How an Orthopedic Degree Can Launch a Career in the Medical Device Industry

When Madison Mayes graduated with a degree in biomedical engineering, she knew that she wanted to work in the orthopedic industry, but she never intended to pursue an MBA as an orthopedic degree.

“I really wanted something that could connect my engineering background and help me learn more about the orthopedic industry as a whole,” said Mayes.

That search led her to Grace College’s Orthopedic Master of Business Administration, a one-year hybrid program designed to prepare MBA medical professionals for leadership and business roles in the orthopedic industry. Located in Warsaw, the Orthopedic Capital of the World®, the program combines business education with competitive fellowship experiences at local orthopedic companies, allowing students to gain real industry experience while earning their degree.

Now, Mayes works as a design engineer at Nexxt Spine, continuing her career in orthopedics with a background in technical expertise and business knowledge.

What Makes the Orthopedic MBA Special?

Unlike many MBA programs, Grace’s orthopedic degree is designed specifically for the orthopedic industry, attracting students in an MBA medical pathway. In a one-year hybrid format with paid fellowships, students complete online coursework while participating in orthopedic-focused learning and fellowship opportunities with local companies. In this way, the program helps students understand how businesses operate and make decisions.

“What made the Orthopedic MBA program stand out to me was the industry connection and the program being located in Warsaw, the Orthopedic Capital of the World,” said Mayes. “The fellowship portion of the program, where we were placed into a position where we could work full time while also doing school, was a big added benefit.”

When Mayes was unsure which career path to pursue, the fellowship experience gave her the chance to explore different areas of the orthopedic business before committing to a specific vocation.

“It was a great opportunity to be placed in a position without having to choose what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” she said. “With the Orthopedic MBA degree, I was able to learn more about different areas of the business to give myself a better idea of what I wanted to do once I was done with school.”

Are Online Classes Doable While Working Full-Time?

Students complete online coursework throughout the week while working at their orthopedic company. On Friday afternoons, however, there are Orthopedic Scholar Institutes, meaning that students come to Grace College’s campus to learn with their cohort from their professors.

The program was designed around a fellowship schedule, but Mayes chose to continue working full time while completing her coursework. “The flexibility of the online classes helped me to still work 40 hours a week and learn in my free time,” said Mayes. “It was a little difficult at times, but very rewarding in the end.”

Where Do Orthopedic MBA Students Work?

Students in the Orthopedic MBA program have the opportunity to work at one of the several orthopedic companies in the area. This includes Zimmer Biomet, Medtronic, Tecomet, Medartis, and more. As part of the competitive fellowship, students are interviewed and placed at a company that best fits them.

Mayes was placed at Zimmer Biomet. She worked on an innovation team focused on upstream decision-making and marketing-related projects. Because she was learning business concepts in the classroom while simultaneously seeing them applied in the industry, the coursework immediately became relevant.

“The coursework definitely made it easier to understand what I was doing in my day-to-day work,” said Mayes.

Rather than just learning concepts, she was able to apply what she learned to see how marketing, strategic planning, and business decision-making influenced the work happening inside one of the world’s leading orthopedic companies.

Will I be Supported Throughout the Orthopedic Degree?

Students learn from faculty members and industry professionals who bring real-world experience into the classroom. “We truly felt connected to all of them,” said Mayes. “They were all super helpful and wanted to share their experience of how they got to where they are.”

Throughout the program, Mayes also felt the support of Allyn Decker, vice president of operations and engagement at OrthoWorx, and Dr. Pycraft, Director of the Orthopedic MBA program.

“We got a lot of support,” said Mayes. “The faculty were always responsive and willing to help with anything we needed.”

In addition to her relationships with the faculty, Mayes built relationships with her cohort. “It was really nice to go through the orthopedic degree program with the same group of people and really feel like they were supporting me as much as I was supporting them,” she said.

Will This Degree Prepare Me for a Career in Orthopedics?

After graduation, graduates are prepared for a future in orthopedics. Some graduates are promoted within the company, while others pursue a career at another company.

For Mayes, she accepted her position as a design engineer at Nexxt Spine in Noblesville, Indiana.

While her current role leans into her engineering background, she believes the Orthopedic MBA opened additional career opportunities and broadened her perspective on the industry.

“Being a part of the Orthopedic MBA degree program gave me an advantage when I was applying for jobs.”

For students considering the program, Mayes offers the simple encouragement: “It’s challenging, but definitely worth it. Don’t be afraid to branch out and talk to new people, because you never know the kind of people you’re going to meet and what kind of places those connections will take you.”

For Mayes, those connections, combined with practical experience and an MBA medical industry education, helped transform uncertainty into a clear path forward in the orthopedic industry.

Are you interested in the orthopedic field? Your story could look similar to this when you take the first step. Learn more about Grace’s Orthopedic MBA.