Business machines to biomed; the story of a career detour into the HTM profession often reads like that. Alberto Perez, BMET III, first got a diploma in Business Machines Technology from a vocational school and worked repairing mechanical and electronic circuits.
“In the 1980s and early 1990s, I worked as a warehouse coordinator and maintenance technician for SmithKline Beecham,” Perez remembers. “While working there, I met Wayne Cumbie, who was SmithKline’s Laboratory Biomed Engineer. He was the first biomed I met and he became my mentor in the biomed field. I got hooked immediately and went back to school to complete another associate degree in biomed so I could enter the field,” Perez completed that degree in 1996.
“After finishing my degree, Mr. Bill Hart helped me find my first job,” he says. Hart had been his biomed course instructor at Hillsborough Community College (HCC).
The job was with Benjamin Biomedical as a biomedical technician. He handled repairs across Florida, from Tallahassee to Miami.
“I learned a lot about patient monitoring, sterilizers, and many other types of medical devices,” Perez says.
“It wasn’t easy at that time, as there were no cellphones or easy Internet access to research for parts, manuals or service. I remember carrying a ‘phone card’ and using pay phones to call for tech support,” he says.
Contacting tech support back then was a necessity because Perez was doing a lot of learning on the job. There was a lot of equipment he had never seen before. Perez says that when you have to learn by yourself, you are more likely to retain that information.
He went to work for National MD afterwards, before it was acquired by GE Medical Systems (now GE Healthcare). He spent almost 10 years with GE Healthcare and progressed from a Biomed II to a BMET III, and then to a Site Leader.
“I joined Baycare Health Systems in 2007, where I still work as a BMET III. I am in charge of the surgical departments at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa,” Perez says.
His specialization in the surgical department evolved out of specific training.
“I’m specially trained in heart/lung machines and heater/coolers, ESUs, surgical tables, booms and lights, anesthetic gas monitors and all kinds of equipment used in the surgical environment,” Perez says.
He says that when something happens “in the middle of a case,” you have to act and think fast. A loose wire can make a monitor display go out. Perez considers operator error as a first step before assuming equipment failure.
Recognition
Perez’s work ethic caught the attention of employers and associations.
“While working for GE Healthcare, they used to offer an award called the Triple Crown Award to a CE shop that completed three requirements; 100 percent PM completion on time, correct inventory of equipment and excellent customer support. I won the award in 2007,” he says.
The following year, he was awarded the Florida Biomedical Society’s (FBS) “Biomed of the Year” award at the group’s annual symposium.
Each region around Florida submits their nominee for the biomed of the year honor. Perez had no idea he was chosen as the winner until the FBS annual symposium. It was a complete surprise.
Softball Dad
Bowling used to be a big interest, but today Perez is more of a softball dad.
“My daughter, Stephanie, plays fast-pitch softball at her high school and with her travel ball team,” Perez says.
“I spend my weekends watching her play softball all over Florida, as well as out of state. This summer alone, her team played in Auburn, Alabama; Marietta, Georgia; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We enjoyed it very much and we were able to enjoy some vacation time hiking and whitewater rafting. We also enjoyed sightseeing in Nashville, Chattanooga and the Smoky Mountains,” Perez says.
“Also, since we live so close to Orlando, we enjoy going to Disney World every chance we get,” he adds.
Perez has a second daughter named Christina and his wife’s name is Rita. They have a toy poodle named Molly.
Staying Connected
Perez has been active outside of work as a member of BAAMI (Bay Area Association of Medical Instrumentation) in Tampa since 2005.
“I was elected as the BAAMI State Representative to FBS (Florida Biomedical Society) in 2009. I’m still active as the representative and feel very proud of being involved with the FBS Board,” he says.
“Alberto is actively involved with various biomed associations. He works tirelessly with the Bay Area Association of Medical Instrumentation in Tampa, finding sponsors and helping with every monthly meeting,” says Carlos Villafane, CBET, CET, who works at St. Joseph’s Hospital and serves as BAAMI’s president.
“He is our local representative for the Florida Biomedical Society and helps by contacting vendors and sponsors for the yearly FBS Symposium,” Villafane adds.
One of the things that Perez enjoys most about working in the field is encouraging the next generation of biomeds.
“I enjoy working with people and mentoring new hires. I like to motivate students during our monthly BAAMI meetings,” he says.
