Part 2 in a Series on BC’s Engineering Technology Education
By Technology Professions BC
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) Biomedical Engineering Technology (BMET) program at BCIT is unique in Canada, as one of only 7 BMET programs in the entire country; the only one in B.C. For decades the BCIT BMET and a similar program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) have delivered this specialized training, largely to meet the needs in western Canada.
BCIT BMET Program Head at BCIT, Anthony Chan, PhD, PEng, CEng, CCE, FCMBES, FEIC, recently hosted Technology Professions BC (TPBC) Board Director Geoff Sale and CEO John Leech for a tour of their labs in the Health Sciences Building at BCIT’s Burnaby campus. “It was an eye-opener for me, especially to see the high-tech equipment used by students as they carry out their studies in patient care and engineering technology,” said Sale. John, Anthony and Geoff (L-R)
The BMET program is the only one in Canada that is specifically targeted to both hospital and medical device industries. Students have access to BCIT’s extensive array of health technology equipment, which prepares them for the workforce as soon as they graduate. BCIT grads maintain specialized medical equipment that is used to support patient care or help to develop new medical devices and products.
“We are pleased with the current state of the BCIT BMET program,” said Program Head Chan. “This program meets the needs of our health care system and is fully portable within Canada and with other countries as a result of accreditation with Technology Accreditation Canada,” enthused Chan.
TPBC CEO John Leech who is reporting on Tech Ed in BC, said, “I have known and been a quiet champion for the BMET program for decades. This program graduates technologists who bring essential skills to health care, yet is one of the programs that is not well known in the health care team.” Leech noted that he and TPBC are approaching the Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills and leaders in business to enhance the profile of BMET and other programs in engineering and applied science technology.
TPBC gifted Anthony a feather carved by Indigenous artist Alex Mountain in appreciation for the tour of BCIT and for his considerable contribution to the field of BMET.