Medtronic

On Saturday, June 4th, Medtronic employees, friends and family members laced up their sneakers and joined Volunteers in Medicine patients, board members and volunteers for an informative two-mile walk in downtown Jacksonville. A sea of bright blue Medtronic t-shirts could be easily seen from a distance as employees gathered in the parking lot of the First Methodist Church to participate in Volunteers in Medicine’s Third Annual “Healthy Habits” Walk.

“At Medtronic, we are committed to the greater good, and that commitment begins in the communities where our employees work, live, give, and volunteer,” said Michael Barker, Medtronic’s Sr. Manager, Inclusion, Engagement, and Workplace Diversity. “Each June we undertake “Project 6,” our company’s month-long dedicated volunteer effort, and we chose to set our mission in motion with Volunteers in Medicine.”

The “Healthy Habits” Walk focuses on the importance of developing an exercise regimen to keep healthy and brings awareness of Volunteers in Medicine’s downtown clinic to community partners and patients alike. “There are many working individuals in our community who are uninsured because their employers don’t offer insurance, their employer’s insurance is too expensive or they simply cannot afford the costly co-pays and deductibles associated with the Affordable Care Act. That’s where we serve as a health safety net in the community, ” said Mary Pat Corrigan, Volunteers in Medicine CEO. “At our downtown clinic, with the help of more than 200 active volunteers, we are able to offer FREE primary and specialty healthcare services to our community’s low-income, WORKING, and uninsured population.”

Each year, Dr. Rob Thomas, DRPH drives from his home in Tallahassee to join some of his patients in our weight management program for the walk and to lead a motivating warm-up before the “Healthy Habits” Walk, and this year was no exception. Led by the clinic’s medical director and walk creator Dr. Vicky Findley, men, women and children of all shapes and sizes embarked on the two-mile walk, weaving through downtown Jacksonville and taking in some of Jacksonville’s historic landmarks. Along the way, many Medtronic employees learned about Volunteers in Medicine from actual patients who participated in the walk, and at the end, were offered a tour of the actual clinic.

“Based on the tenets set forth by Medtronic’s founder, we also share a commitment to philanthropy; we strive to build healthy, vibrant communities and focus on efforts to expand healthcare access to underserved populations,” said Barker. “The mission of Volunteers in Medicine clearly mirrors that commitment,” he concluded.

About Medtronic: Medtronic plc, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 85,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in approximately 160 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. For more information, please visit www.medtronic.com