The MVPVets program to help U.S. military veterans find a place in the medical device industry is celebrating its 1st and is on track to enroll 5,000 vets by 2018, the group said today.
Formed in 2012 under the aegis of Abiomed (NSDQ:ABMD) and AdvaMed, the non-profit MVPVets program provides training and mentorship to veterans looking for jobs in the life science industry.
The program is funded by grants and about 30 corporate sponsors, including Acelity, Haemonetics (NYSE:HAE) and B. Braun Medical – which together donated nearly ⅓ of the funds needed for the program, according to a press release.
"The generosity of supporters like Acelity, Haemonetics, B. Braun, and also our founding company Abiomed, enables MVPVets to provide free job skills training and enrollment into life collaborative distance learning courses for hundreds of veterans," MVPVets COO Mike Grice said in a statement. "We would like to sincerely thank all of our sponsors, including the industry associations AdvaMed for starting and supporting the program and MDMA for its enthusiastic support and engagement. All of our supporters have provided the financial sponsorship and commitment which allows us to help the veteran community.”
MVPVets said it’s hosted more than 200 veterans at industry-sponsored seminars, tripling the size of the program during its 1st year. More than 800 veterans participate in the program, according to the release.