Community Manager Interview: Gerald Matarazzo, Boston


Gerald is a certified project manager, LSS GB, and 3D Printing Application Engineer for thermoplastics and metals who regularly consults with medical professionals and device manufacturers on how to implement and optimize 3D Printing technologies.

Gerald’s goal as 3DHEALS Community Manager is to better connect the vibrant medical professional and medical device communities in the greater Boston area. Gerald looks forward to helping Boston further advance bioprinting and 3D Printing innovation, consulting, and business development in the Greater Boston Area. Visit his LinkedIn here

Jenny: One quote that represents you

Gerald: “The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost

Jenny: Tell us a little about yourself.

Gerald: Like many, I am a non-traditional in the 3D printing industry. I went to school for business analytics, but discovered and fell in love with 3D printing halfway to college. After starting a maker-space, exhibiting at the World Maker Faire, starting a service bureau, and going from a regional to national Application Engineer, I feel more invested in this wonderfully weird industry than ever, and am looking to keep growing my scope of connections to have the opportunity to work on more exciting (and important) projects utilizing the technology. Involvement in 3DHeals is becoming an excellent path to achieving that goal.

Jenny: What made you decide to become a 3DHEALS community manager?

Gerald: I have been following the development of this community for years and have been astounded at the kind of work and names that have become a part of the greater community. I was looking to get more involved when I first moved to Boston, so when the position opened up I knew I had to apply.

Jenny: What do you think of innovations in healthcare 3D printing or bioprinting? What do you hope to see in the next five years? 10 years?

Gerald: I would like to see 3D printed pre-surgical models add even more realism, potentially being able to artificially “bleed”. I would also like to see further FDA certification and adoption of 3D printed implants to further drive down astronomical medical costs for patients in America and abroad.

Jenny: If you have done 3D printing before, what have you made/designed?

Gerald: I’ve printed a litany of different parts for a host of different industries, from less exciting things like jigs and fixtures to teaching tools, sports equipment, aerospace parts, and medical device components. I would love to start regularly printing assistive technologies for those in need, so if you have anyone in mind in need of an assistive device or component, please reach out!

Jenny: Most of our community managers are entrepreneurial and adventurous, what risks/adventures have you taken that you’d like to share with us? Any hopes or regrets?

Gerald: I took a risk coming to Boston to work remotely as a hardware engineer. A hardware engineer without hardware is someone who will constantly struggle to keep skillsets strong and growing, but I felt like a city like Boston could have a lot to offer in the long run. This has pushed me to go way out of my comfort zone and say yes much more and push much harder than ever before to find the best resources and most talented people. One year later, that work has paid off with me becoming an Additive Manufacturing professional in a multi-million dollar 3D printing lab, a speaker at RAPID+TCT 2019, and last but not least a 3DHeals community manager all while working my day job as a 3D Printing Application Engineer.

Jenny: Who would you like to find and to include in the 3DHEALS community you are building?

Gerald: In my experience, the most technically talented people are generally the least talented at marketing their own talents. I believe that there is an incredible amount of untapped potential that needs to be found and brought into the spotlight to help the rest of us develop our skillsets even further, to keep pushing boundaries and inspiring innovation.

Jenny: What would you like to accomplish with this new 3DHEALS community in the future?

Gerald: I would like to further democratize and educate like-minded individuals in this region on DICOM segmentation and printing for the top of the line medical models. It’s an area that has a lot of information but not many robust initiatives or programs focused on streamlining the workflow as much as possible. With full reimbursement potential in hospitals around the corner, the validation of this skill set is becoming more invaluable every day, especially for the patients.

Jenny: What are you most proud of about your city?

Gerald: Boston is well known for its excellent intersection between academia and industry. These collaborative endeavors are constantly creating new and improved technologies, always keeping Boston on the cutting edge of what’s possible in our industry.

Jenny: What are you most proud of about the innovation community in your city?

Gerald: Boston is one of the most well-funded and technically established cities in the world for 3D printing and Bioprinting. The startup culture here is robust and there are always new 3D printing centers opening with great future potential for innovation and collaboration.

Jenny: What do you think are the top priorities in healthcare innovations for your city/community?

Gerald: Educating the next generation of biomedical engineers and physicians of the inherent value of current 3D technologies in a hospital setting, and further validate the reimbursement value of the ever-increasing intricacy of pre-surgical models and guides.

Jenny: What do you hope to accomplish through your role as the 3DHEALS community manager?

Gerald: To forge deeper connections within the medical 3D printing and Bioprinting community in Boston to help further optimize current technology, and contribute in the development of future technology through commercial, academic, or research partnerships.

Jenny: What do you do for fun?

Gerald: When I can I try to backpack in parts of the world I haven’t been to yet, scuba dive, and watch old or foreign films. I’ve been a huge film buff my whole life.

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