Careers in Biomedical Technology

WHY IS SCIENCE SO IMPORTANT TO US?

•Science is always evolving1. Edward Jenner discovered smallpox vaccine2. Joseph Lister convinced

surgeons to wash hands and use clean bedding

Helps us understand our world

“Great truths” dispelled (i.e. the world is flat)

Knowing how the world works helps you make decisions about issues that affect your future.

Scientists help discover how the world works!

FACTS ABOUT SCIENTISTS

• Don’t always work in universities or hospitals…pharmaceutical companies, public health laboratories, government agencies, chemical companies• PhD or MD• Curiosity• Observant• Enjoys finding out about things unknown

Emerging Field of Biotechnology

Began in the early 1980’s with the development of Cloning & recombinant DNA techniques.

National Institutes of HealthNIH

The federal agency that has established safety guidelines for the transfer & manipulation of DNA.

Careers

-ist at the end of a profession means what?

i.e. A Radiologist reads & interpreted x-rays. He is a physician who specializes in radiographic images. (a person who does)

-ian at the end of a profession means what?

i.e. Electrocardiograph technician applies electrodes pads to the patient to test heart. (relating to)

Associate’s Degree

– Undergraduate degree– Awarded at community colleges,

junior colleges and some four-year colleges

– Course of study usually lasts two years

Bachelor’s Degree

Undergraduate degree Course of study usually lasts

four - five years

Master’s Degree

One- or two-year post graduate degree

Structure differs with the university

Specialized study

Doctorate Degree

Highest level of study or research Usually takes one to two years to

complete after Master’s degree Some require an additional four to

six years. Qualifies the holder to practice a

specific profession

Certification

Meeting the requirements of education and/or performance of standards set by an organization

The person holding a certification is certified.

Licensure

Government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. Person must pass a state mandated Board Exam and maintain certain standards.

The person holds a license.

Registration

A regulatory body in a given health care area administers examinations and/or maintains a list of qualified personnel.

The person is registered.

Pathologists

Physician specializing in diagnosing diseases by examining blood, secretions, body tissue & fluids.

Must complete medical school & specialized training.

Work in hospital laboratories or in outpatient reference laboratories or private practice pathology.

Frequently determines cause of death.

Medical Laboratory Technician

Prepares tissue slides & performs simple blood tests, cell counts, & urinalysis.

Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Medical technologist)Bachelor’s Degree/4 year program

Responsible for performing clinical laboratory tests & analyzing the results using independent judgment.

Phlebotomist

A phlebotomist primarly draws blood, either for laboratory tests or for blood donations.

Associated Terminology

Hematology - study of the formed elements of blood & blood forming tissues.

Pathogens - microorganisms that produces a disease. Histology - Microscopic study of animal and plant

tissues, which are groups of similar cells interrelated for cooperative performance of a particular biological function.

Immunology - study of how blood cells prevent disease caused by microorganisms.

Life Science

Life scientists or researchers study living organisms and life processes.

Many opportunities in research & development in health care.

Masters or doctoral level Specific careersa. Microbiologistb. Virologistc. Biochemist

Life scientists

Responsible for: 1 - developing new

drugs.2- methods of treatments3 - new methods of protecting the environment

MicrobiologistBachelor’s Degree

A scientist that can work as a bacteriologist, who work in the field of bacteriology and study bacteria.

1. Environmental microbiologists - work in the field of environmental microbiology and study microbial processes in the environment.

2. Food microbiologists - work in the food industry and study pathogenic microorganisms that cause foodborne illness and spoilage.

VirologistBachelor’s Degree

A scientist who studies viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their potential uses in research and therapy.

Biochemist

Typical biochemists study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Analyzes the effects of hormones, enzymes, serums, & foods on tissues & organs.

BiochemistBachelor’s Degree

Radiologist (medical doctor) (imaging professional)

A physician trained to diagnose patients by reading x-rays i.e. mammograms

Radiography (Radiographer)

Education is 2 year program

Responsibilities: takes the x-rays Radiation exposure a constant concern (1) Film badge (2) Federal Government regulates exposure. The level of exposure to radiological materials is

measured on a badge worn by each radiographer.

Radiologic Technologist

Administers radio opaque media (dye) to complete x-rays.

Nuclear Medicine TechnologistBachelor’s Degree

Performs bone scans, brain, thyroid & lung scans.

Ultrasound Technologist(Medical sonographer)

Associate’s or Bachelor’sDegree

Utilizes sound waves to produce two-dimensional images of internal organs.

Physicist PhD - Doctorate

A scientist who specializes in physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made (particle physics) to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole . ...

Medical Dosimetrist

A member of a radiation oncology team who specializes in the operation of radiation equipment and calculations of dosages in cooperation with oncologists.

Electrocardiograph TechnicianAssociate’s – On the job training

Minimal training compared to other professions. Attaches electrode pads to the patient to test the action of the heart.

They operate electrocardiogram equipment to monitor patients' heart problems. 

