April 13, 2022 – In a recent episode of Repertoire’s podcast Road Warriors and Their Untold Stories, Mike Abney spoke with Repertoire publisher Scott Adams about his career, the mentors he’s worked with over the years, and the state of the healthcare industry.
Abney is the Senior Vice President of North America Sales & Distribution for Quidel, where he’s worked since 2015. Abney is also a recipient of the 2021 John F. Sasen Leadership Award from HIDA. The John F. Sasen Leadership Award recognizes exceptional individuals who demonstrate the qualities of leadership, commitment, and service that made John Sasen an icon in the industry.
Abney started out at PSS World Medical, Inc., in 1989, helping the company move into its first big Jacksonville warehouse. He intended to work for a bank but was encouraged by Pat Kelly to come and join PSS, starting out in the warehouse. In the ’90s, Abney ran operations with PSS before being promoted to VP of Supplier Management. He joined Quidel in 2015.
In fact, he has used the way he broke into the industry as a way to encourage the next generation to consider a career in medical sales and distribution. Abney said, “I have finally hit the age where a lot of people I’ve worked with over the years, their kids are actually coming into the industry. My son and several of his best friends started in the business in the last couple of years. I’m seeing a lot of that, and I think that says a lot right there that people would go to their own kids and say, ‘This is a great business.’”
Read more in the latest issue of Repertoire