Listen to the podcast here: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/200ecc75-d12e-49c3-a81a-d9a0884bdf15/Let-s-Talk-Medtech-with-MassMedic-20-1.mp3

Late last month, the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) launched the Why Medtech campaign to build awareness of the medical device industry. Through positive stories from the industry and curated economic development resources, the organization hopes to inspire a new generation of people to join it in the pursuit to make the world a healthier place.

The first phase of the campaign is available to view on www.whymedtech.com.This phase involves telling positive stories from patients, clinicians and employees in the medtech industry about how medical device technology has impacted their lives or why they choose to work in the field. The campaign also has social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter with the handle @WhyMedtech.

MassMEDIC's President, Brian Johnson and COO, Rachel Robinson are guests on this episode of Let's Talk Medtech to explain the campaign and why now is the right time to tell medtech's story. 

"I have traveled the state and hear the same story over and over. Despite being a national leader in healthech, members in our region are suffering from a workforce crisis,” said Johnson. “Employers are struggling to fill hundreds of open manufacturing jobs while offering starting salaries upwards of $85,000, even when those jobs require little more than a high school diploma.”

Massachusetts and the New England area have the largest concentration of medical device OEMs and start-ups in the U.S., paired with a significant number of academic institutions driving innovation and research. An essential part to our economy, the medtech industry represents one out of every four products exported by the Commonwealth and employs more than 25,000 workers directly and tens of thousands more with service providers who support the industry. Our region leads the country in medical device exports and ranks second in the nation in FDA 510(k) clearances and PMA, patents, venture funding, and total venture deals.

“Our industry is essential and growing. We must continue to recruit new talent to support ongoing innovation,” said Robinson. “Now is the time to leverage our united strength to bolster the industry by creating awareness of the rewarding and exciting opportunities that exist within medtech and life sciences.