From Patient Care to Problem Solving
I recently had the opportunity to speak with current MS-MPE students Jenn Matjasko and Craig Yarger about their nursing backgrounds and how that has impacted their experience in the program.
Jenn Matjasko earned her BSN (nursing) from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017. She initially worked at Presbyterian Hospital where her first role was with the pulmonary step-down unit focusing on pre- and post- operative care for patients who had undergone a lung transplant. She later transitioned to a role in the neurotrauma ICU. During the pandemic, she took on multiple travel nursing positions. She then returned to Pittsburgh and transitioned into a clinical research role at Children’s Hospital conducting clinical trials with cystic fibrosis patients.
Craig Yarger earned his BSN from Robert Morris University in 2019. While in school he worked as an emergency department tech at St. Clair Hospital. Upon graduation he joined the neurotrauma ICU at Presbyterian Hospital where he first met Jenn. After about three years into the role, he went on to pursue local travel nursing within Pittsburgh. Once he had finished his traveling position, he transitioned to a clinical research nurse coordinator role at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Jenn and Craig’s decision to transition to engineering stemmed from their shared interest in science and technology.
Jenn always had an interest in math and science. During nursing school, she really enjoyed learning about anatomy and physiology. As she progressed through the program, she knew long term that nursing might not be her dream career path. About five years after working as a nurse, she realized it was time for a career change into medical technology.
Craig, on the other hand, initially considered Bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh for his Bachelor’s degree but ultimately chose nursing. Years later, while working at Children’s Hospital, he was inspired to revisit the engineering path. Jenn had told Craig about the MS-MPE program at the University of Pittsburgh. Matjasko began the program in Spring of 2024 and Yarger in Fall of 2024.
Jenn and Craig both bring a unique perspective to the MS-MPE program. Their clinical backgrounds offer significant advantages in understanding patient needs applying this knowledge to technical design. However, the transition from nursing to engineering has not been without some challenges. “There has been a bit of a learning curve in learning the technical engineering skills,” Jenn admitted. Both went on to elaborate that although challenging, the MS-MPE program is structured in a way that builds up the technical design skills that are needed in order to be successful in medical product development.
A noteworthy experience for both Jenn and Craig was Medical Product Prototyping Foundations Lab where the two have worked with a group including other students to improve the design of cervical collars. Drawing from their neurotrauma ICU experiences, the group was able to identify issues with these collars. The primary issue with cervical collars is that after patient discharge, there is no clear way for healthcare providers to know if their patients are wearing the collar properly. Wearing the collar improperly poses great dangers to the patient depending on their injury type and severity.
To help solve this clinical need, the team designed a prototype incorporating linear actuators and force sensors at the chin and back of the head to ensure proper alignment of the cervical spine. Throughout the prototyping process, Jenn and Craig were able to use their clinical expertise to ensure the team was designing a product that kept the patient and their safety in mind.
Craig noted that while it is only his first semester in the program, it has been such a rewarding experience already. He went on to share, “Seeing the cervical collar project come to life from idea to functional prototype has been the most rewarding aspect thus far. I never thought I would accomplish this in the first semester of the program.”
For Jenn, her experience within the MS-MPE program has been extremely validating thus far. She acknowledges having to take the time and effort to learn the technical engineering skills needed. “What you put into this program is what you get out of it. Seeing projects I have worked on come to fruition has been incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Both Jenn and Craig emphasized the importance of commitment and self-motivation needed to be successful in the MS-MPE program. Jenn advises prospective students with nursing backgrounds who are interested in this program to immerse themselves fully, stating, “You have to put time and effort into the coursework.” Craig added, “If you like the medical field and technology, and want to be hands-on, this is the perfect program to apply your clinical knowledge and achieve your goals.”
Check out Jenn’s LinkedIn & Craig’s LinkedIn.