Biomedical Engineering in My Own Words

Biomedical engineering to me means that you are a jack of all trades, it means diversity, and ultimately it means happiness. When I declared Biomedical Engineering as a major three and a half years ago I really didn’t know what was in store. I knew I loved math, science, and business and that I wanted to have a profession which I could go to work happy every day. I landed on Biomedical Engineering as a major and couldn’t be happier.

Jack of All Trades

During college I wanted to get a wide variety of courses and had such an extensive thirst for knowledge. Biomedical Engineering helped me to quench that thirst and explore many fields that I never thought I would dabble in. Biomedical Engineers are often referred to as a “jack of all trades” because they know a lot about everything and I was fast to embrace this! Throughout my time here I have taken courses in calculus, organic chemistry, biology, physics, electrical engineering, industrial engineering, business, and even computer programming. I have learned a lot and my major has taught me perhaps the most important skill of all, how to merge all of this seemingly disparate information together. In Biomedical Engineering I am using concepts from biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus in order to learn how a scaffold should be made for skin grafts. I am using concepts from computer programming, biology, calculus, and physics in order to model the action potential of a neuron and learn how certain drugs might affect the brain or potentially cure diseases. It is amazing how all of the seemingly separate concepts I had learned in high school and during my Freshman and Sophomore year classes tie together so fluidly during advanced Biomedical Engineering classes, and to be honest it is pretty darn cool!

Diversity

The Biomedical Engineering field is vast and from the classes and knowledge I have gained at college I can do so much. I could aligned myself with research opportunities in tissue engineering or 3D printing of organs, or I could build better ergonomics into prosthetics. Even if I didn’t want to do this, I could pursue a career in drug development, FDA regulation of medical devices, manufacturing or creation of medical devices and so much more. The world to me is seemingly limitless for options now that I am on the brink of completing my degree. I am thinking about doing Technical Consulting for Healthcare companies because what is more qualified than a Healthcare Consultant? (Answer: a Healthcare Consultant with a technical degree in Biomedical Engineering). I am glad that I have a Biomedical Engineering degree in my pocket because it definitely helps to keep many doors open.

Happiness

To me happiness is helping other people. I can’t think of a better way to do this than through healthcare. Making sure people have devices to increase their quality of living is what Biomedical Engineering is all about. Whether it is a prosthetic, pacemaker, prescription, insulin pump, surgery equipment, or anything else, that is what Biomedical Engineers do. If I can retire one day and say that I made a difference in the world and helped to make people’s lives better I will be one happy man. The blatant connection between Healthcare improvement and Biomedical Engineering was definitely one of the reasons I chose the major.

If you have any more questions about Biomedical Engineering at USC Viterbi be sure to read my blog about Biomedical Engineering from last year and if that doesn’t answer your questions let me know by commenting below or sending me an email and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Have a great weekend,

Brenton

Now Playing: Friday Night by Eric Paisley with Compass by lady Antebellum on deck.