In the competitive landscape of healthcare diagnostics, MAKO Medical has emerged as a notable success story in North Carolina’s capital.
Under the leadership of founder and CEO Chad Price, the company has not only disrupted the traditional laboratory testing model but has also implemented a transformative approach to hiring that prioritizes military veterans. This commitment to veteran employment has become a cornerstone of MAKO Medical’s identity and offers valuable lessons for Raleigh’s expanding healthcare sector.
The MAKO Medical Veteran Employment Strategy
When Chad Price co-founded MAKO Medical in 2014 alongside his brother Adam Price and friend Josh Arant, they established clear foundational principles. “When we started, we had three goals that we vowed to stay faithful to: we are a Christian company; we will make it a priority to hire veterans who have honorably served our country; and we will give back to the community with our time, money, and service,” explains Adam Price, highlighting the early commitment to veteran employment.
This commitment has yielded impressive results. MAKO Medical has hired over 100 veterans since its founding, integrating them particularly into the company’s logistics operations. The veteran team handles more than 22,000 deliveries daily with a remarkable 99.9 percent pickup success rate. This efficiency underscores the value veterans bring to healthcare operations, where precision and reliability are paramount.
Beyond simply hiring veterans, Chad Price has structured MAKO Medical’s policies to fully support military service. The company pays employees during their National Guard or Reserve training periods and drill weekends, ensuring they don’t lose income while fulfilling their service obligations. This comprehensive approach to veteran support has earned MAKO Medical significant recognition, including the HIRE Vets Medallion Award from the U.S. Department of Labor and selection to represent North Carolina for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.
Military Discipline Meets Healthcare Precision
Chad Price’s implementation of veteran hiring reflects more than just philanthropic intent-it represents a strategic business approach that leverages veterans’ unique skills. Military training instills discipline, adaptability, and project management capabilities that align perfectly with the demands of the healthcare diagnostics industry.
According to insights from healthcare industry analysts, MAKO Medical’s operational structure draws inspiration from military principles, organizing staff into small, agile teams similar to military units. This structure facilitates communication, accountability, and efficiency—qualities essential in diagnostic testing where accuracy and timeliness directly impact patient care.
The veteran-led logistics team exemplifies how military experience translates to healthcare excellence. Their consistent performance in ensuring timely sample pickups and deliveries supports MAKO Medical’s reputation for reliability and quick turnaround times, key differentiators in the competitive diagnostics market.
Recognition and Measurable Impact
The success of Chad Price’s veteran hiring initiative at MAKO Medical has not gone unnoticed. Beyond the aforementioned awards, the company has been recognized as one of North Carolina’s Top 125 Private Companies, with its veteran employment program frequently cited as a contributing factor to its success and positive corporate culture.
Veterans comprise a significant portion of MAKO Medical’s workforce, particularly in logistics and operations roles where their leadership skills drive performance. The company’s impressive growth—expanding to serve clients across ten states and supporting over 1,000 laboratories—correlates with the implementation of this hiring strategy, suggesting that veteran employment has been a competitive advantage rather than merely a social initiative.
A Blueprint for Raleigh’s Healthcare Sector
As Raleigh continues to develop as a healthcare hub, with major projects like the Duke and UNC Health collaborative children’s hospital on the horizon, the need for skilled healthcare workers will only increase. Chad Price’s approach at MAKO Medical offers a valuable model for addressing this workforce challenge while simultaneously supporting the veteran community.
The veteran hiring program demonstrates how healthcare employers can tap into an underutilized talent pool with transferable skills. Veterans bring not only technical capabilities but also leadership experience, crisis management skills, and a mission-oriented mindset—all valuable assets in healthcare settings.
Several elements of MAKO Medical’s approach could be replicated across Raleigh’s healthcare sector:
Dedicated veteran recruitment channels: MAKO Medical has developed specific pathways for veteran hiring, rather than treating it as a secondary consideration.
Training partnerships: The company collaborates with community colleges and training programs to help veterans transition to healthcare careers, a model other employers could adopt.
Supportive policies: Military-friendly practices like paid time for Reserve or National Guard duties create an environment where veterans can thrive professionally while continuing their service.
Team structure adaptation: Implementing organizational structures that mirror military team dynamics can maximize the effectiveness of veteran employees.
Community Impact and Business Success
For Chad Price, integrating veterans into MAKO Medical represents the intersection of social responsibility and sound business strategy. “Today, we support more than 300 nonprofits and charities, we only hire Military Veterans for our logistics team, we’ve donated more than 26 million dollars to charitable organizations, and we support more than 70 missionaries around the world,” Price has stated, emphasizing how veteran hiring fits within the company’s broader community engagement.
This approach aligns with findings from recent healthcare industry analyses that indicate socially responsible practices contribute to business success by enhancing reputation, improving employee retention, and fostering community goodwill. In Raleigh’s competitive healthcare market, such differentiation can be particularly valuable.
Looking Forward
As Raleigh’s healthcare landscape continues to evolve, with major developments like the planned children’s hospital and ongoing Medicaid expansion, the need for innovative workforce solutions will grow increasingly urgent. Chad Price’s veteran hiring program at MAKO Medical demonstrates how healthcare organizations can address staffing challenges while making a positive social impact.
The model created at MAKO Medical provides a roadmap for other Raleigh healthcare employers to follow, offering both practical strategies and inspiration. By prioritizing veteran employment, Chad Price has not only built a successful business but has also created a framework that could help shape the future of healthcare employment in North Carolina’s capital.
For more information about MAKO Medical’s community initiatives, visit their official website or read about Chad Price’s entrepreneurial journey in an exclusive interview with Ideamensch.
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Chad Price’s Veteran Hiring Program at MAKO Medical: A Model for Healthcare Employment in Raleigh, North Carolina