What are the challenges in managing compliance and the difference between compliance and quality management positions? You’ll learn more by listening to today’s guest. In today’s episode, we spoke with Maryann Mitchell on the topic of Compliance Management. Maryann Mitchell is a Solutions Engineer at Greenlight Guru and is part of what we call our Guru Edge. She has more than 15 years of experience in Medical Devices and has worked in a variety of quality and regulatory roles. Listen to the epis...
Mar 09, 2023•21 min•Ep 309•Transcript available on Metacast DHF, DMR, and DHR are easy to mix up when you’re just using the abbreviations – they sound a lot alike! And they are connected. But it’s important to understand the differences between them as well as how they interact with each other. Medical Device Guru Laura Court joins the podcast today to discuss these three documents – what you need to know about them, what to do with them, and why it matters. Listen to the episode to learn how Laura thinks about best practices, what companies get wrong, a...
Mar 02, 2023•28 min•Ep 308•Transcript available on Metacast Why do quality professionals struggle with clear communication in writing? What’s the problem with jargon? These are some of the questions explored in today’s podcast. Joining the show this episode is Lesley Worthington. Lesley has 20 years of quality and regulatory experience in medical devices, and she uses that experience to work with individuals and teams to fine-tune their quality conversations, initiatives, and internal communications with the goal of creating more and better understanding...
Feb 23, 2023•48 min•Ep 307•Transcript available on Metacast In a continuation of the previous episode, Mike Drues joins the podcast to further discuss LDTs, IVDs, and how those related to the ongoing Theranos situation. Mike is the president of Vascular Sciences, has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, and has extensive experience with Regulatory Strategy. In today’s episode, he begins by reviewing some of the information in Part 1 of this discussion. He discusses how the current regulations and language around LDTs relate to the Theranos situation and wh...
Feb 16, 2023•43 min•Ep 306•Transcript available on Metacast What’s the difference between an LDT and an IVD and what does that have to do with the Theranos case? In this episode, we dig deep into this topic. Mike Drues, a frequent returning guest to the Global Medical Device podcast is the president of Vascular Sciences. He has a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and extensive experience with Regulatory Strategy, the FDA, and the history behind most of the regulations. In today’s episode, Mike Drues and I spoke about the topic of Lab Developed Tests (LDTs)...
Feb 10, 2023•38 min•Ep 305•Transcript available on Metacast What’s involved in switching from a paper-based QMS to an eQMS? What kinds of difficulties do companies experience when making that change? Today’s guest will explain her experiences with making that switch. In today’s episode, you’ll hear a conversation with Kendyl Williams on the topic of Implementing an eQMS. Kendyl is a Medical Device Guru at Greenlight Guru. When it comes to implementing an eQMS - Kendyl has experienced the sales process and has also implemented it for her company, and now ...
Feb 02, 2023•31 min•Ep 304•Transcript available on Metacast What tools do sterilization engineers need the most? What’s the difference between sterilization modalities? Those are some of the points that our guest will be talking about in today’s conversation. Laura Maher previously appeared on the podcast to talk about UDI, and now she’s here to talk more about sterilization. Laura is a Medical Device Guru at Greenlight Guru and is a self-proclaimed sterilization enthusiast. Listen to the episode to learn what Laura has to say about Gamma vs. EO, new mod...
Jan 26, 2023•37 min•Ep 303•Transcript available on Metacast What is UDI? Why is it important, and what does the implementation of UDI look like? If you don’t know, you probably should start learning, and in today’s episode, you’ll hear from two guests with UDI experience. You’ll learn a lot about UDI and learn where to find some fantastic resources that can increase your knowledge. Laura Maher and Brittani Smith are both Medical Device Gurus and Greenlight Gurus. Their jobs involve guiding companies through regulations and quality requirements and challe...
Jan 21, 2023•33 min•Ep 302•Transcript available on Metacast What words cause the most problems in MedTech, and what situations should you be ready to handle when you work in Quality? Today’s guest wrote about these issues in his book and will be talking more about them in today’s interview. Kevin Becker has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and a Master's degree in Reliability Engineering from the University of Maryland. Kevin is an ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, Reliability Engineer, and Six Sigma Black Belt...
Jan 19, 2023•46 min•Ep 301•Transcript available on Metacast What is a user need, and when should you start working on them? How can you figure out what the user truly needs – and by the way, do you know who the user is? These are some of the topics you’ll hear about in today’s episode. Jesseca Lyons joins the podcast today to share more information about user needs. Jesseca is a Mechanical Engineer who’s spent most of her career gathering and defining requirements for new product design and development in the medical device industry. During today’s conve...
