3.1.24

Wichita State alumna’s professional excellence opens doors for fellow Shockers

Melissa Rocha’s history with Wichita State stretches back to the summer engineering camps she attended as a child. After graduating from high school, she joined Shocker Nation as a student in the College of Engineering, sure that WSU would continue providing opportunities for success.

Within her first year, she joined the executive team for the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and secured an internship at the National Institute of Aviation Research, a position she held all four years of her undergraduate studies.

“The applied learning opportunities at Wichita State are incredible,” she said. “Not only do you learn the skills and workflows necessary to be an engineer, but also the value of a strong team and healthy work environment.”

Now a clinical account specialist for Biosense Webster, a Johnson & Johnson company, the ’22 alumna impressed her employers early on with her work ethic, career preparedness and four years of engineering experience. So much so, in fact, that Biosense Webster decided to visit Wichita State for the first time in pursuit of more qualified candidates like Rocha.

Last October, the company joined Industry Night at WSU, offering students more information about career paths in the field of biomedical engineering within the company, and for a select few attendees, the opportunity to interview for a spot in a two-week electrophysiology immersion in Tulsa to learn more about the role of a clinical account specialist.

Two biomedical engineering students, Reilly Jensen and Aubrie Thomison, were selected to attend the EPI program.

“I want to emphasize that every single one of the students in our applicant pool was extremely competitive,” said Dominic Shumilla, associate territory manager at BW. “Each student showed up very qualified and presented themselves professionally. What separated Reilly and Aubrie was their preparation; these two candidates had not only done their research on EP and Biosense Webster products, but also showed a passion to learn more.”

Both Thomison and Jensen noted the professional advantage they received from the EPI program as they prepare for post-graduate careers.

“We learned about the basics of reading and interpreting electrocardiograms, the mechanism of action behind diseases such as arrythmias, and the anatomy of the heart and circulatory system,” said graduate student Jensen. Working alongside these professionals offered a unique perspective on the practical applications of biomedical engineering in healthcare.

With a continued focus on applied learning opportunities, Wichita State helps students like Rocha, Thomison and Jensen enter the workforce with professional experience already under their belts.

“The complexity and precision involved in understanding the heart’s electrical system are absolutely captivating,” said Thomison. “This program opened my eyes to a potential career path post-graduation, and I couldn’t be more excited!”

Whether they continue in careers at BW or beyond, they’ll each be advancing the standard of excellence expected from a Shocker education.