When Dave McBride left the facilities management field to become a clinical engineer about a year ago, he immediately joined AAMI to help establish personal relationships with others in his new field. Little did he know at the time that he would quickly form a professional bond with one of the most respected individuals in clinical engineering.McBride and Bob Stiefel, CCE, who is director of clinical engineering with the University of Maryland Medical System, have been in regular contact through a new mentorship program—a pilot project established by AAMI's Technology Management Council (TMC). And despite working in hospitals located nearly 3,000 miles apart, the mentorship “is going quite well,” says Stiefel, a TMC member and past chair of AAMI's Board of Directors. “We have monthly, scheduled phone conversations, plus Dave sends me occasional questions via e-mail.”“He has been a big help with my transition from facilities management to medical equipment management.” —Dave McBride“Bob and I had a great initial phone conference back in July,” says McBride. “During our monthly phone calls since then, I tell him about what I've been doing and decisions I have pending, and he offers advice. Instead of answering a question directly, Bob often talks with experts he knows to get their input and then sends me an e-mail with thoughtful answers. He has been a big help with my transition from facilities management to medical equipment management.”Stiefel and McBride's mentoring relationship is not the only one that is off to a strong start. Dave Francoeur, CBET, a vice president at ARAMARK Healthcare and a member of the TMC, has been mentoring Sam Collins, a radiology engineer with Novant Health.Both Francoeur and Collins work in North Carolina, which has allowed them the opportunity to meet in person.“Initially we just spent time learning about each other, how we got into the field, and how we got to where we are today,” says Francoeur. “I think we are both growing from the experience.”Collins agrees. “Dave has been in the field for many years and has shared with me strategies for focusing my aim and goals. He also shared what he, as a boss and manager, looks for in the people that he would consider for advancement. Getting this kind of insight from someone in his position is very useful in helping me focus the way I present myself and what things are important in planning my future in this field.”Meanwhile, TMC member Roger Bowles, EdD, CBET, of Texas State Technical College, has taken Manoju Samuel under his wing through the program. Samuel is new to the United States, having recently moved here from India.“So far we have e-mailed each other four or five times and have talked by phone once,” says Bowles. “Manoju and I both are working on A+ and Network+ certifica-tions, so I pointed him to some online study material, books, and courses.”“I am really interested in learning more about how biomed programs are run in this country,” says Samuel. “Roger's mentoring has been really wonderful. I have a goal of migrating to the information technology side of the biomed field, and his advice has been a big help.”After the pilot test process for the mentorship program is completed in the next two or three months, the TMC will evaluate a possible expansion of the program. Stay tuned to AAMI News for more details.For more information about the TMC, visit www.aami.org/tmc.For the third straight year, AAMI's Technology Management Council (TMC) will celebrate “National Biomedical/Clinical Engineering Appreciation Week” in 2009.The special observance, which will be held May 10–16, is intended to recognize the unique contributions of those professionals who install, inspect, maintain, and repair medical devices and other technologies.Over the past few years, medical technology professionals from across the country have used their creativity to celebrate National Biomedical/Clinical Engineering Appreciation Week in their own distinctive ways, including hosting week-long celebrations and open houses, and customizing the official TMC National Biomedical/Clinical Engineering Appreciation Week poster with photos of department staff members. In 2008, the Alabama Biomedical Society held its first-ever meeting in conjunction with the observance.As always, the TMC will prepare and make available an official proclamation in honor of the observance. Look to AAMI News for updates on the observance and ideas on ways to celebrate this important annual event. For more information on the TMC, visit www.aami.org/tmc.