I currently work in Manufacturing for a CAR-T pharmaceutical product at BMS, so going into this course, I honestly thought it might not add much to what I currently do. However, after watching the first lecture, my perspective on the class completely changed. What stood out to me was how much the lecture focused on the real world outside of college. Instead of starting with textbook material, the first lecture focused on what we can actually learn from this course and how we can use it in our careers.
This was especially meaningful to me because I started my master’s after taking a three-year gap from school. Since coming back, I’ve tried to choose classes based not only on completing my degree requirements, but on whether I can actually learn something that will benefit me in my career. I found the first lecture so relatable that I went back to it several times on my phone during my long drives to school and work, and even while I was at the gym. It honestly made me feel like I found a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to what I’ve been looking for from my master’s courses.
One phrase Dr. Simon used that really stuck with me was, “The real title of this course: The course that will get you a job.” Even though I already work in the pharmaceutical industry and not directly in medical devices, that statement made me even more interested in seeing what I can take from this course and apply to my own career. Did anyone else have a similar reaction to the first lecture, especially those of you whose current work or career plans aren’t directly related to medical devices?
Hi Ahmed, I liked your topic and wanted to said couple things.I had a similar reaction to the first lecture. What stood out to me was that the course seems focused less on memorizing information and more on understanding how the concepts we learn actually connect to industry and career development. I think that is especially valuable in biomedical engineering because our degree can lead into so many different areas, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, research, quality, and regulatory work.
Even if someone does not plan to work directly with medical devices, I think a lot of the skills from this course can still transfer to other industries. Topics such as product development, risk management, regulatory requirements, documentation, and working with cross-functional teams are important in both medical devices and pharmaceuticals. In your case, working in CAR-T manufacturing probably gives you a different perspective because you are already seeing how quality, safety, and manufacturing decisions can directly affect a product intended for patients.
I also liked Dr. Simon’s idea of treating the course as something that can help us professionally, not just academically. It made me think more about whether I am actually developing skills that employers will value rather than simply completing another requirement for my degree.
Since you already work in the pharmaceutical industry, what skills or topics from this course do you think would be most useful for helping you move into a different role in the future?