In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Jim Belmonte, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Cirtec Medical, who brings more than 25 years of experience in recruiting and TA leadership. Jim shares his journey from agency recruiter to leading internal talent acquisition teams at organizations like Cardiovascular Systems (later acquired by Abbott) and now in the fast-paced world of contract manufacturing.

Together, Mitch and Jim explore:

✅ How chance encounters and curiosity can launch lifelong careers in recruiting

✅ The evolution of talent acquisition from faxed resumes to AI-driven tools—and why the fundamentals haven’t changed

✅ The impact (and pitfalls) of candidates relying too heavily on AI for resumes, cover letters, and even interviews

✅ Why authentic human connection and probing conversations still set great recruiters apart ✅ The importance of intake meetings, setting expectations with hiring managers, and creating safe space for recruiters to push back

✅ What junior recruiters should develop if they aspire to lead TA teams

✅ How talent acquisition shapes company culture more than most realize

Jim also gives an inside look at why he’s energized by the contract manufacturing space and the exciting opportunities at Cirtec Medical, where innovation and growth are constant.

Whether you’re a recruiter, TA leader, hiring manager, or candidate navigating today’s job market, this conversation offers sharp insights into the realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of talent acquisition.

Jim Belmonte on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbelmonte/

Cirtec Medical on the web:

https://www.cirtecmed.com/

In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, I sat down with Caleb Polley, founder & CEO of Cubby Beds, to talk about how he's bringing empathy and engineering together to create safer, smarter sleep solutions for kids with special needs.

We covered:

• The personal journey that sparked the Cubby Beds mission
• How to build products that truly serve underrepresented populations
• Balancing speed, scale, and regulatory rigor as a MedTech startup
• What it means to lead with empathy and how it shapes hiring and culture
• Key lessons for any founder building mission-first, market-ready solutions

If you're a founder, product leader, or operator in MedTech (or beyond) looking for perspective on how to build with both precision and purpose Caleb delivers the blueprint.

Caleb Polley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebpolley/

Cubby Beds on the web: https://cubbybeds.com/

In this episode we sit down with Adam Foresman, co-founder and CEO of Ryden.ai, a groundbreaking startup that’s redefining how MedTech companies approach compliance.

After nearly two decades in quality and regulatory leadership—including roles at Dentsply, Midmark, and Vidya Health—Adam saw firsthand how overwhelming it had become to stay audit-ready across constantly shifting global regulations. So he built the tool he wished he had.

Ryden.ai leverages AI to continuously scan a company’s QMS, identify compliance gaps, and recommend updates based on global regulatory standards (FDA, ISO, EUMDR, Health Canada, and more). And it doesn’t stop there—it’s expanding to assess records, not just procedures, ensuring companies can demonstrate execution, not just intention.

In this conversation, Adam shares:

Why AI won’t replace quality pros—but will make their jobs a lot easier

The biggest concerns companies have about using AI in GxP environments (and how Ryden addresses them)

What the FDA’s own shift to AI tools means for regulatory strategy

How both startups and enterprise MedTech teams are using Ryden to stay ahead

A real-world win preparing a company for Health Canada with zero major findings

Whether you're a startup with limited resources or an enterprise with global sites to manage, Adam makes a compelling case: AI won’t take your job—but it might save your sanity.

Adam Foresman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamforesman/

Ryden.ai on the web: ryden.ai

In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, we sit down with Eric Steuben, Senior Vice President of Operations at Calyxo, a fast-growing company disrupting the treatment of kidney stones with its proprietary C-VAC system.

Eric brings over 30 years of experience in MedTech, having held leadership roles at Varian, Align Technology, Procept BioRobotics, and more. He shares his journey from early career rotations in engineering to scaling operations from 13 employees to over 1,500 across five countries.

Together, Mitch and Eric dive into:

• How a strong foundation in people and culture shaped Eric’s leadership approach
• The leap from individual contributor to first-time manager—and how to get it right
• Lessons from scaling Align Technology during its hypergrowth phase
• Why he believes no one should stay in a role longer than 3–4 years
• How to hire for where you’re going, not just what you need today
• The critical role of mentorship and choosing the right people to follow
• What makes Calyxo’s stone removal technology a potential game-changer in urology

Whether you're building a team, scaling a startup, or aiming for executive leadership, Eric’s wisdom and experience offer valuable insights for professionals across the MedTech ecosystem.

Eric Steuben on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esteuben/

Calyxo on the web: calyxoinc.com

In this episode, we sit down with Gary Thomas, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing and Product Development at Onkos Surgical, a company delivering breakthrough innovations for musculoskeletal oncology. With over 30 years of experience in MedTech—much of it in the ortho-spine space—Gary shares his remarkable leadership journey, beginning in aerospace and culminating in the fight against cancer-related infections.

