The Perry Initiative
The Perry Initiative is a US nonprofit founded in 2009 that delivers free, hands-on outreach programs connecting high school and medical students with surgeon and engineer mentors to build the talent pipeline in orthopedic surgery and engineering.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersNewark, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Perry Initiative does
The Perry Initiative is a US-based nonprofit organization founded in 2009 to address the underrepresentation of women in orthopedic surgery and engineering. It designs and delivers free, hands-on outreach programs targeting high school students (Perry Outreach Program, POP) and medical students (Medical Student Outreach Program, MSOP), supplemented by a virtual experience (Perry Virtual Experience, PVE) and a classroom curriculum (Orthopaedics In Action, OIA). Programs are delivered through in-person events hosted at medical institutions and universities across the United States, using Sawbones surgical simulation modules for mock procedures and connecting participants with female surgeon and engineer mentors. The organization also operates a Perry Fellowship program that trains cohorts of fellows to travel nationwide and deliver programming.
The Perry Initiative operates on a donation-funded model. Revenue is derived from approximately 500 cumulative individual donors since 2009, recurring grants from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) historically in the $25,000-$30,000 range, and corporate sponsors including Sawbones and the Zimmer Biomet Foundation. All programs are offered at no cost to participants. The organization reports measurable pipeline outcomes: 85% of POP alumnae choose STEM majors in college, and 21% of eligible MSOP alumnae specialize in orthopedic surgery versus roughly 1% of all female medical students. The Orthopaedics In Action curriculum, which includes the Musculoskeletal Tissue Characterization module presented at ASEE 2025, extends the organization's reach into formal STEM classroom instruction and is distributed directly to middle and high school teachers.
Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, with additional operational presence in Newark and across the US, the Perry Initiative maintains an 11-50 person staff supplemented by a traveling Perry Fellowship cohort. The organization holds partnerships with major medical and engineering societies including AAOS, ASME, RJOS, SWE, BMES, and the Hospital for Special Surgery, and has received recognition including the 2024 AAOS IDEA Grant Program and a 2020 ASME Robert M. Nerem Education and Mentorship Medal awarded to a board director. Since inception, the organization has reached over 19,000 youth participants and continues to expand its curriculum, geographic footprint, and institutional partnerships.
The Perry Initiative firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Perry Initiative
- Legal name
- The Perry Initiative
- Website
- https://perryinitiative.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Perry Initiative is a US nonprofit founded in 2009 that delivers free, hands-on outreach programs connecting high school and medical students with surgeon and engineer mentors to build the talent pipeline in orthopedic surgery and engineering.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Perry Initiative industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM and Medical Workforce Diversity Outreach
- NAICS
- Other Schools and Instruction (6116)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Assistive, Biomedical & Human-Centered Engineering Programs (EDAMADAL)
Keywords
Where The Perry Initiative is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newark
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Perry Initiative business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Individual Donations: Nearly 500 individuals or families have made monetary contributions since 2009. Donors support programs to enable all Perry Initiative programs to remain free of cost to participants.
- Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors provide funding and in-kind support. Sponsors include Sawbones and Zimmer Biomet Foundation as identified on their social media following page.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free programs for all participants |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Perry Initiative product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Perry Initiative runs free hands-on outreach programs and a classroom curriculum that introduce young women to orthopaedic surgery and engineering through Sawbones-based simulations, surgical skills drills, and engineering design challenges. Its portfolio spans high-school outreach (POP), medical-student outreach (MSOP), an online virtual experience (PVE), a teacher-distributed curriculum (Orthopaedics In Action), and a post-residency Perry Fellowship.
Product overview
The Perry Initiative is an educational outreach organization offering a portfolio of programs focused on inspiring women and minorities to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering. The core offerings include the Perry Outreach Program (POP) for high school students, the Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP) for current medical students, the Perry Virtual Experience (PVE), the Orthopaedics In Action (OIA) STEM classroom curriculum, and the Perry Fellowship. All programs are free of cost to participants and combine hands-on surgical simulations using Sawbones modules with mentorship from professional surgeons and engineers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Perry Outreach Program (POP): A free, one-day event for high school students to explore hands-on surgery modules and receive mentorship from engineers and surgeons.
- Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP)
- Perry Virtual Experience (PVE)
- Orthopaedics In Action (OIA)
- Perry Fellowship
Products and services
- Perry Outreach Program (POP) Free, hands-on in-person program introducing female high school students to orthopaedic surgery and engineering through Sawbones-based simulations, surgical skills drills, and exposure to female surgeon and engineer mentors.
- Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP) Free program providing female medical students with hands-on surgical-skills training using Sawbones simulation modules, delivered in partnership with medical schools and orthopaedic residency programs to support specialty selection.
- Perry Virtual Experience (PVE) Self-serve online program delivering orthopaedic and engineering content to participants remotely, extending the organization's reach beyond partner medical institutions.
- Orthopaedics In Action (OIA) Curriculum Turnkey classroom curriculum that enables high school educators to deliver hands-on biomechanics and orthopaedic engineering modules, distributed to schools through licensing and promoted via conference presentations such as ASEE 2025.
