In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Jahnavi Lokre, Chief Operating Officer at Diality, a Series B medical device company focused on transforming kidney care.

Jahnavi shares her 25+ year journey from growing up in India in a science-driven household to building a career across software engineering, regulated industries, and executive leadership in MedTech. With experience spanning transportation systems, contract manufacturing, and product ownership at both large organizations and startups, she offers a rare, cross-industry perspective on what it truly takes to build and scale high-performing teams.

Listeners will gain practical insight into:

• How transferable skills from highly regulated industries can unlock MedTech leadership opportunities
• Why stepping up before you feel “ready” is often the catalyst for executive growth
• The mindset shifts required to move from engineering into senior leadership
• Hiring lessons learned the hard way, including when to act quickly on a mis-hire
• How strong leaders balance trust, accountability, and execution
• Why bold thinking, persistence, and values-driven leadership matter in fast-moving startups

Jahnavi also discusses Diality’s mission to improve outcomes and reduce costs in dialysis care, the realities of innovating in an under-evolved market, and what excites her most about the future of kidney disease treatment.

This episode is packed with candid leadership lessons, career-defining insights, and actionable advice for engineers, operators, and aspiring executives looking to grow their impact in MedTech and beyond.

In this episode, Mitch sits down with Travis Christman, a respected operations, regulatory, and quality leader in the orthopedic manufacturing world. Travis has spent his career across Zimmer, Medartis, Nextremity, and now Priority Medical, an end-to-end engineering services organization operating from the orthopedic capital of the world — Warsaw, Indiana.

Travis shares details on a major industry event launching December 18th: The “Made Here” Manufacturing Showcase — a first-of-its-kind, hands-on demonstration of the full orthopedic supply chain ecosystem that exists in northern Indiana.

You'll hear:

• Why Warsaw remains the global epicenter of orthopedic innovation
• What OEMs don’t see — but need to know — about today’s supply chain pressures
• How contract manufacturers can accelerate lead times, nearshoring, and production readiness
• Where the biggest growth trends are emerging (AI, robotics, navigation, additive, pre-op planning, and more)
• How Priority Medical is serving as a connector across surgeons, OEMs, contract manufacturers, and local talent

This is a must-listen if you’re involved in: orthopedic product development, contract manufacturing, supply chain, engineering services, regulatory/quality, or OEM commercialization planning.

Guest Bio — Who is Travis Christman?

• Operations & Quality Leader at Priority Medical
• Former leader at Zimmer, Medartis, and Nextremity Solutions
• U.S. Army National Guard Captain (10+ years of service)
• Board member at KEDCO (Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation)
• Deep expertise in engineering services, supply chain partnerships, regulatory/quality systems, and commercialization for orthopedic products

What We Cover

• The vision behind the Made Here Manufacturing Showcase
• Why OEMs are struggling with today’s longer lead times
• How Warsaw’s supply chain ecosystem drives speed, cost, and quality
• Nearshoring trends and why U.S. manufacturing is surging
• The rise of robotics, navigation, pre-op planning, and AI in orthopedics
• What contract manufacturers must do to stay competitive
• The new economy emerging around CDMOs and orthopedic innovation hubs
• How Priority Medical is helping OEMs innovate faster and more efficiently

In this episode of The Med-Tech Talent Lab, host Mitch Robbins sits down with Jim Belmonte, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Cirtec Medical, who brings more than 25 years of experience in recruiting and TA leadership. Jim shares his journey from agency recruiter to leading internal talent acquisition teams at organizations like Cardiovascular Systems (later acquired by Abbott) and now in the fast-paced world of contract manufacturing.

Together, Mitch and Jim explore:

✅ How chance encounters and curiosity can launch lifelong careers in recruiting

✅ The evolution of talent acquisition from faxed resumes to AI-driven tools—and why the fundamentals haven’t changed

✅ The impact (and pitfalls) of candidates relying too heavily on AI for resumes, cover letters, and even interviews

✅ Why authentic human connection and probing conversations still set great recruiters apart ✅ The importance of intake meetings, setting expectations with hiring managers, and creating safe space for recruiters to push back

✅ What junior recruiters should develop if they aspire to lead TA teams

✅ How talent acquisition shapes company culture more than most realize

Jim also gives an inside look at why he’s energized by the contract manufacturing space and the exciting opportunities at Cirtec Medical, where innovation and growth are constant.

Whether you’re a recruiter, TA leader, hiring manager, or candidate navigating today’s job market, this conversation offers sharp insights into the realities, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of talent acquisition.

Jim Belmonte on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbelmonte/

Cirtec Medical on the web:

https://www.cirtecmed.com/