Current Chemical Engineering students at Lehigh received an inspiring glimpse into the versatile career paths available to them, thanks to a visit from alumna Emily Speakman (BS ‘18). Emily, who transitioned her foundational chemical engineering degree into a successful career in the medical device industry, shared her journey, emphasizing the critical value of the rigorous technical education she received in Chemical Engineering at Lehigh. The depth of this foundational knowledge enabled her to quickly adapt to a new technical area and rapidly excel in her new role.which involves supporting physicians directly in the operating room with heart valve technology – a truly impactful role!
Now a Clinical Sales Specialist at Abbott, Emily detailed her professional evolution, which included roles as Quality Engineering and Research and Development Engineer at W.L. Gore, and an internship at Mars. She highlighted how her chemical engineering training provided a powerful understanding of complex concepts from fluid dynamics to materials — knowledge that proved directly applicable to her work with cardiovascular devices. She also reflected on the crucial role of life-long self-learning instilled in her as an undergraduate student and the realization of how technical skills gained in her undergraduate program were relevant to a diversity of roles.
Her career trajectory serves as a powerful testament to the flexibility of a Lehigh Chemical Engineering degree. Despite initially planning for a different field, Emily's Lehigh-style education and her willingness and ability to adapt this knowledge propelled her into specialized roles.
A key theme of the session was Emily's move from Research and Development (R&D) to a clinical sales role. While R&D offered the reward of scientific creation, Emily noted the challenges of long development timelines and the risk of project cancellations. "My chemical engineering education was a strong base for understanding the technical requirements of medical devices," Emily explained. "But what I found was that the immediate impact in the operating room, supporting physicians and educating them on heart valve technology, was incredibly rewarding."
In her current role, Emily provides crucial support during surgical procedures, ensuring the correct use of Abbott's Mitraclip and Triclip heart valve devices. This shift has allowed her to enjoy the variety of working in different hospital settings and witnessing the immediate, positive effect on patients. She acknowledged the unique blend of medicine and commerce in her job, admitting that the "sales aspect of medicine" took some getting used to.
The session concluded with an open Q&A, where Emily reinforced her core message: a chemical engineering degree offers a robust, versatile foundation capable of supporting diverse and dynamic professional careers.
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