# S4E32 Brooke McDonald | R&D Engineering Series – Interview 6 of 6

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2023-08-25
- Length: 45m
- Episode: 32
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6
- Listen: https://teampipeline.us/brooke-mcdonald-rd-engineering-series/

## Summary

Brooke McDonald, a staff R&D engineer at GT MedTech, discusses her career in medical device development, including her time at Stryker and her current work on brain tumor treatments. She emphasizes the importance of understanding clinical needs, managing the high volume of verification and validation testing, and the iterative nature of R&D. McDonald shares insights on overcoming the pressure of strict deadlines to ensure product safety and effectiveness, while highlighting the satisfaction of solving complex problems.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=0) Introduction: Brooke McDonald and GT MedTech
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=96) Family Influence and Biomedical Engineering Education
- [6:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=382) R&D vs. Manufacturing: Understanding Clinical Needs
- [13:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=787) Research Tools and Testing Standards (ISO, ASTM)
- [15:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=948) Challenges in Verification and Validation Testing
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=1104) Stryker Award and Women in Engineering
- [25:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=1543) Frustrations with Uncertainty and Deadlines
- [36:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6#t=2164) Key Mindsets: Curiosity, Creativity, and Collaboration

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- GT MedTech (company)
- Stryker (company)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- University of Arkansas (other)

## 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)
- [Project Management for Product Development of Medical Devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2021-10-27-project-management-for-product-development-of-medical-devices) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [How Jon Speer Met His Most Frequent Guest: Mike Drues](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2020-08-26-how-jon-speer-met-his-most-frequent-guest-mike-drues) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [#392: Verification and Validation in MedTech: A Practical Guide with Devon Campbell](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/global-medical-device-podcast/2024-11-22-392-verification-and-validation-in-medtech-a-practical-guide-with-devon-campbell) (Global Medical Device Podcast)
- [126 - Combination Products Collaboration, Turnover on MedTech/Pharma Project Teams, and Lessons from working with Intel's CEO with Mat Stratton, Founder of Coalition Ltd](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2024-03-06-126-combination-products-collaboration-turnover-on-medtech-pharma-project-teams) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-08-25-s4e32-brooke-mcdonald-r-d-engineering-series-interview-6-of-6. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.