Mary Hor-Lao, the Director of Software Engineering at Abbott Neuromodulation, will receive the Technologist of the Year award at the 2023 Women of Color STEM DTX Conference. Abbott Laboratories is a worldwide healthcare and medical device company headquartered in Abbott Park, Illinois.

The 2023 conference will be held from October 12-14 in Detroit, Michigan. For more information, please visit the conference's website at www.womenofcolor.net.

Mary has made significant contributions to her profession. She led the development of the world's smallest rechargeable implantable pulse generator and spearheaded the creation of an award-winning Virtual Clinic. These breakthrough technologies have transformed the lives of patients with chronic pain and movement disorders.

Mary is also an advocate for aspiring technologists, especially women of color, and is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. She has received recognition from IEEE Women in Engineering and is actively involved in STEM mentorship circles and philanthropic efforts to support children in her native Cambodia.

Mary's journey from surviving the Khmer Rouge's brutal genocide to becoming a prominent figure in electrical engineering is an extraordinary tale of resilience and determination. Despite facing unimaginable hardships and navigating a male-dominated field, she has achieved incredible heights.

The WOC STEM conference is organized under the theme "Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunity," bringing together STEM leaders from various sectors to recognize and provide networking opportunities for career growth.

Discover more inspiring stories at the 2023 Women of Color STEM Conference and celebrate the achievements of innovators who are shaping our future. Here is a list of the Technologists of the Year from 1997 to 2022. These individuals have made significant contributions to their respective fields, and their achievements have been recognized by various organizations. The list includes prominent figures such as Sherry F. Bellamy, vice president of Verizon in 1997, and Mei Cai, Ph.D., director of battery cell systems research at GM Chemical & Materials System Lab in 2021.