In truth, biomedical engineering has been around for some time. Just think of the way that people use canes and crutches to help them get around. This adaptation of technology to help improve the human condition has a long and storied history. In fact, it has been reported that King Tut may even have used orthopedic footwear to help manage what may have been a clubfoot. That usage dates back some 3,300 years, according to Discovery News. The contributions of technology have grown since then, rapidly accelerating since World War II in the United States, and now giving physicians and doctors tools as varied as CT scans and MRI. In fact, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) lists several modern-day technologies and applications that have come about as a result of biomedical engineering. Some of these include:
Other applications for biomedical engineering include biomaterials design, sports medicine, and advanced therapeutic devices. As well, smart technology is becoming a significant player in healthcare, allowing use of real-time analysis to assist doctors and physicians in diagnosing illness, but also in using analytics to assist with provision of care. Some of these capabilities may be present in machines or equipment designed by biomedical engineers.
A bachelor’s degree is typically the baseline education needed to enter the biomedical engineering field, according to the BLS. The focus of this degree can be on classes that include biomaterials, computer programming, circuit design, and solid and fluid mechanics. Advanced math and electronic classes also are part of a program and might range from Calculus III to Thermodynamics. Other classes that could be taken in a bachelor’s level biomedical engineering program include:
As part of a biomedical engineering degree, you typically are required to do lab work to enhance your skills and understanding, but also may need to do a senior project and/or an internship. These internship programs can help build connections and synthesize your learning. When choosing a degree program, be sure to look for one that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Graduation from an accredited program may be required prior to seeking a license to practice in certain states or to becoming a licensed professional engineer.
There also are some engineers who go on to pursue advanced education in the form of master’s or doctoral degrees (PhD or even MD). In fact, you can find some bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering that have a pre-med focus.
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It could seem that biomedical engineering is a very siloed field, but the truth is that it has many branches, according to the BMES. These may not always seem obvious to the layperson or those just thinking about the field, but some of these branches include:
There are many other areas of focus, too, some of which include biomedical electronics, biomechatronics, biomechanics, bionics, bionanotechnology, cellular, tissue and genetic engineering, clinical engineering, medical engineering, orthopedic bioengineering, and systems physiology, reports the BMES. There also are school programs that offer specializations in some of these areas. As an example, the University of Michigan provides three areas of concentration in its biomedical engineering degree, including biochemical, bioelectrical and biomechanical.
By 2024, more than 5,000 new biomedical engineering positions should open up in the U.S., according to the BLS. These biomedical engineering careers are expected to have strong growth in the U.S. for a number of reasons. One primary factor is the growing use of technology in applications related to healthcare, particularly through the use of smartphones and other smart technology. Another factor, according to the BLS, is the aging Baby Boomer population that will drive more demand for biomedical procedures, such as hip and knee surgery and replacement. Other applications for biomedical engineering remain undiscovered, but with advances in technology, and an influx of highly educated engineers entering the field, these future applications will surely begin to emerge.
Before co-founding Sechel Ventures Partners LLC, Barry Franklin was a VP at a Silicon Valley software company. Barry believes that education and lifelong learning are paramount. Barry met his wife at Carnegie Mellon University and they have two beautiful daughters.
Biomedical engineers do not just improve lives; in fact, their research, tools, and devices save millions of them every day. Thanks to their work, which bridges the divide between medicine and engineering, people live longer, heal faster, and live more comfortably than ever.
Learn more about how these leading professors of biomedical engineering are helping to advance the field, whilst ensuring their students join the vanguard and continue to innovate.