We cover:

• How discipline, fitness, and early morning rituals drive high performance
• His transition from aerospace into MedTech—and why he still recruits from that world
• Lessons from launching high-stakes products under pressure
• The moment his career accelerated and the mindset that got him there
• The key differences between directors and VPs—and why some don’t make the leap
• How he evaluates leadership potential in technical professionals
• Why culture isn’t just a buzzword—and how high-performing teams self-correct
• What makes Onkos Surgical’s NanoSap™ technology a game-changer for infection prevention

Gary’s practical insights on leadership, talent development, and execution make this a can’t-miss episode for anyone aspiring to lead at the highest levels in MedTech.

Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-thomas-00a8a533/

Onkos Surgical on the web: https://onkossurgical.com/

In this episode, host Mitch Robbins welcomes Terry Van Epps, Global Head of Talent Acquisition at Sirtex Medical, a commercial-stage medtech company focused on minimally invasive cancer therapies. With over 20 years of experience leading talent acquisition efforts at global organizations—including Xerox, Bausch & Lomb, Panasonic, and growth-stage biotech firms—Terry brings a grounded, systems-minded approach to transforming hiring functions from the inside out.

Terry shares how he approached his first months at Sirtex, where he discovered $1.3M in unchecked agency spend despite having an internal TA team—and what he did next to fix it.

They also unpack:

• How Terry rebuilt credibility with hiring managers who had gone rogue
• His clear criteria for choosing (and keeping) agency partners
• How Sirtex slashed agency fees by 90% in 2 years without slowing down hiring
• Why the best TA leaders still “work the desk”—and what that teaches
• A grounded take on AI in recruiting—what’s hype, what’s helpful

Plus, his take on the one thing too many teams still overlook: tune in to find out!.

Whether you lead a TA function or support one, this episode is packed with takeaways on how to be a better partner, a smarter operator, and a more trusted hiring voice.

In this episode of The MedTech Talent Lab, Mitch Robbins sits down with Elena Mack, Chief Quality Officer at Sanisure, to discuss her career journey and insights into the world of quality and regulatory leadership in the medical device industry. With over 25 years of experience, Elena has held key executive roles at companies like Olympus, BD, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Now, as part of Sanisher, she is leading the charge to build and maintain a world-class quality program for the bioprocessing and biomanufacturing sectors.

Elena shares her early career experiences, including her shift from medical technology to microbiology and how she got started at Wyeth in a regulatory compliance role. She reflects on pivotal moments in her career, including taking on a leadership role as a director at ACUPAC and the invaluable lessons she learned about leadership, delegation, and the importance of empowering her team.

Throughout the conversation, Elena also delves into the challenges of being a quality executive, emphasizing the responsibility of ensuring that quality is a shared value across all levels of an organization. She highlights the critical importance of having a robust quality system and talks about the ongoing efforts at Sanisher to move from ISO 9001 to ISO 13485, aiming to meet the highest standards of quality required by their customers.

With her unique perspective on quality as a critical but often underappreciated function in the industry, Elena offers valuable insights into the role of quality professionals and how they can drive real impact within their organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• The importance of leadership by example and empowering teams.
• The challenges and rewards of stepping into executive roles and delegating responsibilities.
• The need for robust quality systems in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing, especially in meeting regulatory standards.
• Elena’s personal connection to quality through her experiences with her son’s health challenges.

Links:

• Elena on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-mack-bb57855/
• Sanisure Website www.sanisure.com

In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab podcast, host Mitch Robbins interviews Mary McNamara-Cullinane, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at ClearPoint Neuro, about her 25+ year journey in the medical device regulatory space.

Key Highlights:

• Mary shares her background as the youngest of eight children and how her early work ethic shaped her career path
• Learn how Mary transitioned from research to regulatory affairs through roles at Brigham and Women's, CRBARD, and a 17-year consulting career
• Discover what makes an outstanding regulatory professional in today's environment
• Understand the challenges regulatory executives face when balancing company goals with regulatory requirements

Practical Takeaways:

• Why proactive research and understanding the "why" behind regulations separates exceptional regulatory professionals
• The importance of managing leadership expectations around FDA timelines
• Why submitting complete FDA submissions is more efficient than rushing deficient ones
• Thoughts on remote work effectiveness in regulatory roles

Mary also discusses ClearPoint Neuro's exciting work with gene therapy companies and their recent partnership with PTC Therapeutics to address rare diseases in children.

Whether you're a regulatory professional looking to advance your career or an executive trying to better understand the regulatory landscape, this conversation offers valuable insights from a seasoned industry leader.

Mary McNamara-Cullinane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marymcnamaracullinane/

ClearPoint Neuro on the web:

https://www.clearpointneuro.com/