- Perry Fellowship Clinical fellowship supporting female orthopaedic surgeons, delivered through partner training sites to advance representation in independent clinical practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- 85% of POP alumnae choose STEM majors in college
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Perry Initiative
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Perry Initiative technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
The Perry Initiative partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)coreAAOS is a key partner organization. The Perry Initiative is proud to partner with AAOS as part of their education and service non-profit partnerships.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)coreASME is listed as a partner organization. The partnership supports engineering education and outreach initiatives.
- Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS)coreRJOS is a partner organization focused on supporting women in orthopaedic surgery. Perry Initiative collaborates on shared mission of increasing diversity in orthopaedics.
- Project Lead The Way (PLTW)corePLTW is a partner organization. Perry Initiative's Orthopaedics In Action curriculum aligns with PLTW's STEM education programs.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)coreSWE is a partner organization supporting women in engineering. The partnership advances shared goals of increasing diversity in engineering fields.
- National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP)minorNGCP is a partner organization working to maximize the impact of programs advancing gender equity in STEM.
- National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)minorNMSI is a partner organization committed to expanding access to quality STEM education.
- NthDimensionscoreNthDimensions, founded by Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason, orthopaedic surgeon, focuses on diversifying orthopaedics through scholarship and mentorship programs.
- Movement is LifeminorMovement is Life is a partner organization addressing health disparities through collaborative initiatives.
- Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (WOGO)coreWOGO is a partner organization dedicated to supporting women orthopaedic surgeons and advancing the specialty.
- Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)minorBMES is a partner organization providing resources for engineering careers and professional development.
- Black Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (BWOS)coreBWOS is a partner organization supporting Black women in the orthopaedic field.
- Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF)minorOREF is a partner organization supporting orthopaedic research and education initiatives.
- KC STEM AllianceminorKC STEM is a partner organization working to strengthen STEM education and career pathways in the Kansas City region.
- Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)coreHSS partnered with Perry Initiative to host hands-on orthopedic surgery workshop for high school students from the New York tri-state area. HSS is a leading musculoskeletal medical center providing research and educational commitments.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Perry Initiative competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES): Professional society for biomedical engineering; provides career resources for the engineering track Perry funnels students into and is a listed partner.
- Project Lead The Way (PLTW): Large-scale STEM curriculum provider for K-12 classrooms; Perry's Orthopaedics In Action curriculum explicitly aligns with PLTW frameworks, making them a distribution partner and adjacent peer.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE): Largest professional organization supporting women in engineering; overlapping engineering-side mission and listed Perry partner.
- National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI): Organization expanding access to high-quality STEM education; partners with Perry and serves overlapping K-12 audiences.
Direct peers
- Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (WOGO): Network of women orthopaedic surgeons advancing the specialty; closely aligned with Perry's MSOP audience and listed partner organization.
- NthDimensions: Founded by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason, NthDimensions focuses on diversifying orthopaedics through scholarship and mentorship — a near-mirror of Perry's MSOP mission and explicit partner.
- Black Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (BWOS): Affinity group supporting Black women in orthopaedics; shares Perry's diversity-in-ortho mission and is a listed partner.
- Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS): Medical society dedicated to advancing the profession of orthopaedic surgery through programs promoting the advancement of women; shares Perry's mission and is a listed partner.
Emerging players
- National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP): National network maximizing the impact of programs encouraging girls in STEM; complementary to Perry's high school outreach and listed partner.
Regional players
- Movement is Life: Coalition addressing musculoskeletal health disparities, especially in underserved communities; complementary DEI focus in orthopaedics and listed Perry partner.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Perry Initiative social profiles
Digital presenceThe Perry Initiative financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Perry Initiative leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Perry Initiative funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors1 record
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The Perry Initiative M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Perry Initiative
What does The Perry Initiative do?
The Perry Initiative runs free hands-on outreach programs and a classroom curriculum that introduce young women to orthopaedic surgery and engineering through Sawbones-based simulations, surgical skills drills, and engineering design challenges. Its portfolio spans high-school outreach (POP), medical-student outreach (MSOP), an online virtual experience (PVE), a teacher-distributed curriculum (Orthopaedics In Action), and a post-residency Perry Fellowship.
Is The Perry Initiative a public or private company?
The Perry Initiative is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Perry Initiative founded?
The Perry Initiative was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Perry Initiative based?
The Perry Initiative is headquartered in Newark, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Perry Initiative make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Individual Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorship.
Who are The Perry Initiative's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Project Lead The Way (PLTW), Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). Direct peers are Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (WOGO), NthDimensions, Black Women in Orthopaedic Surgery (BWOS) and Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS). National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) is listed as an emerging player. Movement is Life is listed as a regional player.
Does The Perry Initiative have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Perry Initiative.
What industry is The Perry Initiative in?
The Perry Initiative's product category is STEM and Medical Workforce Diversity Outreach. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMADAL, Assistive, Biomedical & Human-Centered Engineering Programs. Its NAICS code is 6116 and its SIC code is 8200.