One of the hottest areas for job growth in the health care industry is biomedical equipment maintenance. Now, some veterans in North Texas have a pathway to enter that well-paid field through a new, accelerated program that teaches them how to install, calibrate and fix sophisticated biomedical equipment, such as electrocardiographs and ultrasound machines, all of which are critical for patient treatment and care.
The innovative program is the result of a partnership between the Dallas County Community College District and the Gen. Richard B. Myers Veterans Biomedical Equipment Technology Program. The BMET program is part of MediSend International, a Dallas-based, biomedical technology equipment school.
Eligible veterans who are accepted into the program can earn a BMET certificate from the Gen. Myers program after an intensive, five-month curriculum that includes classes and hands-on training which will prepare them for immediate employment in the industry. After they earn the BMET certificate, veterans who are candidates in the program then will continue their education and earn an Associate in Applied Sciences degree by taking a combination of online and on-campus classes at either Richland College in Dallas or Eastfield College in Mesquite.
Mark Hays, DCCCD’s vice chancellor of workforce and economic development, said earning an AAS degree could benefit veterans’ future careers. “After five months, they can enter the market at a high level and, in the DFW area, make an average starting salary of $48,500 and, in other markets, up to $70,000. But earning an associate degree will help them move up the career ladder faster and increase their earnings,” Hays explained.
“The program is designed for veterans to use their post-9/11 benefits,” said Joyce Williams, associate vice chancellor of workforce and community initiatives at DCCCD.
“Many of the skills that veterans have acquired in the military are great preparation for training to become a biomedical equipment technician. Our new partnership with DCCCD will give veterans an accelerated path to a successful career and position them for rapid advancement in the health care industry,” said Nick Hallack, president and CEO of MediSend. “The General Richard B. Myers School is proud to join DCCCD in offering this unique opportunity to our young men and women veterans.”
The program prepares veterans to work on high-tech medical equipment such as patient monitors and ventilators, defibrillators and other devices that are common in modern health care facilities. “People who have worked with radar, weapons systems or other electronic equipment in the military can jump right into this field,” Hays said.
“The ability to earn a BMET certificate in five months and complete an associate degree while employed is an exceptional opportunity for our veterans, many of whom are challenged in the transition from military to civilian life,” said retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 2001 to 2005. “This partnership with DCCCD will create a great opportunity for these deserving men and women.”
Program applicants must be post-9/11 veterans who are good at mathematics and algebra, and who have electronic and technical skills. In addition, because of the accelerated nature of the program, candidates must be able to attend full-day classes for five months at the Gen. Richard B. Myers Biomedical Technology School in Dallas.
The program is accepting applications for the next cohort of the BMET program, which starts in early 2016, atwww.dcccd.edu/bmet.
According to data provided by EMSI Analyst and JobsEQ, jobs in the biomedical equipment technology industry are expected to grow by 35 percent through the year 2025 in the DFW area and about 31 percent nationwide.
Williams said that because of the high demand for BMET technicians, “To date, the General Myers BMET program has achieved a high success rate. Now, DCCCD’s partnership creates one of the first fast-track associate degree programs that is specifically designed for veterans. It serves those who already have served,” Williams added.
For more information, visit the Gen. Richard B. Myers Veterans Biomedical Equipment Technology Program website or call 214-575-5006, ext. 112, to speak with someone directly. Interested veterans also send an email to veterans@medisend.org.
