I hired Human Factors professionals when I worked in Aerospace/Aviation. As far as I can recall, the only entry level roles were for mechanical engineers. Mid-tenure (i.e. with experience) came from many disciplines- but they were trained elsewhere.
We were pretty agnostic about industry. Automotive, Medical, Industrial, Construction Equipment… if the experience was relevant in terms of the HF expertise, the learning curve for our particular issues would be pretty easy to master.
So two approaches for your D- either drill down on HF and broaden the search to every single industry where it’s relevant, in every part of the country. OR- drill down on Medical Equipment and get an entry level job in whichever function she can get hired into- business development, investor relations, sales, communications, technical writing (a great field btw…someone needs to translate/be the bridge between the R&D, business, medical professionals) etc.
After a year or two of learning the ropes, she switches into the industry she wants, or she gets promoted into the function she wants.
Still think her professors are her best shortcut here…