Employee Spotlight: Meet Jemy Allen
Jemy Allen | Manager, Clinical Programs | Based in Texas
Q. What is your current role at Penumbra?
As a Manager of Clinical Programs in the Clinical Research group, I collaborate with fellow Study Management team members and various cross-functional teams to oversee our clinical trials in the peripheral arterial and coronary space. I help ensure that our clinical studies result in quality clinical evidence that goes towards advancing products to address challenging medical conditions.
Q. What drew you to Penumbra?
The company culture—smaller-company feel that engenders collaboration and gives you opportunities to challenge yourself and step outside of your comfort zone, as well as the value and priority placed on innovation.
Q. Describe yourself at age 10. What career aspirations did you have at that age?
I was a determined 10-year-old who wanted to be self-sufficient and not need help to get things done (ah —youth!). Due to my father’s influence (he was a marine and freshwater biologist), I’ve always had a fascination with all sorts of animals in their natural habitat and I very much wanted to be a field biologist. However, I had to redirect my aspirations when I realized I had a phobia of snakes!
Q. Describe a travel adventure that you’ll never forget.
I spent over a week vacationing in the Palawan islands (Philippines). The marine life was amazing—beautiful coral reefs teeming with sea horses and anemones, fish of all sizes and colors. Schools of little fish would nibble at you (really more of a tickle). It was just a whole other world below the water’s surface.
Q. Before working at Penumbra, describe the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had.
While I was in grad school, I taught music (K-12) for a year at a small private school in Los Angeles. As part of this, I also provided piano accompaniment for some of the dance classes. It was so different from the world of science, and it gave me a renewed appreciation for the work teachers do.
The little kids were a joy and at the end of every class with the younger kids, I would have one or two hanging off my legs and arms because they did not want class to end. I also developed bonds with many of the teenaged girls—it was touching to know that I somehow inspired them despite how young I was at the time.
