By Merari Mejia Robles
Merari Mejia Rojas
Participating in the DxD Healthtech Exploration Workshop and having the opportunity to attend the MedTech Conference with DxD helped me affirm why I wanted to join the medtech industry. As a mechanical engineering student, I had various industries of interest as I approached graduation, but the medical field had always drawn my attention.
During my time with DxD, I had the incredible opportunity to learn, experience, and hear all about the different roles and possibilities in medtech. I recall I was surprised by the variety of majors attending the workshop. I really enjoyed working alongside these students and hearing their perspective to brainstorm, problem solve, and present. DxD’s welcoming environment made the speakers and mentors an incredible resource to receive guidance and clear some doubts about what it is truly like to work full time in the industry.
Throughout the workshop activities, networking, mentoring, and conference discussions, I found what differentiated this field from all the other industries, the gratification of the impact your work has. Coming from Colombia, I have always wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities I get and use my career to help others. Listening to the power and pride speakers at the conference spoke about their work inspired me to join the field. The conference also provided great exposure to different companies allowing students to see their products and company culture. Witnessing all this was a great chance to network, get advice, and see where my interests aligned with companies/careers.
I now work as an R&D engineer as Supira Medical where we are making a low profile, percutaneous ventricular assist device. I began at Supira Medical as a summer intern and returned for a co-op/intern position my senior year. During this time, not only was my skillset growing but also my relationships with my coworkers. The networking and the relationships I created during my internships are what helped me land at Supira Medical and get brought in fulltime.
If I were to share a few pieces of advice with students, it would be this:
Use your time as a student to explore
Join clubs, attend events, go to conferences, and pursue internships. This is one of the few times in your life where you can try different things with relatively low risk. Exposure to different environments helps you understand what you enjoy and what you don’t.
Expand your network
Talk to professionals, professors, and other students. Even a short conversation or a LinkedIn message can open unexpected doors. Networking doesn’t have to be formal; it just starts with being genuinely curious about someone else’s path.
It’s okay to “fail”
Failure is part of learning, and learning is how you grow. No one starts their career knowing everything. If a project doesn’t go as planned or an internship isn’t what you expected, you’re still gaining valuable experience. As long as you’re intentional and keep trying, you’re moving forward.
Choose something that genuinely interests you
You’re likely going to spend decades working. Find a field that excites you and keeps you curious. Your major doesn’t strictly define your career path, so take time to research different roles and ask how others got there. When you enjoy what you do, it becomes much easier to stay motivated and avoid burnout.
Learn more about DxD’s summer Healthtech Exploration Workshop.
Connect with Merari Mejia Robles on LinkedIn as she continues her journey in medtech.