SPC’S BMET PROGRAM THROUGH THE LENS OF A RECENT GRADUATE

The A.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology (BMET) currently offered at St. Petersburg College (SPC) in St. Petersburg, FL, is a new program focused on electronics and troubleshooting. FLATE, the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, a part of the FloridadMakes network, recently reached out to a graduate from the BMET program to get his perspective on the program and how it prepared him for his educational and career pathway in biomedical engineering.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF

My name is Brian Feske and I am a graduate from the A.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology at St. Petersburg College (SPC).

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CHOOSE YOUR CURRENT MAJOR?

As a child I was fascinated with taking things apart and figuring how things worked. When I was younger my mother had some heart issues and I often tagged along to her doctor’s visits. I was amazed by the imaging technology and how detailed some of the images were. That was my earliest impressions of how “cool” this technology was. Following the market crash in 2008, I realized how the medical field offered solid career pathway as well as job security, and that is when I finally decided to go back to school and pursue a medical-related educational pathway.

WHAT IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE COURSES AND HOW HAS THE PROGRAM HELPED IN ACHIEVING YOUR CAREER GOALS?

I couldn’t be happier with my choice. The classes/courses I took at SPC gave me the core competency to be successful. I enjoyed the hands-on component of the program along with daily challenges of keeping the hospital’s medical equipment up and running. My experience at SPC certainly prepared me to be successful. In less than three years, I entered a new career field at an entry level and have progressed to becoming a site lead.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR CLASSES AND PROGRAM?

The things that I liked most were the hands-on labs experiments and projects. I found the professors at SPC to be very engaging with their students. I still maintain close relations with all my professors.


IF THERE IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE TO FUTURE STUDENTS WHAT WOULD IT BE?

My advice is stay hungry for knowledge and while working onsite ask probing questions to the nurses who can help troubleshoot any issues.

CAN YOU GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR INTERNSHIPS?

I was fortunate enough to be hired at Lakeland Regional Medical Center prior to my internship. My full-time job fulfilled the internship requirements. I quickly progressed from pump duty to handling all offsite clinic locations and surgery departments.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS?

After graduating from SPC I received my CBET (certified biomedical equipment technician) certification and I am currently studying for my HTM (Healthcare Technology Management) certification.