JUNE 21st– On May 23rd, MedTechVets held its Spring Networking Conference to mark the end of a successful Spring MTV Academy. This conference, we were honored to be joined by our two Keynote Speakers, Derek Herrera and Ann Holder. We also had 36 attendees from our Veteran Graduates, Mentors, Alumni, and representatives from 9 different companies.
Each conference we all come together with the goal to build a bridge for military veterans to successfully transition to meaningful civilian careers.
“When you took that oath and decided to serve, you were putting others before yourself. The medical device industry is at the forefront of everything we do. That is why we find so many people from the transitioning community that are interested in MedTechVets and introducing them to the industry. When you go to work for one of these companies, you are not just going for a paycheck, your work is meaningful. Once you see patients, it is an impactful experience. Something I will never forget is a day when a device I designed on a napkin sketch, was going to humans and helping them. It will continue to propel me forward and is my new mission”
–– Derek Herrera, BrightUro
Inside the Conference!
Our virtual Networking Conference is an opportunity for our graduating Veteran fellows and Academy Alumni to interact and network exclusively with our corporate sponsors, in addition to our community partners, and industry representatives from leading Med Tech, Bio Tech, Pharma, and Life Science companies.
Companies in attendance included: Boston Scientific, X-Vax Technologies, Intuitive, Teleflex, B Braun, PPD, Abiomed, Baxter, Casimir, BrightUro, and Marani.
Board Member and Keynote Speaker Ann Holder shared her motivation in her current role as the CEO at Marani. Marani is a healthcare technology start-up focused on commercializing innovative, wearable, digital products aimed at empowering women to understand their health and improve fetal and maternal outcomes.
“Our maternal mortality rate is one of the only countries where it is going up. So I basically jumped into this start-up and feel incredibly fulfilled. For me, it is filling that void that I missed when I was in the military. I feel like I can give back again.”—Ann Holder, Marani
She also provided valuable insight to our transitioning Veterans.
“As I go back and think about why you want to transition into this field, for me it’s when you look at veterans and the time we put into the military, you can get that same fulfillment in this industry no matter what role.”
— Ann Holder, Marani
This conference, we had three veteran led breakout rooms. These smaller sessions give our fellows a great platform to utilize the skills and techniques they learned throughout our 7-Week Academy while marketing themselves effectively to find career success. We have seen quite a few job offers come from these sessions.
“Transitioning from the military over to this industry, developing those relationships, and making the move is something that many people do not make. I run the veterans group at Teleflex and have 106 veterans at the company that bring value every day. Highlighting that value is something I want to bring forward with them and this organization.”–Travis McKnown, Teleflex
Wrapping Up!
Thank you to everyone who attended our Spring 2023 Networking Conference. A special thank you to our Company Sponsors who made it possible and our Keynote Speakers. We’re excited to kick off another Summer Academy with a new cohort of Veteran fellows in a few weeks.
“I thought I wanted to be a manager and operations was where I wanted to be. I should be in charge of people and lead people. I did not know what the civilian world was all about and I learned quickly it was not the same. I got into medical device sales selling sutures. One day I ran into an Intuitive rep in an operating room that had a different presence. He was a part of a team and respected in the hospital. I felt like I was a sales rep and he was a resource. I researched a little more. At the time the culture was different, and it was hard for me to get through the interview process but I got my foot in the door and was given an opportunity. Five years in and the organization focuses on the attributes someone can bring, and how they correlate to the industry.”
— Jamie Egan, Intuitive
With each new Academy and Conference we are able to make connections, open employment pathways, spread our mission, and support our veterans.
About MedTechVets
MedTechVets is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving Veterans during career transition and beyond.
Our Vision is to build a bridge to help Veterans find meaningful employment in the Medical Technology Industry.
We bridge the gap for Veterans by providing personalized career transition services, mentorship, and career development guidance. We serve Veterans who plan to enter the MedTech, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical, or Medical Device industries.
MedTechVets is proud to be endorsed by Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed).
When a Veteran’s military skills and experiences are translated to civilian language, recruiting managers see the benefits of hiring a qualified Veteran. Veterans are able to see the roles within the MedTech, Medical Device, Life Sciences, and Pharmaceutical industries that would best suit their skill set and career aspirations.
MedTechVets Academy is a specialized program that provides more than generic advice about transitioning into medical-related career fields.
If you would like to learn more information about MedTechVets, please go to our page https://mvpvets2014dev.wpengine.com/contact-us/.
