Good question. A project manager manages a project. He is the king of that project. As you said a project manager can have a ph.D. degree or experience to support clinical or market knowledge. 

In my opinion, it depends on the project. If the project is academically focused then a project manager with ph.D. will be more beneficial. On the other hand, if the project is clinically focused then a relevant experienced project manager will be more beneficial. 

Therefore, there is no exact answer in my opinion. It depends on the project's requirement. 

I think at the end of the day, they will both have different perspectives. However, they are both going to have to learn a lot of stuff, either way, if they both want to do their job well. I do not have any preference for either manager. As long as they have a drive to complete the project, and I have clear expectations on my contributions, with timelines. I am fine. 

This is a good question because as a Ph.D. student, I always have a concern about the privileges that I may have in the future as a part of a project member.

Generally, I believe that individuals with advanced degrees possess specialized expertise and problem-solving skills that can contribute to innovation and the resolution of complex problems within a project. For example, a project manager with a physical therapist background can offer valuable insights when developing medical devices related to mobility, rehabilitation, or assistive technologies. Physical therapists have hands-on experience in patient care, rehabilitation, and understanding the functional aspects of the human body. A project manager with a physical therapy background can provide practical knowledge about the user and the nuances of therapeutic interventions, which can enhance the development and usability of medical devices in this field.

This an interesting and a wide topic of discussion.

In my opinion as an Engineer, in the medical device industry, a project manager with an academic background, including basic science or advanced degrees like a PhD, offers valuable skills. Their strong foundation in scientific principles, research methodologies, and analytical thinking is advantageous for tackling intricate engineering challenges and comprehending the technical complexities of medical device development. Their academic training fosters a strategic problem-solving approach, contributing to overall project efficiency.

However, a project manager with a more clinical-focused (i.e. nurses, doctors) background would have direct experience in the healthcare settings and can provide better insights into end-users, clinicians and the real life applications of the medical devices. 

In the fast-paced medical device industry, project teams need academic and clinical competence to innovate and improve patient outcomes. Academically qualified project managers understand research methods, analytical thinking, and scientific rigor. Their strategic problem-solving and data analysis skills enable them to tackle complicated medical device development issues. However, clinical managers like nurses and doctors offer practical advice and firsthand understanding. Managers with direct healthcare experience can provide valuable insights on end-user needs, clinical workflows, and medical device applications.

Project teams can solve complicated problems by combining academic and clinical backgrounds. Clinical input early in device design guarantees technical soundness and patient care relevance. Project managers' academic rigor encourages strategic planning, evidence-based decision making, and creativity. Project teams can improve patient outcomes and advance healthcare innovation by working together and harnessing various perspectives to develop medical device technology.

The type of manager that is best for a certain project should rely on the assignment. An academically focused project manager may be preferable for projects in highly technical or research-intensive fields due to their analytical and research skills. Furthermore, academically educated project managers tend to be more innovative and open to trying out new ideas. However, because of their superior knowledge of medical language and patient care, a clinically focused project manager is preferable in healthcare projects where safety and treatment of patients are critical. Usually, they are excellent communicators and highly sympathetic.

I think this question is very interesting and could have many different opinions. For me, I can see benefits from each side. Especially for medical devices, clinical experience would be of great benefit because you have hands on experience that knows what needs to be done and the exact things that need to be addressed with the device. This is beneficial because you know that the device is being made for the best of the patient. On the other hand, I think the device would be made to the best capability with someone who has more academic experience though. Although clinical experience will give you the hand on experience, academic experience will allow you to make the best product possible. Overall, I think that if there were two project managers who have both clinical and academic experience that would be the best combination. 

In general, I do not think there is a major difference between a project manager with an academic background and one with more professional experience. An individual can develop expertise on a given subject through both academics and real-world experiences. Thus, as long as they are an expert on the given subject then they should be a sufficient project manager. While both may be adequate, you may want to choose the project manager based on the project at hand. If the project is more research-oriented, a manager with an academic background may be more suitable. If the project is more in terms of product development, a manager with a professional background may be more suitable.

In my opinion, project managers with diverse backgrounds offer unique strengths that can greatly benefit project teams. Those with academic-focused backgrounds can bring strong analytical skills from their rigorous research and critical thinking methodologies which would help in risk assessment and problem-solving. Additionally, their attention to detail and adeptness in communication through their rigorous academic setting can help bring clear communication of the project goals and requirements to stakeholders and team members. Those with a primarily academic background are always continuously learning, which allows them to adapt and navigate complex project landscapes more effectively.

Project managers with a clinical-focused background like nurses or doctors, bring incredible subject matter expertise into projects involving a health care or medical background. Their firsthand experience and deep understanding of medical industry-specific challenges, regulations, and best practices enable them to manage projects with insight and precision. They also understand the management of interpersonal relationships that a working professional should have with their patients/consumer, and being able to tell what would be beneficial and would not. 

Ultimately, it is a blend of clinical and academic backgrounds that makes for a greta project manager with the best of both worlds, and I see that the type of PM running the show should be dictated by the project goal and needs, and the composition of the team being assembled.