Job duties include:  Connect electrodes to patients. Insert and remove catheters. Record test results. Identify emergencies or abnormalities. Average Salary:  $15,000 - $32,000

EchocardiographyAssociate’s Degree (Radiography)

An echocardiogram is a sonography of the heart.

Uses standard ultrasound techniques to image two-dimensional slices of the heart.

An echocardiogram can also produce accurate assessment of the velocity of blood and cardiac tissue at any arbitrary point using pulsed or continuous wave doppler ultrasound.

ElectroencephalographAssociate’s Degree (Radiography)

Frequent headaches & seizures would be a reason for an EEG.

EEG measures electrical activity of the brain.

Nutritionist / DieticianBachelor’s Degree

An expert in food and nutrition. They provide nutrition counseling for patients (i.e. concern over weight gain).

Dietitians help promote good health through proper eating.

They have to have a bachelor’s degree to practice.

Dietary Technician

Completes a two year associate degree program & whose duties includes planning menus & supervising the production of food.

Weight Reduction Specialist

Counsels obese patients using dietary & activity guidelines.

Environmental EngineerBachelor’s Degree

Improve the environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthy water, air, and land

1. Environmental engineering involves water and air pollution control, recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues

Health & Regulatory InspectorsBachelor’s Degree

A public employee who investigates health hazards then takes action to eliminate the hazards.

Usually the public perception of a health inspector.

SanitarianBachelor’s Degree

Set & enforce standards concerning food, sewage & waste disposal.

Enforces laws, rules and regulations for maintaining and promoting community hygiene.

Biomedical Equipment TechnicianAssociate’s Degree

Highly skilled technicians responsible for ensuring medical equipment is deemed serviceable, safe, and properly repaired & inspected.

Biomedical Equipment TechnicianAssociate’s Degree

Fixes / repairs medical equipment

i.e. Monitor in ICU is not working properly..who would you call to fix it?

Biomedical Equipment Technician

Central Service TechnicianOn the Job training

Cleans, sorts, assembles, prepares, packages and sterilizes supplies and equipment used in diagnostics & the operating room.

Environmental Control

Biosphere-atmosphere that supports life.

Ecosystems ~ Ecology

Is the scientific study of the distribution and abundance of life and the interactions between organisms and their natural environment.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Federal agency responsible for setting & regulating the standards for the environment. It was established in 1970.

Lead Poisoning

Increased levels of the metal lead in the blood.

Lead may cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity.

Government programs have reduced lead in gas additives & paints.

Diseases & health conditions linked to environment.

The thinning of the ozone layer is due to exhaust, aerosol sprays & painting materials.

Lung related diseases Skin cancer

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women…is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually.

Emphysema

Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity (increased compliance) of the lung tissue

Worsened by air pollution, including long-term exposure to tobacco smoke.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and non-irritating, making it difficult for people to detect.

Replaces oxygen in the blood stream

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer, the most common cause of cancer-related death in men and the second most common in women…is responsible for 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually.

Biotechnology careers & genetics

BiotechnologistBachelor’s Degree

1. Development of cloning & recombinant DNA techniques of gene manipulation.

2. A scientist that alters the cells of living things to discover & improve genetic traits.

3. Most work in private biotechnology companies.

Laminar flow hoods are used to vent & filter air.

Working

environment

Strict Sterilization

In biotechnology laboratories the use of microorganisms requires strict sterilization.

Different Fields of Study

A. Medical biotechnologist B. Research biotechnologist C. Forensics D. Geneticist

Medical BiotechnologistBachelor’s Degree

Works with production of antibodies for diagnosis or treatment of disease.

Biotechnology rapidly making complex advances

Over 200 medicines and related products created from biotech techniques currently available.

Horizontal gene transfer in living plants. Manipulate organic materials to reach the

demands of food production. New drug creation

Over 1000 biotech companies in U.S., most working in diagnostics &

therapeutics

A few of the more prominent biotech companies are Alteon, Inc., AmpliMed, Inc., Callisto Pharmaceuticals Inc., Kinexis, Inc., Trellis Bioscience, Inc., and The Vaccine Company.

Ethical concerns related to eugenics.

Eugenics is "the study of, or belief in, the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits (negative eugenics) or encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inheritable desirable traits (positive eugenics)."

Counseling of couples not to have a child if a faulty gene is present.

Selecting favorable traits such as gender before implantation.

Research Biotechnologist

A scientist that studies the use of microorganisms to perform specific industrial or manufacturing processes.

Applications include the production of certain drugs, synthetic hormones, and bulk foodstuffs as well as the bioconversion of organic waste and the use of genetically altered bacteria in the cleanup of oil spills.

ForensicsBachelor’s Degree

Biotechnology professional who works to aid in solving crimes is a forensics specialist.

Geneticist - Bachelor’s Degree

A geneticist is a scientist who studies genetics, the science of heredity and variation of organisms.

Counsel families with history of health problems I.e. Sickle cell traits Down Syndrome.

Biomedical EngineerBachelor’s Degree

Designs instruments & machines that are used to monitor & treat disease.