Cal State Fullerton alumni Greg Wright, Nick Herrera and Ryan Kean are in the business of improving — and saving — the lives of patients with heart valve disease.
The Titans design innovative products at Edwards Lifesciences, a global medical technology company specializing in structural heart therapies.
“The most rewarding aspect of working at Edwards Lifesciences is collaborating with dedicated colleagues and witnessing the positive impact our devices have on patients,” said Wright, senior vice president of research and development, Surgical Structural Heart Business Unit. “Seeing a medical device save a life is truly meaningful.”
Kean ’18, ’25 (B.S., M.S. mechanical engineering), a senior engineer at the company, helps design next-generation aortic heart valves.
“I’ve always been passionate about engineering and problem-solving. What makes this career fulfilling is that I can pursue that passion while making a significant impact on people’s lives,” Kean said.
For the past decade, a partnership between Edwards Lifesciences and CSUF has paved the way for graduates to land jobs in the biotechnology and medical device industries. Over 100 CSUF graduates work at the company’s Irvine headquarters.
“This partnership opens a door for students if they have a desire to start their careers at Edwards Lifesciences or anywhere in the medical device industry,” said Wright, a member of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics’ Dean’s Advisory Board and the ECS Innovation Hub Campaign Cabinet.
Since 2016, Wright ’00, ’08 (B.S. biological science, M.S. biology) has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and creating opportunities for students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science to prepare them for their careers.
Through the partnership, Wright said engineering students participate in senior design projects that focus on real-world products for Edwards while learning from company leaders and contributing valuable perspectives through their diverse experiences and education.
“Our partnership with industry plays a vital role in student success,” said Sagil James, chair and professor of mechanical engineering who advises students working on Edwards’ projects. “These industry projects provide our students with hands-on experience in solving real-world engineering challenges, thereby strengthening the talent pipeline for our regional workforce.”
In recent years, Edwards Lifesciences has increased the scope and number of student design projects — up to six each academic year — that the company supports.
Wright, who has worked at the company for 20 years and has contributed to publications and patents, said students gain valuable industry insight, forge professional relationships and develop problem-solving skills.
“Through senior projects with Edwards, students gain both technical and soft skills essential for career success,” said Wright, a 2026 Vision & Visionaries honoree.
Herrera ’22 (B.S. mechanical engineering) and Kean said participating in Edwards Lifesciences’ projects as students contributed to securing their positions at the company.
A research and development engineer, Herrera designs delivery tools for structural heart disease. As a student, he worked alongside one of the company’s product development teams to refine and accelerate a manufacturing process.
“Our team took a very slow and manual process and made a faster and more ergonomic version of it,” Herrera said. “My involvement in the student project is the most important reason I was able to get a position at the company.”
Kean’s student project focused on creating inspection fixtures for a component used in the repair of a leaky heart valve.
“The experience gave me real-world exposure and was a great way to apply classroom knowledge, identify areas for improvement and gain opportunities with an outstanding company,” Kean said. “It helped to showcase my skills, build connections — and land a career.”