Greater Memphis Medical Device Council Forms to Support Industry Health

Seventeen medical device manufacturers from Shelby County in Tennessee have formed the Greater Memphis Medical Device Council (GMMDC), an incorporated not-for-profit association, to address issues critical to the local medical device industry. GMMDC will seek to assist in matters of workforce training and education on available career paths to ensure a robust pool of talent for local manufacturers.

“We will start by focusing our efforts on the area deemed by the council to be the greatest opportunity, which is education, training and career path development specific to our industry,” said Jodie Gilmore, Chairman-elect of the council and Owner/Managing Director at Onyx Medical.

The Council plans to partner with local high schools, technical schools, colleges and universities to build a robust pool of workers for the medical device industry.

Creation of the council has roots in a 2011 study, performed by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce, investigating strengths and challenges facing the area medical device industry participants, including those that serve the orthopaedic segment. Surveyed players identified two primary threats to viability: over-regulation and a lack of standard training and recruitment for skilled workers. A lack of cohesion with the industry was also called out as a weakness when attempting to influence public policy.

“After approving the bylaws and electing the officers, we officially incorporated the GMMDC with the state of Tennessee and have applied for 501c6 status with the IRS,” said Gilmore. “Now we look forward to rolling up our sleeves, getting to work and making each and every monthly council meeting a productive one.”

Per the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce press release, the council’s primary objective is “to address the workforce issue along with helping direct government and education policy toward a more productive pipeline of skill sets to grow the industry and jobs.” Further, the “council will review legislation and government policies that may have an adverse impact on the industry’s growth and sustainability and is further responsible for initiating programs that benefit the overall industry through education, innovation, and technology and career-path options.”

“Each member of the GMMDC is truly united in our passion for this industry and the positive impact it has on the lives of those we serve and of those who serve within it,” said Gilmore. “We are excited by the possibilities and look forward to working together in a meaningful and productive way.”

Companies represented by the council’s charter members include Ariste Medical, Big River Engineering, Bioventus, Enteroptyx, InnoVision, MB Innovations, Medtronic, MicroPort Orthopedics, Gyrus ACMI, Onyx Medical, Restore Medical, Smith & Nephew, Surface Dynamics, Titan Medical, Wright Medical, Y&W Technologies and Zimmer Spine. Officers are Gene Baker, Smith & Nephew, Chairman of the Board; Jodie Gilmore, Onyx Medical, Chairman-Elect and Stan McKee, Medtronic, Secretary-Treasurer.

For more information, contact:

John Threadgill, Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce
901-372-9457
threadgill@barlettchamber.org 

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