Rose Nicastro ‘26: Finding Meaningful Work in Understanding Complex Medical Equipment
Rose Nicastro ‘26 thrives in high-pressure situations and fast-paced environments. You might expect that from someone who pushes herself to perform at a high level both in the classroom, as a dual major in marketing and business analytics, and out, as a member of Le Moyne’s softball team and Heights Global Marketing. Following her graduation from Le Moyne, Nicastro plans to build a career in medical device sales. It is a field that will require not only a facility with business strategy, but also an understanding of surgical procedures, human anatomy and the technical aspects of the products themselves. In other words, it is ideal for someone who enjoys mastering complex, technical concepts and applying them in meaningful ways, like Nicastro.
A Webster, New York, native, Nicastro recently took her first step into this field as an advanced surgical upstream marketing intern with medical device maker CONMED in the company’s Denver, Colorado, office. From day one, she says, she was treated as “a true member of the team.” In return she showed up every day “ready to learn, contribute and add value.”
Nicasto’s primary responsibility was to execute a high-level market comparison of robotic versus laparoscopic insufflation, which in layman’s terms is the process by which gas, vapor or powder is used to distend tissue to prepare it for surgery. Nicastro analyzed procedure volumes, evaluated market share trends, calculated total addressable market by subspecialty, and developed multi-million-dollar revenue projections. She also built a three-year forecast to support long-term strategic planning around laparoscopic expansion.
Beyond analytics, Nicastro also partnered with CONMED’s sales representatives to gather customer insights. She conducted interviews, distilled key themes from those conversations, and incorporated those insights into broader strategic discussions. She also regularly participated in team marketing meetings and sat in on other sessions where she heard directly from surgeons about their experiences using CONMED products.
Listening to surgeons speak about the clinical impact and efficiency gains they experienced reinforced the real-world value of the work we were doing.”
A typical day for Nicastro included analyzing financial and procedural data, building trackers and forecasts, collaborating with other teams in the company, and preparing presentations. She even visited a swine lab where she was able to use the surgical instruments herself. That hands-on experience gave her a much deeper understanding of the technology and strengthened her appreciation for the precision required in the operating room, she says..
Over the course of her internship, Nicastro strengthened her analytical and strategic thinking skills as she worked with complex data sets and translated them into meaningful insights for the company’s leadership; she gained confidence in forecasting, market segmentation, and presenting recommendations supported by data. What’s more, she also built relationships, having set a goal for herself to meet with at least three professionals each week, either virtually or in person. That included Le Moyne graduates Kim Lockwood ‘99, senior director of financial reporting, and Johonna Pelletier’94, treasurer and vice president of tax, as well as senior engineers in CONMED’s research and development division, members of its sales force, and finance and accounting professionals. Those conversations broadened her understanding of the organization and strengthened her confidence in engaging with professionals at every level.
Nicastro credits her internship experience with helping her “to grow in both confidence and professional maturity.” She learned how to take ownership of high-impact projects and contribute in rooms with senior leaders. Over time, she became more comfortable speaking up in meetings, asking thoughtful questions, and positioning herself as someone who was adding value to the team.
All of this will prepare her to take her next step in a field that is centered around a single goal: contributing to people’s health.
“I am eager to work directly with surgeons and operating room staff – educating them on products, supporting cases, and helping enhance patient recovery outcomes,” she says. “Being in the operating room environment, building strong clinical relationships, and directly contributing to patient care aligns most closely with both my strengths and my long-term goals.”
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With support from Le Moyne’s Office of Career Advising and Development and the Ignite Fellowship, Rose was able to turn opportunity into experience, and experience into momentum for what comes next. Her work at CONMED gave her the chance to put the lessons she learned in the classroom to work, to gain valuable professional experience and to make important professional contacts.
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