Jan 14, 2023•42 min•Ep 300•Transcript available on Metacast What does the False Claims Act do, and when does it involve medical devices? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jonathon Tycko, an attorney who represents whistleblowers. Jonathan is a founding Partner with Tycko & Zavareei LLP, a law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., and California. His practice represents whistleblowers under the False Claims Act, along with similar statutes. Jonathon created and hosts his own podcast, The Garrulous Gavel. In today’s conversation, we cover the histo...
Jan 12, 2023•53 min•Ep 299•Transcript available on Metacast For some people, audits are terrifying. But today’s guest says you need to learn to love the audit process, and she shares information that can help you do that. Sara Adams is a Medical Device Guru at Greenlight Guru. Medical Device Gurus are part of Greenlight Guru’s “Guru Edge.” Medical Device Guru’s help customers onboard to their new software and guide them through the various regulatory requirements and challenges unique to MedTech companies and Medical Device Professionals. Listen to the e...
Jan 07, 2023•41 min•Ep 298•Transcript available on Metacast Why is the state of MedTech culture and tools the way it is? How should the industry be thinking about moving away from generic compliance and toward MedTech Lifecycle Excellence? Jon Bergsteinsson, co-founder of SMART-TRIAL by Greenlight Guru, is a MedTech professional and clinical affairs expert. Jon is also involved in educating and helping the MedTech industry get safe and effective devices to market faster and more efficiently. Listen to the episode to learn more about how MedTech is differ...
Jan 05, 2023•45 min•Ep 297•Transcript available on Metacast Today’s episode is a little different than usual. This will be Jon Speer’s last podcast for Greenlight Guru, as he’ll be moving on to future ventures as of December 31st. In honor of many podcast episodes featuring Jon and Mike Drues, this episode is a tribute to some of the best episode topics that the two of them have tackled. They review some of their favorite episodes and throughlines of their discussions throughout the time they’ve been podcasting together. Listen to Jon and Mike discuss ho...
Dec 29, 2022•51 min•Ep 296•Transcript available on Metacast What are the proposed CRDH guidelines for the 2023 fiscal year, and why do they matter? How should you be thinking about them? Today’s episode covers the newly-released guidelines and addresses important questions about these guidelines specifically and about the practice of releasing these guidelines in general. Today’s conversation is with regular guest Mike Drues. Mike is President of Vascular Sciences, an education, training, and consulting company that offers many services to medical device...
Dec 22, 2022•43 min•Ep 295•Transcript available on Metacast EUAs were less known before COVID than they are now. Between COVID and now Monkeypox, what has been learned about EUA, and where is it going as we move forward? Those are important aspects of today’s discussion with guest, Mike Drues. Mike Drues is President of Vascular Sciences, an education, training, and consulting company that offers many services to medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. Listen to the episode to learn what Mike has to say about what EUAs are, what COVI...
Dec 15, 2022•43 min•Ep 294•Transcript available on Metacast What kinds of possibilities exist in the future for healthcare? How can medical devices reach across different fields of medicine and provide a holistic patient experience in collaboration with each other? These are some of the ideas you’ll hear about in today’s conversation with Daniel Kraft about the future of healthcare. Daniel Kraft is a Stanford and Harvard-trained Physician-Scientist innovator and investor with over 25 years of clinical, research, biotechnology, and entrepreneurial e...
Dec 08, 2022•49 min•Ep 293•Transcript available on Metacast How should you be thinking about 510(k) exemptions for medical devices? Do you know when things do and don’t qualify for exemption and how that intersects with how a device is classed? This is the focus of today’s episode with recurring guest Mike Drues, in a conversation with host Jon Speer, founder of Greenlight Guru. Mike is President of Vascular Sciences, an education, training, and consulting company that offers many services to medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. L...
Nov 30, 2022•52 min•Ep 292•Transcript available on Metacast What is a regulatory strategy? And for that matter, what do people sometimes think is a regulatory strategy but isn’t? Those are the questions that today’s guest, Mike Drues, discusses as he begins his conversation with host John Speer, founder of Greenlight Guru. Mike is President of Vascular Sciences, an education, training, and consulting company that offers many services to medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies. Listen to the episode to learn how Mike thinks about compe...
Nov 23, 2022•43 min•Ep 291•Transcript available on Metacast What are ISO 9001 and ISO 27001? Once you have them, what can you do with them? These are the questions you’ll hear Mark Alpert answer in today’s episode. Mark Alpert is the Director of Quality at Greenlight Guru and has a background working for a Notified Body, and was most recently the Vice President of Business Assurance Division for TUV SUD America. Listen to the episode to hear what Mark has to say about how he uses a quality system as a competitive advantage, what companies should be doing...
