academia.Tune in to learn about:What is working in a competent authority really like?Major regulation changes and evolutionsTaking the leap into academiaThe future of medical device regulations and the impact of AIAnd much more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Mario is SVP RA/QA at Bio-Rad Laboratories and has witnessed first-hand the medical device industry evolving over the past 30 years. He is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to building a successful culture of quality.Tune in to this episode to find out how to develop a winning culture of quality yourself!He covers:Culture of quality - a definitionMeasuring a culture of quality - key KPIs and metricsKey steps to building a good culture of quality What does a bad culture of quality look likeActionable tips for improving the culture of quality at your own companyAnd more!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

This special episode of Career Diaries by Elemed is for International Women's Day 2023 and is about Leading Inclusively in a Global Environment.Featuring Meg Mucha of Philips, Andreas Stange of TÜV SÜD, Kristine Tucker of Bausch & Lomb, and Matthew Schabacker of BD.Listen to their insightful perspectives!Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Ondina is a Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs at Becton Dickinson, and has a wealth of experience leading teams and succeeding in the Medtech industry. In this episode, she discusses a topic that can really help you get ahead in your own career: visibility and exposure!She covers:What are visibility and exposure and why are they crucial?Is it more important for women to be visible?Top actionable tips on how you can start becoming more visible at your companyDos and don’ts of being visible in your organisationOndina’s key learnings and success storiesAnd much moreCareer inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:How to bring Quality into leadership discussionsThe art of aligning members of your teamAvoiding communication mistakesGetting Quality to not be seen as the 'police'And more!About Paul Belgrove:Paul Belgrove is British by birth, but moved to Switzerland in 2008 and now has Swiss nationality. He is a chemist by profession and, with brief sojourns into other industries, has worked for more than 30 years in the medical device and pharmaceutical world. He has worked for some small enterprises and also for the biggest players in the industry including, Nycomed-Amersham, GE Healthcare, Cardinal Health and most recently Becton Dickinson. Paul has worked in Quality and Regulatory departments including as a Qualified Person. In addition to QA/RA roles he has worked in Operations and IT leadership positions. He believes this experience helps give him a more rounded outlook and helps him to be a business focused Quality professional. Over the years he has built and managed large global teams and is most proud of successes developing individuals to reach their highest potential within high performance teams. Today Paul is working independently, leveraging his skills and experience to support Med.Tech. SMEs manage their way through business “inflection points” such as scale-up, market access, or regulatory compliance challenges.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:Leadership pillars from a skilled leaderThe art of building teamsHow a sales and marketing background can be useful in the world of medical devicesAnd much more!About John Wilkinson:John retired from his role as Director of Devices at the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in October 2019 after 7 years in the role. During this period, he acted as chair of the Competent Authorities Medical Devices network in Europe and led the establishment of the Joint Action on Market Surveillance (JAMS) which was a collaborative programme supporting the implementation of the Medical Device Regulations and better working across the network.John was elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Global Medical Devices Nomenclature in 2019, a position that he still holds whilst advising a number of organisations engaged in health policy, devices innovation and regulation.Earlier, John was Chief Executive of Eucomed, the leading European medical device industry representative body, and Director General of the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI). These followed extensive industry experience in sales and marketing and general management with Becton Dickinson and the BOC Group as well as a period as chief executive of early stage medical imaging company.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:Learn about IVDR from MR IVD himselfWhy we can all be INSPIRED by the healthcare industryThe VALUE of having a hands-on backgroundWhy you should find your DRIVE from unlikely sourcesAbout Steve Lee:Steve joined ABHI as Director of Diagnostics Regulation in 2020.After completing his degree in Biochemistry and Biology at Aston University, Steve trained as a Biomedical Scientist, working in hospital microbiology before moving to industry to work as company microbiologist. Steve joined MHRA in 1996 when it was still the Medical Devices Agency and when the IVD Directive had yet to be implemented.While at MHRA, Steve worked with manufacturers, Notified Bodies, other Competent Authorities, Trade Associations, standards bodies, and government departments. Steve was Chair of the European Commission’s IVD working group when the IVD regulations were being developed.In 2019, Steve was presented with the TOPRA award for regulatory excellence.