Meet Test

Test Dummy is an Engineer I – Disposables – Sustaining Team

LET'S HEAR WHAT CONNOR HAD TO SAY:

Q: Why did you join the FMCNA team?

A: I joined the FMCNA team because I loved my experiences here as a co-op and intern. NxStage/FMC is the best of both worlds in terms of the corporate culture. It provides all the perks of being in a large resource-rich company with the friendly and team-oriented aspects of a small one. I was looking for a place to develop my career, work with a skilled team of engineers, and learn about the intricacies of the medical device industry. Additionally, I wanted to be passionate about my work and know that my company is making a difference in people's lives. FMCNA provided me with all of these opportunities.  

Q: How do you feel that your role is a "vital part" in supporting our patients and our company?

A: As a disposables engineer working on one of our newest projects in R&D, I get to develop protocols to make sure the design will be safe, user-friendly, effective, and sustainable. The work I am doing is vital to the release of the product line and the high-quality continuity of care that FMCNA provides.

Q: Describe an experience or feeling that stands out when thinking of your career with FMCNA.

A: When I was a co-op back in 2018, I had the rare opportunity to sit-in as a mock patient during an in-house usability study. I had been working as a disposables engineer for the previous 5 months but was able to help out our human factors engineering team on this occasion. We get to do a lot of cross-functional work here, which I always like. I remember going up to our training area on the 7th floor, meeting with three wonderful nurses, and being trained on using the machine. It was a strange realization that these nurses, who had just been introduced to the way the machine worked a week before they were tasked with training me, already knew more about how patients would interface with it than I did. For reference, this machine was using the cartridge that I was developing – for five whole months! I even built up the cartridges that we were using in the study. I knew every single bit about the disposable, but nothing about how it was working in union with the whole system. They walked me through the different treatment modes that a patient would use, and I got to really be in the shoes of a dialysis user. I learned so much from them about what a person on dialysis has to go through and how difficult it is to lead a routine life sometimes. Experiences like that really inspire you to engineer in the best way to meet the patient's needs. Sometimes, it's not always easy to keep that in mind. But at FMCNA, it's stressed day in and day out.

Engineering with the goal of improving patient quality of life is always number one and is what makes me so proud to be here. I loved working as a co-op, I loved coming back as a part-time intern while I was still in school, and I love working here full-time. As our group in Lawrence continues to grow, new employees are welcomed with open arms and given opportunities to contribute right away. New co-ops arrive every 6 months to provide support to engineering, marketing, and software, and their introduction really helps keep everyone on the same page and brightens up the office with enthusiastic new faces. Training is given with the right amount of time, detail, and follow-up. I've never felt uncomfortable to ask any questions. The company sets the standard for excellence in the kidney care market, and that excellence applies to its R&D and engineering support teams as well. FMCNA will provide you with skills that you can transfer into any engineering, management, or product development role. We deal with everything from prototyping to sustaining and documentation. You get to wear a lot of hats here and will be almost certainly be pulled into multiple teams for cross-functional collaboration and to learn from your peers.
FMC is providing cutting-edge solutions in the renal care market. Management sets you up for success. They will work with you to establish your goals, and they will provide you with the resources to reach them.

Q: Do you feel that you have a powerful effect in your role?

A: We are a large company with a small company feel. Everyone gets a meaningful project and gets to run with their own ideas. Even as a co-op I was put in the position to make meaningful contributions and feel that my work was important to driving forward our roles. Now, as I settle into my full-time role, I am already encouraged by how quickly I have caught up to speed with the team and was able to take ownership of projects of my own.  

Q: Have you experienced professional growth with personal meaning in your role?

A: I started as an inexperienced co-op with only a few years of education under my belt and no related work history. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in medical devices but coming into my first role I knew very little about how I could contribute. One of the first things I did with my manager was established my goals for my role. We have both professional and career development goals here at FMCNA. My manager was excellent in helping me to choose which paths I wanted to focus my professional growth on and how to make my time here count. Everyone I have ever interacted with always provides great advice and is eager to help you reach your goals. All of the skills that make me the engineer I am today have come from the experiences I've had at FMC. I can honestly say that FMC/NxStage is a terrific place to start, build, and define a career.

The work I am doing is vital to the release of the product line and the high-quality continuity of care that FMCNA provides.

Now, as I settle into my full-time role, I am already encouraged by how quickly I have caught up to speed with the team and was able to take ownership of projects of my own.  

About Fresenius Medical Care

We have become a global leader in healthcare because of the unwavering dedication our people bring to work every day. Whether that means developing new-to-market dialysis technology or educating patients, our team touches the lives of more than 190,000 patients through innovative care and profound, personal connections.

With Fresenius Medical Care North America, you will "be the difference," enabling patients to thrive, providing comfort to families, supporting coworkers so they can realize their goals, compelling our company to achieve through innovation and performance, and driving the development of your career.

Our team is made up of over 64,000 dedicated employees in North America. All of them focus on being the difference and delivering the highest-quality care to people with kidney disease – helping them to lead longer, better, and healthier lives.

Why Join our team?

• Rated as one of Forbes' U.S. Best Employers
• Paid one-on-one training
• Tuition reimbursement
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(K) and much more