Nov 17, 2022•44 min•Ep 290•Transcript available on Metacast What’s accelerated the growth of online healthcare device sales, and what’s the future of regulation regarding selling used medical devices? In today’s episode, we spoke with Scott Carson on the future of buying and selling used medical devices. Scott has been in healthcare marketing, business development, sales, and management experience for more than 30 years. He was on the team that built the eBay Healthcare Marketplace structure and founded US Medical, Inc., the first Internet distributor of...
Nov 11, 2022•48 min•Ep 289•Transcript available on Metacast The importance of cervical cancer screening in the U.S.Why is cervical screening so important in the U.S. and globally? And how has the pandemic affected that screening? Today’s episode features Chris Beddard, VP of US Marketing at BD. She joins the podcast today to discuss a product she and her team have been working on to improve the lives of women. Chris is passionate about bringing awareness about health options to women around the world. Listen to the episode to hear what Chris ...
Nov 04, 2022•20 min•Ep 288•Transcript available on Metacast What is the customer’s ecosystem, and why do you need to know about it? In today’s episode, we spoke with Kari Haab about Customer Discovery for Medical Device companies. Kari Haab has been working in the medical device world for over 10 years. She’s a part-time mentor in residence at Western Michigan University and a Partner with Cantilever Business Partners, and an independent consultant for start-up organizations. Prior to this role, she was Vice President of Product Strategy, at Aquaro Histo...
Nov 02, 2022•39 min•Ep 287•Transcript available on Metacast There’s a transition underway for devices that are currently under an EUA. People may not realize it, but this EUA, which was put into place under COVID, covers more than just COVID-related devices; many products are affected. Kyle Rose joins the podcast today to talk more about it. Kyle is the President of RookQS and works as a contract Quality Manager for multiple medical device companies, overseeing overall quality strategy and ensuring compliance through documentation and auditing services. ...
Oct 26, 2022•40 min•Ep 286•Transcript available on Metacast What pitfalls do SaMD companies run into when they set up their QMS? How can your company avoid making these QMS mistakes? Today’s guest, Karandeep Singh Badwal, is a Regulatory Affairs Quality Consultant who is well-versed in EU MDR, and regularly works with medical companies producing Class I, II, and III medical devices. Listen as we talk about what a quality management system is and what the goal of a QMS is, the importance of validating software, and the differences between AI and mac...
Oct 21, 2022•46 min•Ep 285•Transcript available on Metacast What is design assurance, and what function does it serve in the overall product design process? It’s not a role that gets a lot of upfront credit or name recognition, but it’s an important part of the process and impacts product development more than you may think at first. Orla Connaughton joins the podcast today to discuss design assurance with Etienne Nichols. Orla began as a mechanical engineer and has a Master’s degree in Project Management. She has 18 years of experience, mostly working i...
Oct 13, 2022•48 min•Ep 284•Transcript available on Metacast What does it mean to let your values and principles guide you through the challenging times, including the black swan events? Just what is a black swan event anyway? Will you know what it is if you encounter it? In today’s episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast, we have a wide-ranging conversation with Mike Baca about the lessons we can learn from him as an industry leader and about the long game involved in a MedTech career. Mike is currently the president of White Rook Consulting, ...
Oct 06, 2022•49 min•Ep 283•Transcript available on Metacast The 510(k) is the workhorse of regulatory submissions to the FDA from the medical device industry in the United States. However, 510(k)s continue to be the source of problems, delays, and rejections. It only takes common sense and simple solutions to overcome these issues. In this episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast, Jon Speer talks to Mike Drues of Vascular Sciences about common 510(k) mistakes and how to avoid them. They also cover what has changed (if anything) in the past five years...
Sep 29, 2022•55 min•Ep 282•Transcript available on Metacast How do you bring a medical device through the development process? What are issues that development engineers face during the different phases of the design controls process, especially when researching clinical evidence? In this episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast, Etienne Nichols talks to Keith and Kevin Kallmes of Nested Knowledge. Following in the footsteps of their father who was a medical device inventor, the two brothers designed and developed a balloon catheter that was ac...
Sep 22, 2022•46 min•Ep 281•Transcript available on Metacast What should early-stage entrepreneurs and medtech companies consider with commercialization in relation to how regulatory strategy affects business roadmap, pitfalls companies fall into, and fundraising efforts? In this episode of the Global Medical Device Podcast, Etienne Nichols talks to Duane Mancini, CEO and Managing Partner at Project Medtech. Duane has experience in go-to-market strategy, including regulatory and reimbursement, biocompatibility, pre-clinical efficacy testing, and cli...
Sep 14, 2022•44 min•Ep 280•Transcript available on Metacast 