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:Hear about Bassil’s UNIQUE career path to successWhy it’s crucial to be DECISIVE in lifeWhy you must accept some RISK in every ventureThe IMPORTANCE of leaving your comfort zone in industry About Bassil Akra:Dr. Bassil Akra is CEO and Owner of AKRA TEAM GmbH, a consultancy company which was founded in 2021 to support the various stakeholders in the healthcare system in achieving their targets in a highly regulated business area. He spent the last year consulting and supporting medical device, in-vitro diagnostic and combination device companies preparing their strategy for the EU regulations MDR 2017/745 and IVDR 2017/746. Before that, he spent many years as a subject matter expert at the biggest notified body in Europe acting in various roles and representing locally and globally the notified body association in the various European discussions and guidance documents preparation. Dr. Akra was the Vice President of Strategic Business Development at the Global Medical Health Services of TÜV SÜD Product Service GmbH. He has long experience in leadership, business management, research, development, quality management, and regulatory approval of medical devices, combination devices, and ATMP Products. Dr. Akra played an essential role during the implementation of the medical device regulation in Europe. He was also involved in the drafting of several European guidance documents (e.g. MEDDEV, MDCG, etc.) and International Standard. He spent the last years of his career at TÜV SÜD training and educating the various stakeholders on the EU Legislations (e.g. MDD/AIMDD, MDR and IVDR), supporting their implementation towards achieving the relevant designation ensuring continuity of the healthcare system in the interest of the patient population.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:How to find and understand your WHYGreat lessons in how to SUCCEED in Regulatory AffairsWhy connecting over food can be a POWERFUL way to build a rapport with someoneWhy MONEY shouldn’t be your biggest driving forceAbout Donielle Johnson: Donielle Johnson is the Executive Director, Global Head Regulatory Affairs-Medical Devices for Bausch Health. In this role, Donielle leads the creation of a global medical device organization that supports strategic priorities domestic and internationally ensuring access to innovative technology and compliant maintenance of business. She partners closely with stakeholders across Medical Devices and represents Bausch Health in various internal and external forums with regulatory bodies, health authorities and trade associations. Donielle leads a dedicated team that will work collaboratively to ensure consistency in global medical device policy-shaping activities. Prior to Bausch Health, Donielle was the Sr. Director of Regulatory Affairs for EMEA & Canada Johnson & Johnson. In this role, she was responsible for leading a team of ~70 people to ensure compliant and on-time launches of new products, lifecycle management and business transformation, and policy shaping to drive regulatory harmonization.Prior to Johnson & Johnson, Donielle held several global roles with major medical device companies such as Philips, Abbott Vascular, and Medtronic. Leading teams through challenging premarket approvals; such as PMAs, 510(k), Health Canada approvals, and MDD Design Dossier approvals. Additionally, Donielle has extensive experience in lifecycle management and leading major manufacturing site change projects, resulting in several millions of annual savings for the company. Her career has spanned several countries including the U.S, Japan, and the Netherlands where she has lived since 2014. Donielle holds a BS in Chemistry and Biology from Howard University. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Global Health Policy at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Donielle is originally from New Orleans but currently resides in Amsterdam. Her hobbies are travelling, cooking, and the arts. She lives by the motto: To whom much is given, much is required; and is a mentor with SMDP providing guidance to minority graduate students in the biomedical field.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.

Key takeaways:Learn about Liam’s EPIC comeback journey to successThe VALUE of being able to start from scratchThe art of PRIORITISATION and why this is neededWe can all be INSPIRED by Liam’s career journeyAbout Liam Turley:Liam is the CEO and Quality Expert at Trinzo and is based in Galway, Ireland. Liam brings deep executive experience in quality and regulatory strategy and improvements, with a track record of comprehensive quality performance improvement.Liam has worked with the medical device and pharmaceutical industry for over 25 years, including with companies such as Tyco Healthcare, Mallinckrodt, Covidien and Medtronic. Prior to founding Trinzo, Liam was a global vice president of quality assurance with Medtronic. Liam has worked and lived in the United States and the Netherlands and has managed teams globally. Liam has led global initiatives in the area of medical device and combination products.​Liam has expertise in the area of quality remediations and leads companies successfully in resolving notified body major/critical findings, 483s, warning letters and consent decrees. Liam also has extensive MDR expertise and understands the client’s needs for a pragmatic approach. He has liaised with multiple notified bodies, competent authorities, the FDA, and ministries of health around the globe.Liam holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and an MSc in biotechnology, in addition to a postgraduate diploma in pharmaceutical manufacturing.Career inspiration, medtech opportunities, hiring solutions and market insights, all in one place. Find them here.