Professional Achievement Award

John P. McCarty, Eng ’92
Mahtomedi, Minn.

John McCarty’s 27 years as a biomedical engineer for health care technology company Medtronic is more than just a career. It’s an opportunity to make a difference for families like his.

John has led multiple engineering teams focused on devices for cardiac rhythm disorders. This is fitting; his wife and son both had congenital heart defects repaired with medical devices, and his daughter had open-heart surgery to repair a similar defect. “I know what it means to have a family member’s life extended thanks to medical technology,” John says. These experiences have motivated him throughout his career and have led to products and solutions that have helped “literally millions of people around the world.”

John and his family volunteer for Play for Patrick, a nonprofit organization that screens young athletes for heart abnormalities, and Children’s HeartLink, which trains physicians around the world to surgically repair congenital heart defects.

Deeply engaged with Marquette, John is past president of the Marquette Alumni Club of Minnesota, and for a decade, chaired that club’s annual golf outing, which raised more than $100,000 in scholarships. He also established an endowed scholarship for biomedical engineering students, has served as an E-Lead shadow host, and served many years on the Opus College of Engineering Thought Leaders Council.

He gives Marquette credit for shaping him into the man he is today. “My Catholic faith and the wisdom of the Jesuits helped form my moral compass and helped me to deliver results the right way,” he says, “which guides me to make the best decisions for our patients.”

Fun facts:
My son Jack McCarty, Eng ’22, and I were both fortunate to have Dean Kris Ropella as an instructor while at Marquette, roughly 30 years apart.

What is one of your favorite Marquette memories?
I met my lifelong friends on the 11th floor of McCormick Hall my freshman year. Our friendship and passion for MU basketball continues. We gather in Milwaukee for a game once a year.

Leave a congratulatory message for John!