By K. Richard Douglas
When Ray Charles covered the Hoagy Carmichael song “Georgia on My Mind,” he was singing about the state where he grew up. The song has been the official state song for the Peach State since the late 1970s. With mountains in the north, a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and bordering South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida, the state of Georgia is unique and worthy of inspiring a ballad.
The state’s HTM association, the Georgia Biomedical Instrumentation Society (GBIS), has been a staple for the biomed community for 39 years. The group’s executive director is Horace Hunter.
“GBIS was formed from the four local biomedical societies after seeing participation depleting – Atlanta Area Biomedical Association led by Emmanuel King and Dr. Mike O’Rear, Central Georgia Biomedical Society lead by Dean Fripps, Savannah Biomedical Society led by Bob Carey and South Georgia Biomedical Society, led by Horace Hunter,” Hunter says.
He says that the remaining board members and other members from each group were part of the decision to unite and form a state group. GBIS was formed in 1985 and was officially incorporated in 1998.
“Dr. Mike O’Rear, a co-founder, board of trustee and lifetime member of GBIS passed away December 2022. Dr. O’Rear, also called Mike, was the first biomed instructor teaching in the state of Georgia. He was at Chattahoochee Technical College for more than 30 years. Christa Shiver, Dianne O’Rear, Emmanuel King and Horace Hunter rotated as various officers on the board of directors until everyone felt it was time to promote them to board of trustees so others can participate as officers,” Hunter says.
He says that GBIS was founded on the mission to promote the HTM profession by advancing the knowledge of personnel involved in the selection, development, operation, repair and support of biomedical technology.
“In the beginning, GBIS conducted technical conferences across the state of Georgia during a period of time when many hospitals would not send technicians to manufacturer service schools. GBIS members also wanted to support and contribute to charity organizations like – AAMI Foundation, Behm Birth Defects, Med Share and others,” Hunter says.
GBIS also developed media partnerships with TechNation, MD Expo, DotMed, AAMI and other publishing organizations to help members gather information in the field of biomedical technology,” Hunter adds.
Remembering an Important Contributor
The pandemic threw a wrench in even the best intentions of many biomed associations. In-person meetings became challenging or non-existent and many routine functions had to be cancelled. The Georgia group was forced to take a break from the annual event that was normally a part of its schedule.
“GBIS did not host a conference from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and safety of our members. In 2023, GBIS conducted our annual conference at the new Children’s Healthcare Medical Center in Atlanta. We had some eight technical classes certified by AAMI and more than 100 participants. Michael Cameron, conference chairperson, and his committee did an excellent job coordinating the conference and selecting various food and refreshments,” Hunter says.
He adds that the highlights for last year’s conference were a surprise event to honor Dr. Mike O’Rear by giving a plaque to his family. Also, the conference was coordinated by a new group of GBIS members; giving other members a chance to lead the group, Hunter says.
GBIS holds an annual meeting after the conference and all meetings are held online using Go To Meeting or Zoom.
Hunter says that the society has conducted workshops in the past with support from corporate members.
“GBIS supports and encourages members to go to the schools and share an HTM career. Last year, Nikhil Shirke and Bill Bruce conducted a career day event at a school in Atlanta. During HTM week, GBIS invited members to participate in a picture-take and proclamation signing with the governor of Georgia. As members come up with ideas to promote a healthcare technology management career, GBIS will continue to [offer] support,” Hunter says.
GBIS has a scholarship program for biomeds who complete the AAMI certification. Additionally, the organization supports several technical schools and community colleges including Mira Costa College, Georgia Gwinnett College, College of Biomedical Equipment Technology and any school or college that needs its support.
One role that biomed associations play in the larger HTM community is finding replacements for the many veteran biomeds who are retiring from the profession.
“GBIS is in the process of developing a new board of directors that will set a goal on how to find and recruit new members,” Hunter says.
Combined with its work with college biomed programs, GBIS is doing its part to help channel new biomeds into the profession in Georgia.
Ready for new leadership, one of the country’s oldest biomed organizations continues to provide benefits to the state’s HTM community.