“We make sure our people go home in the same—if not better—shape as they come in each day.”
That’s how Joanne Cullinane, Director, Occupational Health and Safety, and José Román Velez, Director, Environmental, Health and Safety, describe the role of the Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) team at BMS.
Though operating from different locations—Joanne is based at the BMS Summit West campus in New Jersey, while José works at our biologics manufacturing facility in Manatí, Puerto Rico—the two leaders are driven by a common purpose: to protect people and the environment and ensure that we continue to safely bring life-saving medicines to patients around the world.
Learn about their career paths, the impact of EHS across BMS, and the opportunities this dynamic team offers for people with diverse skills and a commitment to continuous learning.
From the Chemistry Lab to EHS Leadership
Joanne’s journey began with a degree in applied chemistry—and an incident as an undergraduate in Ireland, her native country—that opened her eyes and shifted her focus.
“I was working in a chemistry lab at my university when some material fell on the floor, and nobody knew what to do in terms of cleanup. Upon learning about a master’s program in occupational health and safety, I was intrigued,” she recalled.
After graduation, she started an internship at a medical device company, which “kick-started my career in health and safety,” she said.
That led to jobs in occupational health and safety at a variety of technology and pharmaceutical companies, including over a decade at Celgene before transitioning to her current role at BMS.
Engineering Experience Driving Process Safety
With a background in chemical engineering, José earned a professional engineering (PE) license and began his career at a design firm in Puerto Rico, later moving to the EHS department at a consulting firm. In his role there as a design process engineer, he supported BMS at sites around the world—and what he experienced impressed him.
“As an outside consultant, I saw the structure the company provided to ensure compliance with EHS requirements,” he explained. “When I found the opportunity four years ago to work at BMS, I knew I wanted to grow my career here.”
EHS Is Everywhere—and Touches Everything at BMS
Joanne and José agree that EHS touches every part of the organization.
“It’s a diverse role, with different pillars within our team,” Joanne said. “One is environmental, which includes permitting and compliance activities relating to air, water, and waste, as well as fire and emergency response.”
“Then there’s occupational health and safety, which includes industrial hygiene, biosafety, chemical hygiene, and hazard communication,” she explained. “And there are also things people may not think about, such as the global ergonomic program we are leading that has reduced incidents at our site—a huge win for us.”
José highlighted the specialized roles within his team. “At our site, EHS professionals are responsible for different areas, from environment to safety codes we have to follow when new parts of the facility are being designed,” he said.
Safety First, Patients First
The impact of their efforts goes far beyond their sites.
“It’s our responsibility to make sure that we avoid anything that could harm the facility. Not only could a hazardous condition endanger the health and safety of our employees, it could disrupt production, affecting the supply of life-saving drugs to our patients,” José noted.
Joanne agrees. “When new cell therapy products are introduced, we work with the scientists to ensure there’s no interruption in delivering these medications.”
That connection to patients—and to BMS’s mission of transforming patients’ lives through science—is personal for Joanne.
“A few years ago, one of our patients visited our site to share her story. She had a serious health condition, but after she was treated with one of our medications, she recovered and had just welcomed her second grandchild. Her story was so inspirational we actually named the main road of our campus after her—and her name happens to be the same as mine. So when people ask why my name is on the street sign, it gives me the chance to connect what we do here to the patients we serve,” she said.
Putting People at the Center of Every Protocol
Both José and Joanne have one clear focus: people.
“We interact with every person here, including contractors and visitors, helping them understand why we have all of these rules in place,” Joanne said. “That’s how we develop our safety champions.”
When José arrived at the Manatí facility, he collaborated with multiple departments to ensure site compliance. He believes that effort has paid off in making the workplace not only safer, but more supportive.
“More people are coming to us to report unsafe conditions and incidents,” he noted. “That is a clear message that people at this site care about each other and want to make sure those conditions are corrected.”
Professional Development with Purpose
Both leaders prioritize growth and development for their teams and say that focus is built into the BMS culture.
“As a personal commitment to my team, every year I set aside budget for personal professional development,” Joanne said. “We’re always adding to our skill sets.”
Employees can also participate in cross-training opportunities.
“We currently have someone from warehouse operations on a tour of duty here. He has brought so much knowledge to our team while getting a ‘behind-the-scenes’ view of EHS,” Joanne added.
That spirit of curiosity is something José also encourages in his employees and seeks in potential new hires.
“I look for people who are eager to learn,” he said. “EHS safety standards are always changing, so we need to keep updating ourselves and improving what we’re doing.”
Mindset Makes the Difference for Job Candidates
Joanne and José’s advice to job seekers: Be open-minded.
“Don’t have a fixed path you won’t deviate from—be open to exploring different areas,” Joanne suggested.
“Don’t accept the status quo. Keep pushing, moving, and improving,” José advised.
And when it comes to choosing the right opportunity, they recommend putting BMS at the top of the list.
“There’s no better place to work,” Joanne said. “You get exposure to all the different types of science that happen here, which is especially good for junior members of the team. There is a wide variety of opportunities for people with different skill sets and experiences, from occupational safety to air and water quality to industrial hygiene. It’s a wonderful place to grow.”
