MEDICAL INNOVATIONS PATHWAYS WORKFORCE.

The Medical Innovations Pathways (MIP) program helps students, like Keyana Besendorfer interviewed here, land good-paying jobs with leading medical device manufacturers right after high school, with the opportunity for paid college tuition. Students learn real-world skills, shadow professionals and earn a Medical Innovations Certificate. They are guaranteed job interviews with MIP companies, including BD, BioFire Diagnostics, Biomerics, Edwards Lifesciences, Fresenius Medical Care, Merit Medical Systems, Nelson Labs, Sintx, Stryker, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Varex Imaging. It's a fast track to promising careers in the life sciences. Just ask Keyana, who now works for Stryker's Neurovasular division.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR JOB AT STRYKER? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?

I'm a productions associate, with the Salt Lake City production team. I've been at Stryker for seven months now, and I'm part of a sub-assembly team responsible for producing the Trevo[R] XP Provue Retriever device used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. My job involves intricately weaving a 0.0015" platinum wire around a stent to make it visible for physicians under fluoroscopy during a thrombectomy procedure.

Q. DID YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE LIFE SCIENCES INDUSTRY BEFORE YOU ENROLLED IN THE MIP PROGRAM?

I've always been interested in science and math, and initially started pursuing a career as a pharmacy tech--receiving my certification here in Utah. However, I later found out about the MIP program, and after exploring it, decided to start the program in my senior year, requiring me to complete two and a half years of study in one semester. I just loved it!

Q. WHAT EXCITED YOU THE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU LEARNED?

As part of the MIP program, we got a chance to tour and job shadow at various companies. I started researching more about each of the companies to see if it was a good fit for me.

Q. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT WORKING AT STRYKER?

I love the environment here, and I connected with Stryker's mission to help...