Veteran biotech leader shares her story of structure, curiosity, and building lasting teams in a fast-moving industry
SEATTLE, WA / ACCESS Newswire / June 3, 2025 / Donna Matuizek, a long-standing force in Quality and Regulatory Affairs, is featured in a compelling new online interview titled "From Garden to Lab Bench." The feature offers an inside look at her journey from a small-town upbringing in Oak Harbor, Washington, to her decades of impact across the life sciences industry.
Donna's career began with a major public health milestone-working on the first FDA-cleared HIV blood screening test in the 1980s. That early experience set the tone for a career grounded in careful thinking, detailed systems, and a strong sense of purpose. She went on to help secure FDA approvals for key treatments, including a cancer care drug at Immunex and the first cell therapy for prostate cancer at Dendreon.
The interview goes beyond job titles and accolades, exploring Donna's unique approach to leadership. She discusses her passion for structure, her love of curiosity, and how seemingly small habits-like handwritten checklists and gardening-help her stay productive and grounded.
"I believe audits can actually be enjoyable," she says in the interview. "If your systems are strong and your people are confident, audits are an opportunity to learn and grow."
The feature also highlights her unexpected detour into the culinary world, when she ran a takeout restaurant called On The Fly. That creative outlet, she says, gave her new ways to connect ideas and solve problems.
Now back in biotech, Donna has continued to lead through change-most recently at Magnolia Medical, where she built a high-performing quality team and helped earn FDA clearance for a Class II medical device, all while maintaining over 95% staff retention.
The full interview offers readers an honest look at what it takes to lead in high-stakes, highly regulated environments without losing the human touch. It's a story of slow, steady impact-driven by curiosity, care, and consistency.
About Donna Matuizek
Donna Matuizek is a Seattle-based expert in Quality, Compliance, and Regulatory Affairs with over three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries. Known for building strong systems and stronger teams, she brings a unique blend of technical knowledge, leadership, and creativity to everything she does.
To read the full interview, click here.
Contact: info@donnamatuizek.com
SOURCE: Donna Matuizek
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
