Written by: Jazmine Lopez

For 25 years, Jennifer Blauvelt has built a career applying engineering to improve healthcare. Her journey started as a University of Iowa biomedical engineering (BME) student.

Now the chief digital and information officer at CQ Medical, the BME advisory council member’s experiences show how a biomedical engineering degree can branch into many interesting areas as long as you stay curious and are open to unexpected opportunities.

Blauvelt originally found her passion for healthcare technology in high school. 

“I was a high school senior sitting in physics class trying to decide if I was going to go into medicine or engineering,” she recalled. During a class visit, a University of Iowa representative introduced biomedical engineering, sparking the idea of combining the two fields.

BME Professor Joseph Reinhardt was an influential figure during her time at Iowa. 

During a challenging circuits class, Reinhardt provided guidance that helped her work through difficulties. In the process, she learned how collaboration could accelerate learning, an ethos of teamwork that continues to benefit her today.

“Education takes a village. You can't do it all on your own,” Blauvelt said.

An internship at CIVCO Medical Instruments, based in Coralville, Iowa, launched Blauvelt into the professional world. She worked on biopsy needle guides and ultrasound accessories, gaining hands-on experience. Within five years into her time at CIVCO, she was leading their co-op and internship program, which consisted of managing recruiting, mentoring, and project oversight. 

Her role expanded to leading projects and then engineering teams, building a foundation in communication, project management, and team alignment skills that were essential as her career evolved toward broader leadership and strategic roles. She later pivoted into regulatory, leading quality and regulatory teams for about a decade. Most recently, she has focused on strategic project management and digital transformation.

“I stayed curious and kept learning and was open to change.”

After moving into strategic project management, Blauvelt took on responsibility for major technology initiatives and organizational growth, gaining a broader view of how digital decisions affect an organization. In her current role as the chief digital and information officer at CQ Medical, Blauvelt is pursuing a more unified, long term digital strategy, including AI-enabled efforts to improve efficiency and support responsible technology use.

Over the course of her career, many things have changed while some constants have remained.

For example, the tools have shifted from early CAD and simulation software to 3D printing, modernized manufacturing, and now AI-driven automation. Unchanged is the need for strong information management, understanding data, aligning systems, and keeping teams connected so that technology can accelerate innovation and improve how devices are used in patient care.

This excitement about technology drives Blauvelt’s vision for the future. AI and automation in particular, offer the potential to dramatically reduce manual work, improve consistency, and allow teams to focus on a higher value of work. However, she is mindful of using these tools responsibly ensuring they are implemented safely. Blauvelt focuses on helping teams work smarter and more effectively.

Through this, she is able to guide organizations through ongoing digital transformation in healthcare, making sure technological advances support both clinicians and patients.

“The technology evolution is just accelerating with the AI-enabled technologies we have available to us now,” Blauvelt said.

Careers rarely follow a straight path, Blauvelt said. “The most meaningful opportunities weren't part of a predefined plan. They emerged because I stayed curious and kept learning and was open to change.” she said.

Embracing this mindset, along with the focus on collaboration, has been more beneficial than trying to control each step of the journey. 

Over a quarter century, Blauvelt has shown how curiosity, adaptability, and continuous learning can shape a fulfilling path. From early coursework and internships to leadership roles, regulatory and digital innovation, her journey illustrates how embracing new challenges can open unexpected opportunities.