According to the website of the Florida Biomedical Society: “The FBS BMET of Year was established as a way to recognize those biomedical professionals that distinguish themselves during the course of each calendar year.”
The society’s chapters each submit a nominee for the annual award.
The site’s description continues; “The FBS BMET of the Year is someone who embraces and works to achieve the goals and values of the FBS and works for the betterment of the Biomedical Profession.”
The 2015 Biomedical Technician of the Year award was presented to Joel Camargo, a Biomedical Electronics Specialist who works for Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the recent FBS Symposium.
The fact that Camargo’s efforts came to the attention of his peers is testament to his work ethic. That may seem a little ironic since he did not set out with a goal of becoming a biomed at first.
“I actually stumbled across the biomedical profession at an Army recruiting office,” Camargo remembers. “Initially I was interested in becoming an X-ray technician, but after watching a short laser disc video (I’m dating myself), of a technician disassembling all this strange equipment with these fancy tools, I was sold.”
Training
Camargo received his HTM training through the military.
“A week after signing up with the Army, I was enrolled into the Biomedical Equipment Technician Program at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado. The school was almost a year long and was broken down into two-week modules. The first couple of weeks covered Ohm’s Law, theory, and quickly covered basic soldering techniques,” Camargo says. “By the time I was studying for the last module, I was troubleshooting high-voltage X-ray machines. The Army gave me a great foundation of training to start my career and has served me well ever since.”
After exiting the service, he landed close to his boyhood home in New England.
“After leaving the Army as a young biomed with a couple of years of experience under my belt, I was fortunate enough to be hired on at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. I had some really great mentors there that helped me to develop the skills and confidence needed in tackling just about any problem that arose in a hospital setting,” Camargo says. “They have a really great biomed team, and I will never forget my time there.”
After a few years in Boston, he decided to move to Florida and took a position as a senior biomedical technician at Palmetto General Hospital in Hialeah, Florida.
“I also enjoyed my time there and made some great friends there as well. Soon after I took a position here at Broward Health and have worked with a great team ever since,” he says.
Camargo spends the large majority of his time in surgery, servicing anesthesia machines for all the hospitals within the Broward Health organization. Beyond that, the rest of his time is spent assisting colleagues servicing all types of equipment that comes into the lab.
Camargo has helped many a biomed intern get off on the right foot as well.
Like many biomeds, there are those times when changing technology can present a challenge.
“I think the greatest challenge I’ve encountered is how quickly the integration of Wi-Fi and networking has changed the way biomed equipment is being used in the hospital setting, and how it affects the way we train and prepare for any technical issues that may arise and how it affects scheduled maintenance as well,” Camargo says.
Asked if he has won any awards during his career, the one from FBS is still fresh in his thoughts.
“As far as awards go, I was lucky enough to receive the 2015 Biomedical Technician of the Year award from the Florida Biomedical Society,” Camargo says. “It’s an honor to be recognized for doing something you love to do every day, but most of us do this because we have a passion for it, accolades or not.”
Leisure Time
When not working, Camargo enjoys being a DIY’er and has installed a new floor in a bedroom, as well as tackling auto repairs.
“I enjoy doing my own work at home and try to tackle anything that I think can be done safely myself,” he says.
Camargo echos the words of Professor Arthur Szathmary when he reflects on his chosen career and the message he would like to send TechNation readers.
“I think what I’d like to say, is if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life. Find your passion and everything will fall into place,” he says.