Careers in Biomedical Engineering Technology BMET 4350 Fall 2003 Dr. Hugh Blanton

Career Opportunities Industry – Research and Development – Manufacturing Engineering – Quality Assurance – Marketing/Sales – Regulatory Affairs Government – Research Laboratories – Regulatory Agencies (FDA) – Military – Public Health Service – NASA

Career Opportunities Hospitals – Clinical engineers – Facilities engineers Private Testing Laboratories – Underwriter’s Laboratories – ECRI Healthcare Consulting Firms – Accenture

Career Opportunities Academia – Research – Teaching Non-traditional fields: – Technical writing – Corporate training – Patent law – Medicine

Academic vs. Industrial R&D intellectual curiosity why does it work? sharing of royalties publications choice of research more individual work more basic research need to obtain grants involved in initial phases of project less urgency flexibility profitability does it work? no royalties for inventor product introductions limited project areas team approach more applied research funding available involved in entire project “time is money” higher pay AcademiaIndustry

Unique Aspects of Medical Device Industry Regulated industry – must prove safety and efficacy Recalls very difficult Third party payors, insurance Safety issues – biocompatibility – biodurability

Design Constraints Economic – cost containment pressures – market needs – competition – profitability to company Regulatory – want shortest approval path – new materials, designs may require clinical study Legal – product liability, safety – patents

Customer Needs Lower cost Time savings – lower cost – reduced risk Improved performance – quality of care – safer – less liability New treatment – improved care – increased revenues Lower cost/benefit ratio

Biomedical Engineers Salaries Starting salaries (2001): – BS degree:$47,850 – MS degree:$62,600  Engineering technologists will start between $5,000 and $8,000 less than an engineering graduate.  $39,000--$42,000 (National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2001)

Biomedical Engineers Salaries Industry salaries (2000): – Median:$57,480 – Mid 50%:$45,760 - $74,210 – Top 10%:> $90,530 (US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Market Size (World) World market (1998): $145 billion Estimated world market (2006): $260 billion

Industry Profile - Company Size # of Employees Quality System Regulation, FDA, 21 CFR, biomedical engineering positions in 2000 (US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

R&D Spending

Employment Outlook Faster than average increase than other occupations through 2010 (31.4% vs. 15.2%). Aging population, focus on health issues Emerging new areas: – Computer assisted surgery – Cellular and tissue engineering – Rehabilitation and orthopedics – Emphasis on cost efficiency and effectiveness (US Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

Average Salary and Compensation MDDI, October 1999

2001 MDDI, December 2001