Blog: Classrooms, Operating Rooms and the Right Graduate Program for Me

My name is Arthur McKenzie, and when I was looking for a graduate program in medical device development, I wanted something that integrated the theory of medical school with the reality of a hospital. I found it with the Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development at the University of California, Davis. 

The graduate program is based at Aggie Square, a living-learning lab for academic, medical and industry partnerships in Sacramento, California. Every class is taught in the main building of Aggie Square, which is a few minutes' walk away from the UC Davis Health Medical Center, the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center and other world-class treatment centers. 

The direct integration between graduate school and the hospital began on the first day with me moving into my apartment at Anova, the newly built apartment building for medical and nursing students at Aggie Square. My roommate, a med student, and my neighbor, a nurse, both greeted me as I moved in. We stayed up late that first night talking, quickly becoming like family. This was my first sign that this program would be highlighted by the direct connection to the hospital and defined by authentic interactions between people.

This has continued as I started the master’s program in earnest. In class, us engineers have become a single unit, sharing stories and working together. We have been assigned into two groups, each making their own device throughout the program, but all of us have been working as one. Honestly, the wonderful community I am experiencing now with the cohort is making me worried that this is a magic that cannot be replicated in the future!

What Clinical Immersion Looks Like in the Medical Device Development Program

So far, I have completed three weeks of clinical and operating room (OR) observations as we begin the design process for our medical device. I never thought I would get to be in an OR on this side of the cold metal table. Being in the room to see the physician’s perspective and the actual number of patients they see every day has been eye opening. I’m incredibly lucky being able to talk to the doctors, see the interactions between them and the rest of the staff, nurses, physical assistants and scribes and see what the actual needs are that require solutions. I owe the input of the doctors at the start of the design process to the incredible staff of the MDD Program. 

Our academic coordinator, medical coordinator and professors have been able to be in direct contact with me throughout the program. They have proven invaluable in answering questions and clearing concerns. I have had my fair share of new classes and teachers in prior years but have never had professors as dedicated and as good as those here. In fact, I was afraid of losing my drive to continue with education before this program, but I no longer have that fear. From taking office hours with my professors to the activities in class, I haven’t felt more excited about my education in years.

The campus has been incredible, with the physical integration of engineering, medicine and technology companies at Aggie Square. The people have been great and dedicated. I am excited for the experience here to continue!

About the Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development at UC Davis

The Master of Engineering in Medical Device Development is a nine-month, in-person program at the University of California, Davis, that accelerates the career development of aspiring engineers wanting to pivot into the exciting field of medical devices. In addition to classes on medical device development and business and leadership, students are assigned a department at UC Davis Health to observe physicians in the operating room, clinic, hospital, and other medical settings to collect first-hand data that they will turn into clinical needs statements and, ultimately, a working prototype.