Dawn Bowen-Bolles
Dawn Bowen Bolles is a seasoned Regulatory Specialist at Position Health, LLC, where she has spent the past five years serving as the primary regulatory authority for a global medical device business. Joining the company—then known as Walgreens Health Solutions—with no prior medical device experience, Dawn stepped into the role at full speed, navigating an FDA audit within her first 30 days. She built the organization’s entire regulatory filing infrastructure and quality management system from the ground up, applying the discipline and precision she honed through years of legal and consulting work.
In her role, Dawn manages all regulatory communications with distributors and government agencies worldwide, overseeing everything from manufacturing and labeling compliance to global product registrations. She is involved in nearly every operational aspect of the business, ensuring products meet regulatory standards across jurisdictions. One of her most notable achievements was successfully guiding a pre-market submission through clearance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—even as new cybersecurity requirements were introduced mid-filing. Working against tight deadlines and unfamiliar regulations, she delivered approval with minutes to spare, exemplifying her ability to break down complex challenges and drive them to completion.
Dawn’s career spans more than four decades and includes work in food science, R&D, consulting, education, paralegal practice, and regulatory affairs. She holds two bachelor’s degrees from Michigan State University, a master’s degree in teaching, and a paralegal certificate from Loyola University Chicago, where she graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Now working remotely, Dawn brings structure and balance to her days—treating remote work like a traditional office schedule and protecting her weekends—while continuing to be a steady, trusted force in one of the most demanding corners of the healthcare industry.
• QMS Training for Medical Devices: FDA QSR and ISO 13485:2016
• Implementing the EU’s New Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745)
• Supply Chain Operations
• Supply Chain Planning
• Supply Chain Logistics
• Certificate - A Simple Guide to Virtual Assistance
• Fundementals of Project Management
• National Honor Society in Paralegal - Lambda Epsilon Chi
• Loyola University Chicago
• Kendall College
• National Louis University- M.A.
• The French Pastry School
• Michigan State University- B.S.
• Lambda Epsilon Chi National Honor Society in Paralegal Studies
• Service Club
• Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) Board Member
• Common Threads
• The Anti-Cruelty Society
• Legal Aid Chicago
• The Service Club of Chicago
• Executive Condo Board Member
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my tremendously eclectic background and my ability to be a master at project management across multiple specialties. Throughout my 50-plus years of career experience, I've learned that everything is essentially a project, whether it's a 510K filing with the FDA, a $2.5 million capital planning project for my building, or teaching young students. My approach is to take any challenge and break it down from point A to the end, surviving the process while still being able to work with other people and communicate effectively. I've learned to allow myself a two-minute panic attack when I get overwhelmed, and then I pick a point and focus on the short-term steps to get there, keeping my eye on the end goal. This process has become so internalized for me now that I don't even think about it. I think discipline is a key word for what I do. I'm laser-focused on projects and I've learned to stay focused on what I think is the right approach, even when people are attacking the project or being negative. I've also learned that you should never let your job define you - it's just a learning experience, just a phase. Even if you hate a job, you can learn something from it and take that experience away. I'm absolutely a culmination of really strange combinations of experiences, and that diversity has been my greatest strength.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Treat each role as a learning experience rather than letting it define you and focus on building strong organizational and project-management skills. Stay open to learning new areas and use networking and volunteer work to broaden your opportunities and confidence.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is the increasing complexity of regulations, including emerging requirements like cybersecurity in FDA pre-market filings. At the same time, there’s real opportunity in remote work, which expands access to talent, strengthens networks for women, and allows us to connect with expertise and resources well beyond a single office.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are discipline, persistence, and a project-focused work ethic, along with a deep commitment to service and volunteerism and a belief in lifelong learning.