2026 BME Career Development Day & Spring Recruiting

Build Once, Adapt Forever: Using Problem-Solving Skills to Power a Lifetime Career
Location: IBB Suddath Seminar Room

 In a rapidly changing job market, technical skills alone won’t sustain a career—and unprepared opportunities are often wasted ones. This keynote challenges students to move from reactive career choices to intentional career design by building transferable problem-solving skills that apply across roles and industries. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks to manage their time, communicate their value, and adapt confidently as their careers evolve.

Angela Nelms, Director, Biolocity

Finding Your Fit: Design the Life you want to Lead
Location: EBB CHOA Seminar Room

Discover how clarifying your personal and professional values can transform your career search. In this interactive session, you’ll identify and prioritize your top career values, learn why alignment matters for long-term satisfaction, and explore how to apply your values in networking, interviews, and job decision-making. Walk away with a clear framework to evaluate roles and employers so you can pursue opportunities that truly fit what matters most to you.

Rachael Laguna, Corporate Relations Manager, MS Analytics @ Georgia Tech

Dana Zastrow, Corporate Relations Manager, Coulter BME @ Georgia Tech & Emory University

Networking with Impact
Location: Marcus Nanotechnology Conference Rooms

An interactive session where a MedTech executive and a career advisor will share tips on building meaningful connections—both online and in person. Bring your device, come ready to practice, and leave ready to seize your next opportunity! An active LinkedIn account is highly recommended.

Tiana Knight, Career Development Advisor, Career Center @ Georgia Tech

Mario Ball, Area Vice President Rhythm Solutions, Boston Scientific Cardiology Group

Turning Experience into Evidence: Practical Strategies for Showing Up Strong in the Job Search
Location: IBB Suddath Seminar

In Turning Experience into Evidence, students will use asset-based tools and guided practice to connect their academic, co-curricular, and personal experiences to the skills employers seek. This hands-on workshop builds confidence and provides practical strategies for articulating strengths during the job search and interview process.

Rachael Pitts-Hall, Ph.D., Director of Faculty and Student Training, Coulter BME @ Georgia Tech

Stephanie Selvik, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Belonging & Student Support @ Georgia Tech

Medtronic Lunch & Learn: Recruitment Tips & Tricks
Location: IBB Suddath Seminar

Join this interactive Lunch & Learn with Medtronic professionals as they share their career journeys and insights into navigating the recruiting process. Attendees will learn how to read and dissect job descriptions at the company, identify what hiring teams are really looking for, and tailor applications to stand out. Walk away with practical tips you can immediately apply to your job search—from resumes to interviews.

Sami Graves, Principal Campus Recruiter - Cardiac Ablation Solutions, Medtronic

Brian Coplin, Regional Manager CS II Cardiac Ablation Solutions, Medtronic

Marina Burke, Principal EP Mapping Specialist Cardiac Ablation Solutions, Medtronic

Maahi Jain, Associate Clinical Specialist Cardiac Ablation Solutions, Medtronic
 

Alumni & Student Networking Luncheon
Location: Marcus Nanotechnology Conference Rooms

Join us for a Coulter BME Student and Alumni Luncheon, a casual, in-person networking opportunity where students can hear firsthand about diverse career paths, ask questions, and build meaningful professional connections with 30+ Coulter BME alumni. This supportive environment offers a chance to practice professional communication skills while connecting with alumni who once stood in your shoes and are eager to share their experiences and advice.

Careers in BME: Alumni Perspectives & Pathways
Location: Marcus Nanotechnology Conference Rooms

Join us for an engaging alumni career pathways panel featuring five distinguished Coulter BME alumni who have built successful careers across a range of industries and roles. Panelists will share their unique career journeys, pivotal decisions, and lessons learned along the way—highlighting that there is no single “right” path after graduation. This session offers an opportunity to gain insight into different career options, ask candid questions, and walk away with practical advice to help you navigate your own path with confidence and intention.

Shadi Nakhai, Sr. R&D Engineer, Avanos Medical

Richard Seeger, Ph.D, Sr. Legal Counsel, The Coca-Cola Company

Jiexi Liao, Sr. Clinical Data Scientist, Danaher

Phillip Trusty, Manager, Clinical Research, Abbott

Michael Lan, Partner/Founder, Landmark

 

Getting Hired as an International Student
EBB CHOA Seminar

Navigating career opportunities as an international student can be challenging—but you don’t have to do it alone! This interactive session will have tips, resources, and real-world insights from a director of employer relations, a global internship advisor, and international student alumni on their experiences.  Bring your device to access resources.

Andrea Comsa, Director of Employer Connection, Career Center @ Georgia Tech

Jonathan Rivera Perez, Global Internships Advisor, Office of International Education @ Georgia Tech

Helya Taghian, Materials Engineer, Stryker

Ansuj Deva, Data Scientist, House Methodist Hospital
 

Planning for your Future: Managing Time to Make it Happen
IBB Suddath Seminar

Ever look up at the end of the week and wonder where all your time went? This session is for anyone struggling to carve out consistent time for their job search amid busy schedules. You’ll learn why intentional time management is critical to planning for your future—and how to build realistic routines that support your career goals. Walk away with practical strategies to prioritize tasks, stay accountable, and turn plans into progress.

Rebecca Pope, Ruark, Ph.D., ACC, Director, Office of Faculty Professional Development @ Georgia Tech