By Molly Malick (BA 25)
Careers in medical sales are in high demand, as the medical device market exceeded $640.45 billion in 2024, this revenue draws prospective workers towards the field.
However, securing a job in such a competitive field can be daunting. How do you know what to look for in a medical sales degree?
Most colleges don’t offer specific medical sales degrees at the undergraduate level. This means prospective students are often left to pursue another major in a field relevant to medical sales instead of a strictly medical sales degree. These degrees also require knowledge in sales, medical equipment, and industry terminology. This information is best learned from your education before you enter the medical device field, as it is necessary from the start of your career.
Further, a medical sales career requires you to have connections with professionals in the field. Therefore, the best medical device colleges provide a comprehensive education, help you foster connections in the field, and provide a pipeline to get hands-on experience.
Comprehensive Education
Education is pivotal in securing a career in medical sales.
Undergraduate majors in business, kinesiology, and biology often lead to careers in medical sales. These majors are valuable in pursuing a career in medical sales because their coursework typically focuses on subjects such as marketing, anatomy, and physiology. Learning about these topics is essential to finding a medical sales degree as they explore a plethora of relevant information you’ll need in the field.
Of course, a degree is not the only aspect that you’ll want to focus on if you want a career in medical sales.
Field Connections
As with many career paths, professional connections are infinitely important when it comes to a career in medical sales. A natural way to form connections is through fostering professional relationships with faculty at your institution.
Another effective way to form connections in the medical sales field is through communication with the professionals you cross paths with in your internships. The opportunity to enter into the local medical sales community allows students a chance to begin valuable networking. Therefore, location is an integral aspect to consider when choosing where to get your MBA.
For example, Grace College’s newly launched online Orthopedic MBA is in a prime location for those searching for a medical device college, as Grace is located in the Orthopedic Capital of the World®, Warsaw, Indiana. Warsaw is home to one-third of the world’s orthopedic manufacturing companies and two-thirds of the world’s knee and hip manufacturing companies, all of which bring the city an annual revenue of $17.5 billion dollars. Warsaw is an industry cluster, representing half of the global orthopedic market.
Because Grace’s campus is so close to these companies, students have access to a plethora of orthopedic career opportunities.
Hands-On Experience
To become competent for a career in medical sales, you’ll need to earnestly dedicate your time to a graduate medical device college. The connections you’ll form with professionals in the field are also an important step towards the career.
“The Grace orthopedic MBA program combines a strong business education with fellowships at multi-billion dollar global enterprises, giving students a world-class opportunity,” said Dr. Jeff Fawcett, dean of Grace College’s School of Business.
Nevertheless, you’ll need to understand a multitude of skillsets and knowledge before you jump into a medical sales career. Students of Grace’s MBA program will attend Orthopedic Scholar Institutes once a week as well as work two paid Fellowship rotations at local orthopedic companies during the rest of the week.
“The new program will help students who are interested in orthopedic careers, sales or otherwise because it provides orthopedic-specific knowledge as well as experience working in one of those companies,” said Dr. Richard Koontz, professor of management at Grace. “The orthopedic expertise our online Orthopedic MBA offers is an excellent path into the medical sales industry.”
Grace College’s online Orthopedic MBA allows students to acquire an education with specialized knowledge relevant for medical sales right here in the Orthopedic Capital of the World®.
If you’re interested in a medical sales degree, learn more or apply to Grace’s program today!
