By John Wallace, Editor
Patrick “Pat” Lynch, CHTM, CBET, CCE, MBA, CPHIMS, is the recipient of the inaugural Tech Choice Lifetime Achievement Award presented by TechNation magazine based on nominations and online voting by the HTM community. The Tech Choice Awards (Wrenchies) are the “people’s choice” awards of the HTM industry. The Lifetime Achievement Award is sponsored by Tri-Imaging Solutions.
Indiana Biomedical Society Vice President Kelly VanDeWalker nominated Pat for the award.
“Pat Lynch has long been an advocate of the biomedical field and everyone that works in it, working with the top professional organizations all the way down to the state biomedical societies as well as working overseas with mission groups and foreign hospitals,” VanDeWalker wrote. “You could walk into almost any biomedical shop, mention Pat’s name and someone would know who he is, and some would have even worked with him on some committee.”
“For some of us, Pat is a go-to to find out information or answers about changes in the career field,” he added. “His resume and background speak for itself.”
VanDeWalker pointed out that Pat is currently fighting pancreatic cancer and continues to be active in the HTM community while undergoing treatment.
“There is not another person more deserving of this award at this time than Pat Lynch,” VanDeWalker concluded.
MD Publishing President John Krieg echoed that sentiment.
“The outpouring of votes for Pat was incredible. In fact, one fellow nominee, Ken O’Day of BC Group, requested that all of his votes be given to Pat as he felt Pat was deserving of the win” Krieg said. “This award is well-deserved for the positive impact and support Pat has given to the HTM community throughout his many years of dedicated service.”
The HTM community agreed with overwhelming support. Hundreds of biomeds logged in and voted for Pat to receive the inaugural award.
HTM colleagues also shared an abundance of comments expressing Pat’s positive impact on biomedical engineering and biomeds everywhere.
WellStar Health’s Gregory Goll, CHT, CBETM, is among those who shared praise for Pat.
“I was not surprised,” to find out about the award. “In our profession, Pat’s influence is global versus regional.”
Goll describes Pat as the ultimate HTM advocate.
“Pat has never worried about challenging what and why we maintain our equipment. The focus was adding value to what we do, this is supported by other members of our community. Patient safety always is a pillar of his presentations,” Goll explained.
“Pat promoted our field and was a mentor in starting many biomedical organizations. I sent him surplus patient cable and sensors for Biomeds Without Boarders. Normally, after a new installation, these items were basically considered trash, but still had a useful remaining life. Pat had a created a way to save these items which could impact patient care in other parts of the world,” Goll added.
Deer Valley Medical Center Vice President of Support Services Ben Lewis, MBA, CHOP-A, described Pat as a respected leader among leaders.
“In the realm of HTM, Pat has emerged as a guiding force, seamlessly occupying both formal and informal leadership roles, significantly contributing to the HTM community’s advancement and cohesion,” Lewis said.
Arkansas Children’s Clinical Engineering Director Chris Nowak, CHTM, CBET, CHP, CSCS, agrees.
“He is truly deserving of the award. He has helped many regional societies get themselves on the Internet with websites. He cares. He has kept his finger-on-the-pulse of the career field,” Nowak said.
“Pat means ‘community’ to the HTM career field. Pat has worked hard to bring people and ideas together. He has always wanted diversity of thought to ensure all ideas were ‘out-on-the-table.’ He wants what is best for the patients we serve in this career field,” