Alyssa Labonte

From Developmental Neuroscience to MedTech Innovation: My Transformative Internship with Armor Medical and the Future of Women’s Health

Alyssa Labonte | Pivot 314 Fellowship Blog Post

As a neuroscientist by training, my summer internship with Armor Medical, a pioneering women’s health biomedical engineering start-up, was an unexpected yet profoundly rewarding experience. My academic journey had primarily been confined to the realms of developmental neuroscience, with little exposure to the practical applications of biomedical technology or the complexities of women’s health. However, this summer, through the Pivot 314 Fellowship program, I had the privilege of working as a Graduate Intern with Armor Medical Inc., a female-founded company committed to transforming women’s healthcare.

Armor Medical is at the forefront of addressing a critical issue in maternal health: postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH is defined as severe blood loss after childbirth and stands as the leading cause of maternal death and morbidity. Shockingly, despite being preventable in 90% of cases, current diagnostic methods rely on subjective visual estimations that are often inaccurate and fail to detect internal blood loss. Armor Medical is tackling this challenge with Maternal aRMOR, a wrist-worn sensor designed to provide objective, real-time insights into a patient’s hemorrhage risk. This innovative device aims to revolutionize how we monitor and manage maternal health, offering a much-needed solution to a pressing problem.

During my internship, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in several projects. I wore multiple hats, primarily functioning as both a clinical research strategist and a coordinator for a user experience study. My role required me to engage deeply with both the scientific and operational aspects of the company. Through my work, I collaborated with cross-functional teams, collected and analyzed user experience data, and contributed to the development of strategies to support the launch of future clinical trials.

Before joining the Pivot 314 Fellowship, I believed that my career options were limited to academia or traditional industry roles. Neither of these paths seemed entirely fulfilling to me, and I often wondered whether my PhD training would lead me to a career that truly resonated with my passions, particularly because I was unsure of exactly what my passions were. My summer with Armor Medical has been eye-opening, revealing that the entrepreneurial world offers a dynamic and fulfilling career path that blends the best aspects of both academia and industry. This experience has also ignited a newfound passion for women’s health, a field I had not previously considered due to my background in psychology and neuroscience. I was both surprised and delighted to discover how much I enjoyed working in this discipline, and how meaningful it felt to contribute to solutions that have a tangible impact on women’s lives.

I am incredibly grateful to the brilliant and kind team at Armor Medical for their warm welcome and mentorship during my internship. Their commitment to pioneering solutions for women’s health and their empathetic, person-centered approach to innovation were truly inspiring. As a local St. Louisian, working with a company that is contributing to the advancement of women’s health right here in my community made this experience even more meaningful. For any graduate trainees considering the Pivot program, embrace the entrepreneurial journey—you might just find a fulfilling career path that combines your academic background with your personal passions!