The University of Michigan's Advanced Medical Product Engineering and Development (AMPED) program is now in its fourth year as a standalone Master of Engineering degree, enrolling 25 to 30 students annually with a growing focus on how artificial intelligence is changing medical device work. The program combines a yearlong design-build-test practicum with coursework in regulatory strategy, quality systems, risk management, and business decision-making to prepare engineers for careers across the medtech industry.
Program director Jan Stegemann, a professor of biomedical engineering, said the degree grew out of industry demand for graduates who understand more than just engineering design. Employers wanted engineers who also grasp the regulatory, quality, and business contexts that shape medical product development. The program tracks job placement closely, and Stegemann said outcomes have been strong: graduates are landing roles at companies they target, in positions they want.
Clinic-driven projects and industry input
At the core of AMPED is a clinical product development experience. Each year, practicing clinicians-including doctors, nurses, and EMTs-present current clinical problems to the student cohort. Students evaluate needs, form teams, and develop device solutions through a full design-build-test cycle, working with clinician consultants who provide feedback on concepts.
Recent projects have addressed needs in cardiology, obstetrics, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, plastic surgery, radiology, and thoracic surgery. Examples include a compression device to achieve hemostasis after catheterization, a tool for laparoscopic hysterectomies in low-income countries, and a device to detect air leaks in the lung.
The curriculum is intentionally integrated. Students apply what they learn in classes directly to their team projects. "It is experiential not just from the standpoint that you are physically building something, but also in that you are intellectually applying what you have learned in other courses on a complex project," Stegemann said.
Stegemann co-teaches the core design-build-test course with Jonathan Fay, clinical associate professor of biomedical engineering. Fay leads the professional and leadership development curriculum, which helps students examine career options, assess their own strengths, and understand how medical technology companies make decisions about projects, products, and people.
AI as a tool, not a replacement
Artificial intelligence is the program's newest area of emphasis. AMPED has already added assignments that require students to use AI tools, and Stegemann expects that focus to grow as the technology evolves.
"We've incorporated a little more AI each year, and we will continue to expand it as AI evolves," he said. "Last year, we included assignments that required the use of AI so that students could practice and see how these tools can be used in their work."
AI is becoming relevant across the medtech ecosystem-in product development, regulatory submissions, review processes, marketing, and post-market considerations. But the industry's regulated environment calls for caution. "In medtech and the development of medical devices, there are many regulations, standards, and industry norms," Stegemann said. "In some ways, the industry might be a little bit buffered, because you cannot arbitrarily change rules overnight. On the other hand, clearly, there is a space and great potential for AI. So that is the balance we are working to achieve."
In AMPED, AI is framed as a starting point for exploration, not a substitute for engineering judgment. Students must still understand the process and output of their work. "They need to know how to apply the output of AI, how to use it to make decisions, and they must be able to defend and be responsible for those decisions," Stegemann said.
For professionals working in product development, the program's approach to AI mirrors what many teams face: using AI to accelerate early-stage work while maintaining accountability for the final result. The broader lessons-understanding regulatory constraints, making defensible decisions, and knowing how a business evaluates a project-apply directly to daily engineering practice. Those interested in structured AI training for product roles can explore the AI Learning Path for Product Managers or browse AI for Product Development resources.
Growing the cohort and alumni network
AMPED historically drew many students from U-M's Sequential Undergraduate/Graduate Studies pathway, but broader recruiting has diversified the cohort. Last year, enrollment reached an approximately even split between U-M students and those from external institutions. Stegemann said he would welcome more students from other engineering disciplines to add intellectual diversity to the classroom.
About 90 to 95 percent of AMPED students enter the program intending to work in medtech, consulting, government, or related industry roles. Graduates have taken positions at large companies such as Stryker, Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, Baxter, and Boston Scientific, as well as at startups and in government. Initial roles include clinical specialist, product design engineer, R&D engineer, and quality engineer.
As the alumni base grows, graduates are returning as guest speakers, panelists, and mentors. The program's LinkedIn community now includes more than 400 alumni and industry professionals who support current students on topics ranging from AI and manufacturing to regulatory affairs and career development.
Why this matters for product development professionals
AMPED's model reflects a broader shift in medtech hiring expectations: technical skill alone is no longer enough. Engineers who understand regulatory strategy, quality systems, business decision-making, and the practical applications of AI are better positioned for roles across the industry. The program's emphasis on AI as a tool-used for exploration and curation, but with the engineer remaining responsible for outcomes-offers a working template for product teams navigating the same questions today. Applications for the next AMPED cohort open in mid-September and are due by January 15.
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