powered by YP at MD
Joshua Mook earned an associate in applied science degree from Durham Technical Community College before starting his HTM career. He is currently a biomedical equipment technician at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina. TechNation found out more about this rising star in the HTM field via a question-and-answer session.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I was adopted from Kirov, Russia and grew up in Apex, North Carolina.
Q: Where did you receive your HTM training/education?
A: From Durham Technical Community College.
Q: How did you first discover HTM?
A: My father, who is a CRNA at Duke University Hospital, one day bumped into a biomedical technician while on the job. Out of curiosity, he asked the tech what it is he does. Seeing this newly discovered career aligned with my interest, my father told me about it and I researched from there.
Q: How did you choose to get into this field?
A: When I was in high school I found I had a strong interest in medical technology and also a passion for repairing broken equipment. I would construct basic prosthetic prototypes in my garage and research into the advancements of technology in medicine as well. I chose this field because it allows the best of both worlds in that I am able to support others through my work and use technological skills while being a part of a generation that sees technology as something to build upon
Q: What do you like most about your position?
A: The one thing I value the most about my current position is the impact I make every day, both to the patients and the clinicians. I find that true reward is in the joy the customer gets when they walk into work the next day to find their equipment is back in operational condition and they can consequently move forward in saving lives. Often our presence and work go unnoticed, but there is value in that regardless.
Q: What interests you the most about HTM?
A: HTM interests me the most mainly in regards to its role in advancing medical technology and implementing it into the world around us. Technology in medicine is growing at a rapid rate and being able to be a part of that growth is seriously so special.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment in your field thus far?
A: The greatest accomplishment I have achieved in my field thus far is that I have overcome my fear of the unknown. The world of HTM is always changing and that is in large part due to the changing technology we work with. When I began, I was worried about the “what ifs,” but over the course of these first 6 months I have learned to look at a problem as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than to break down. As my team lead told me when I began, “the best way to find your way is to get lost.”
Q: What goals do you have for yourself in the next 5 years?
A: My goals are to grow and advance in my career. I want to experience all that HTM has to offer and, as many have told me, an HTM professional is never done learning. While we move at different speeds, my goal for the next 5 years is to advance as far as I can while also building my personal skills in the maintaining and servicing of medical technology to better meet the needs of the industry.
FUN FACTS
Favorite hobby:
I love the outdoors so I would have to say camping and traveling.
Favorite show or movie:
The Iron Man series.
Favorite meal:
This one has to be my Mom’s meatloaf.
What would your superpower be?
To look at something broken and be able to fix it telepathically.
1 Thing on Your Bucket List:
Be a trip to Crete, Greece but I may have to wait on that one.
Something your co-workers don’t know about you:
I took part in robotics competitions for two years.
