# S2E03 Engineering Empathy, Identifying Needs, & Developing Strong Work Ethic | Blayne Roeder

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2021-01-22
- Length: 49m
- Episode: 3
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne

## Summary

Blaine Rader, who holds three engineering degrees from Purdue and has held senior director roles at Med Institute and Cook Group, discusses his journey from a farm upbringing to leading R&D for aortic stent grafts. He emphasizes the importance of engineering empathy, spending significant time defining unmet clinical needs, and the value of working directly with physicians to understand surgical procedures. Rader also shares advice on career development, highlighting the need for a strong work ethic, mentorship, and the willingness to fail fast in product development.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=0) Introduction and Farm Background
- [9:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=554) Career Start at Med Institute and Cook Group
- [14:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=862) Defining Unmet Needs in Medical Devices
- [18:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=1117) Engineering Empathy and Physician Collaboration
- [20:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=1243) Teaching Experience and Academic Insights
- [27:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=1669) Career Advice and Leadership Growth
- [39:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2021-01-22-s2e03-engineering-empathy-identifying-needs-developing-strong-work-ethic-blayne#t=2368) Aortic Stent Graft Strategy and Challenges

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Med Institute (company)
- Cook Group (company)
- Purdue (other)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [005 - “Compassionate Product Development” with Cameron Jones](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-11-03-005-compassionate-product-development-with-cameron-jones) (Let's Combinate)
- [007 - "Beyond The Obvious" with Miiri Kotche](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2021-11-17-007-beyond-the-obvious-with-miiri-kotche) (Let's Combinate)
- [305: Humans Have a Terrible Spec Sheet (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-04-28-305-humans-have-a-terrible-spec-sheet-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [#425: The "Front End" of Medical Device Innovation: From Idea to Market](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2025-09-22-425-the-front-end-of-medical-device-innovation-from-idea-to-market) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [Educating the Engineer of the Future with Dr. Kris Ropella](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2019-11-11-educating-the-engineer-of-the-future-with-dr-kris-ropella) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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