New Partnership Aims to Diversify Medical Device Sales

Students in the New York tri-state area will have a new opportunity this summer to explore a lucrative career in healthcare, thanks to a partnership between Mercy University and Medical Sales College (MSC). The institutions are combining their talents to create a 12-week certification course that will teach students how to use and sell medical devices. The program will be the first of its kind in the area.

“Medical device sales training is not something you would generally find in undergraduate curriculum at a college or university, but there are all sorts of jobs out there where this skill and credential is valuable,” said Dr. Brian Amkraut, vice president for Workforce Credentialing and Community Impact at Mercy, a private university in Dobbs Ferry, NY, with locations in Manhattan and the Bronx.

Mercy is the largest private institution in New York that also qualifies as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with 44% of their student population identifying as Latinx. As a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), just under three quarters of their students are from underrepresented populations.

According to the personalized job search site Zippia, the majority of medical sales representatives (73.3%) are white, while Latinx representatives trail behind at 13.9%, and Black representatives make up a mere 3.8%. Leaders at both Mercy and MSC hope this partnership and credential will move the demographics in the industry to more closely represent the make-up of the country.

Dr. Brian Amkraut, vice president for Workforce Credentialing and Community Impact at Mercy University.Students who become a part of the first cohort, starting May 2024, will undergo training at Mercy’s classrooms and laboratories with MSC instructors leading. MSC CEO Travis Allen said that part of what makes his program so unique is that instructors are actually “seasoned veteran medical device sales representatives,” who not only teach the students but also help them connect with jobs after completion, a key part of MSC’s 84% placement rate.

“Not only are our instructors experts in anatomy, physiology, and surgical procedures, they have really successful careers as device representatives. It goes beyond teaching concepts, and theory and procedures, they act as a mentor to help students understand how to set themselves up for success in the industry,” said Allen.

Because of the intense nature of the program, Allen and Amkraut said that applicants might be best prepared to apply after receiving their bachelor’s degree, as the course will be an intense, science-heavy process. All applicants’ dedication, interest, and rigor will be assessed through phone interviews with instructors.