Hallie Brinkerhuff
Zimmer Biomet
Warsaw, IN USA
"One of the core values of innovation is humility. If you don’t have humility, you’re not going to be open to new ideas, and that’s what innovation is."
Career Roadmap
Hallie's work combines: Engineering, Medicine, and Learning / Being Challenged
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I thought this when I walked across the graduation stage to receive my master's degree. I didn't really need my PhD to do what I wanted to do, but I did it as a personal challenge to myself. I've always been a learner, so I pushed through and got my PhD.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University
Graduate Degree
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
Case Western Reserve University
Doctorate
Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH.
2.
Early on, she identified her interests were in math, science, and medicine, which led to her pursuing an honors track in high school focused in these areas.
3.
Before her senior year of high school, she participated in a summer program where she got to explore different areas of engineering—here she discovered her love of biomedical engineering.
4.
Attended Case Western Reserve University, where she did a 5 year degree program earning her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biomedical engineering, specializing in biomaterials.
5.
Moved to the South to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham to complete her PhD where she researched defective orthopedic devices.
6.
Says her decision to get her doctoral degree was more of a personal goal than a professional one—“I’m a learner, I like to learn”.
7.
Her first job after receiving her PhD was at Zimmer, Inc. (now Zimmer Biomet) researching and developing polymers, molecules that make up countless synthetic and natural objects all around us.
8.
She has worked at Zimmer for the past 16 years, occupying various leadership positions in polymer research, advanced technology, and sports medicine.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
I could be making money now instead of being in school.
How I responded:
I thought this when I walked across the graduation stage to receive my master's degree. I didn't really need my PhD to do what I wanted to do, but I did it as a personal challenge to myself. I've always been a learner, so I pushed through and got my PhD.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
In college, I tore my ACL while playing soccer, which forced me to move dorms and took away my stress relief outlet. It was really difficult being immobile.