Alumni Spotlight: Mia Hilali

Mia Hilali (she/her)

Major: PSY BA (Spring 2019)
Position: Medical Device Reporting/Vigilance Specialist 
Employer: Medtronic

What is your work like? What are your duties?

Medical Device Reporting (MDR) oversees the surveillance of a device after it’s released onto the market. From the moment it’s implanted into a patient, we monitor any device malfunctions or adverse events that may occur and report these to the FDA to stay compliant with our regulations. We obtain additional information from following up with healthcare providers, patients, and Medtronic field representatives. Through these activities, we ensure that quality is a top priority when designing our devices.

How would you say your psychology degree has helped you with your current job?

My psychology degree gave me great experience in working with research and data, helped me better understand the people that I work with, and allowed me to develop my communication skills on a deeper level. 

In what way has your major complemented your current job?

I’m in the Neuroscience department at Medtronic, and I strongly believe my background with a Psychology degree has helped me understand how our neuro devices impact patients and help mitigate their symptoms. 

How did you find your current position? 

Through browsing Medtronic’s job database and meeting connections. I utilized UMN resources though—to prep for my interview, get help revising my resume, and research other jobs before I obtained my current position!

What advice do you have for our current psych students and recent grads?

Just take that leap! Introduce yourself to someone new, apply for that job (even if you have doubts), learn a new skill, and explore your options. You never know where your experience might get you.

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