Biomedical engineering: Education, research and challenges

Abstract

Biomedical engineering is a discipline that applies principles and methods from engineering, science, and technology to understand, define, and solve problems in biology and medicine. Eventually, biomedical engineers work shoulder to shoulder with medical specialists in various health-care applications and research. They design and manufacture products that can monitor physiologic functions and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Most engineers in this specialty need a sound background in another engineering specialty, such as mechanical or electronics engineering, in addition to specialized biomedical engineering training. Astounding developments in technology as applied in medicine will continue to change what biomedical engineers do and continue to generate new areas for them to work in. An educational program must aim at producing biomedical engineers who are skilled professionals with significant expertise in engineering technology and adequate exposure to medical sciences. Science and technology tell us how to do things without differentiating right or wrong. Accepted standards of right and wrong for a particular society are called the ethics. The educational program must satisfactorily address cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of learning. As a result, a high quality engineering education with life-long learning skills is provided so that graduates shall enhance the health-care services through their professional, technical, managerial, communication, team-work, and research competencies.