Quality Engineer, Smith & Nephew

Dec 22, 2022

2022 SMDP Biotech Scholar cohort, Raed Hanoon, is the Quality Engineer in the Orthopedics department at Smith & Nephew. As the Quality Engineer, Raed is responsible for the oversight of continual improvement of medical devices as well as the design and manufacturing of new devices.

What is the highest degree you have earned and what can you tell us about your academic path?

I received my bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 2020. After graduating, the spirit of giving back to my local community drove me to become a lab scientist during the coronavirus pandemic. Thereafter, I decided to complete my graduate studies and recently graduated with a Master of Translational Medicine. This professional program exposed me to the intricacies of bringing medical innovations to market through engineering, clinical, and business practices. The knowledge, skills, and connections that I’ve fostered from pursuing higher education have directly influenced my passion to improve patient care. I hope to use my education and experiences to be the bridge between end users and engineers by building novel medical technologies that will revolutionize the standard point of care.

Where do you work now and what is your company about?

I currently work with Smith & Nephew, a multinational leader in the medical device industry. Smith & Nephew is a global company that operates in more than 100 countries and focuses on building medical products across three main medical sectors: Advanced Wound Management, Orthopedics & Trauma, and Sports Medicine.

My work concentrates on quality engineering. I am responsible for supporting Smith & Nephew’s Quality Management Systems. I work with manufacturing, regulatory, and design teams to ensure that the quality of finished devices will be safe and effective before use and otherwise in compliance with the regulations, standards, and guidelines set by the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

How did you first learn about the company?

I learned about the company through a friend of mine who used to work in the same role I’m currently in. After speaking with him and learning more about the work of the company, I decided to seek opportunities in the quality space because I found it to be an intriguing branch of medical device development that I’ve yet to explore.

What do you like most about the company?

The impact we’re having on our patients and the people I’m collaborating with. I enjoy the autonomy, the ability to try new ideas, and the faced-paced nature of the work environment. Going forth, I look forward to being challenged to advance our medical innovations and growing with the amazing team I’m currently working with.

What skills make you successful in your role and why did you choose this role?

I actively use my critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills to do my job at the highest level of integrity and efficiency. I found quality engineering to be an intriguing field because it was a facet of medical device development that I’ve yet to explore. From my previous industry experiences, I was comfortable with the lower ladder of producing medical devices which involved R&D, design, and product development activities. I wanted to gain exposure across the upper ladder of commercializing medical devices and work with products that have already reached our providers and patients. I thought quality engineering would be the perfect space for me to become an expert in my field and fully grasp the idea of bringing novel medical innovations to the market.

How do you define success?

Success is a balance of personal and professional fulfillment that’s driven by an individual’s goals, expectations, and lifestyle.

What's the most fulfilling aspect of your job?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job is knowing that I’m investing my time and efforts toward a meaningful impact. Working with an intellectual community to improve the quality of life of our patient populations on a national and global scale is an idea that’s priceless. I’m grateful and fortunate to be a part of the medical device industry because it’s an integral part of my personal passion to translate innovative ideas into healthcare.

What advice do you have for students and job seekers?

Put yourself out there and Network - People will help you achieve any sort of ambition you may have. Whether it’s finding a job, getting advice, or overcoming hardships, you will always find genuine individuals who are willing to invest their time to help you in any way possible. 

Don’t be afraid to take risks and fail - Unforeseen outcomes flourish from the risks you decide to take. When taking a risk, you must ensure that the benefit outweighs the drawbacks. If the risk leads to failure, take it as a lesson more than a failure. Proceed by learning from the failure itself and utilize the lessons learned throughout the next set of tasks you’re aiming to tackle.

Persevere and remain confident - Perseverance and confidence are direct by-products of one’s resilience to adversity. With each hardship comes a new lesson, and with each lesson, comes new opportunities, and through these opportunities, you’re slowly building attributes that shape your character, self-awareness, and personal vision of the future.

What book did you read last?

Thinking in Systems – Donella H. Meadows.