Delice Javalera, Vice President, Engineering, Integer

Delice Javalera is Vice President of Engineering, Cardiac Rhythm Management and Neuromodulation (CRM&N) for Integer, a leading global medical device contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with a vision to enhance the lives of patients worldwide.

Delice is dedicated to advancing healthcare through innovation, collaboration and business excellence. She has a proven track record of leading high-performing teams to deliver complex medical technologies that meet the highest standards of safety, quality and impact.

Under Delice’s leadership at Integer, her teams are focused on driving excellence through execution – from early-stage design and development to commercialization and beyond. She accomplishes this by aligning technical strategies with patient-centered outcomes, helping to ensure engineering not only enables innovation but also delivers measurable value to patients, providers and stakeholders.

She thrives at the intersection of vision and execution, cultivating a culture of innovation, accountability and collaboration that empowers teams to achieve breakthrough results. Her personal mission is to shape the future of medtech by ensuring that engineering plays a central role in delivering transformative healthcare solutions.

What initially attracted you to the medtech industry?

Having grown up in a family closely connected to the medical field, I was interested in the medtech industry because of its potential to create practical solutions that benefit the health of patients. The industry presents a blend of innovation and accountability, offering the chance for engineering advancements to contribute to improved patient outcomes. Medtech additionally requires attention to accuracy, safety and dependability in implementing these solutions. This combination of advancing technology and maintaining high standards continues to influence my approach to leadership and my role at Integer.

How has your perspective on the industry evolved over the course of your career?

At the onset of my career, I regarded medtech as a field defined by exciting innovation characterized by novel devices, emerging technologies and expanding possibilities. Over time, my understanding has deepened to recognize that meaningful transformation within the industry is achieved not only through innovative ideas but also through rigorous testing, cross-functional collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring these innovations ultimately benefit patients.

As a seasoned professional in the industry, how do you envision the future of medtech?

I believe the future lies in harnessing innovation – namely AI, digital health and personalized care – while ensuring excellence in execution. The future will be about turning bold ideas into safe, scalable solutions that truly transform patients’ experiences.

What emerging technologies or trends do you believe will have the most significant impact?

In my opinion, AI, digital health and data-driven technologies will have the greatest impact. They are already enabling more personalized, accessible and continuous care. But the real game-changer will be how well we execute and integrate these innovations.

From your experience, what are some of the key challenges that medtech engineers are likely to face in the coming years?

One of the biggest challenges will be balancing speed with rigor. As innovation accelerates through AI and other technological advancements, the pressure to deliver quickly will only grow. Another challenge will be working in increasingly cross-disciplinary environments. And finally, scaling solutions globally while making them accessible, cost-effective and adaptable to different healthcare systems around the world.

How can professionals in the industry prepare for and navigate these challenges effectively?

I believe the way to prepare is through adaptability and discipline. Stay curious, collaborative, learn the “new way” and never lose sight of the fact that safety, quality and execution are what make the real impact.

In your opinion, what areas or applications within medtech have the greatest potential for growth and innovation?

Digital health and AI, especially in predictive analytics and personalized care, minimally invasive and robotic technologies, and wearable and connected devices for real-time health management.

Why do you consider them promising?

They directly address the biggest needs in healthcare, which in my opinion are early detection, prediction and prevention, and faster recovery times.

As technology continues to advance rapidly, how do you think medtech engineers can stay ahead of the curve and ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge?

Medtech is one of the fastest-moving technologies. To stay ahead of the curve, engineers need to adopt a mindset of continuous, multidisciplinary learning, as well as strengthen core technical skills like biomedical knowledge and data analysis. Embracing emerging technologies like AI, wearable and implantable devices, digital twins and simulation models, and cybersecurity for medical devices are also crucial. And, maintaining an understanding of regulatory frameworks will be critical.

From a broader perspective, how do you see the role of medtech engineering in shaping the future of healthcare?

Engineering is positioned to be one of the main drivers of medtech transformation. I think a significant process change will be shifting from reactive to preventive care, and to personalization. In engineering, we develop tools that help tailor treatments to individual patients – from dosage, length of therapy, specific implants based on a patient’s needs, and much more. Engineering’s job is to design systems that enable the integration between humans and machines. As an example, brain computer interfaces, advanced prosthetics and neurostimulation are blurring the line between biology and technology.

What impact do you anticipate it will have on patient care and outcomes?

I believe the impact will be significant: earlier detection, better prevention and more precise treatment. Patients will have greater empowerment and improved self-management, leading to better adherence and quality of life with less reliance on clinics. Precision in interventions will mean shorter hospital stays and better recovery. Health systems will become smarter and data-driven, reducing errors and improving care. Ultimately, these advancements will help close global healthcare gaps and promote greater health equity.

Considering the increasing importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, how do you think medtech engineers can effectively collaborate with professionals from other fields, such as medicine and computer science, to drive innovation in the industry?

Interdisciplinary collaboration drives medtech innovation. Engineers serve as translators and integrators, bridging clinical needs with technical feasibility, transforming data into insights, and ensuring solutions are safe, scalable and focused on patients.

How do you think diversity and inclusion can contribute to the advancement of medtech engineering?

As the medtech industry evolves towards patient-centered, global solutions, I believe diversity and inclusion are essential to driving innovation and delivering effective engineering and design for real-world patients of varied ages, genders, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds and geographies. D&I fosters a broad range of perspectives, as engineers from different backgrounds contribute unique approaches to thinking and problem solving. Additionally, diversity helps mitigate bias in AI and data, increases access and adoption, enhances outcomes, and strengthens team cohesion and industry leadership. Ultimately, these efforts can lead to smarter and more impactful results.

How do you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization?

I believe that fostering a culture of innovation is less about chasing “big ideas” and more about creating the right environment, mindset and structures. This way, associates feel empowered to explore, experiment and collaborate. For example, encouraging curiosity and experimentation, celebrating learning from failure as much as success, and making it safe to test bold ideas. Prioritizing a patient-centered approach, empowering ownership and granting autonomy to explore solutions and recognize contributions beyond output metrics, and fostering continuous learning are critical. Additionally, leaders should consistently demonstrate openness, humility and a readiness to listen.