Biomedical Engineering Online

Roles played by biomedical engineers

There are three types of biomedical engineers:

• The clinical engineer in health care
• The biomedical design engineer for industry
• The research scientist

Biomedical engineers play many roles. Some of these are:

• Biomedical engineers solve complex problems faced by the health care sector. For this reason, biomedical engineers must understand the biological situation and apply engineering principles to effect a solution.
• Biomedical engineers play the role of the technological enterpreneur. Biomedical engineers bring technology from the scientist’s desk to the market. It is their job to mould technological discoveries into practical applications ready to be applied in the field of healthcare.
• Biomedical engineers also work in academic institutions and industry research labs as scientists. They apply engineering concepts and techniques to the investigation and exploration of biological processes.

However, the ultimate role of the biomedical engineer, like the doctor, is to serve the society. This is a profession, not just a skilled technical service. Biomedical engineering not only offers great technological benefits, it also offer humanitarian benefits.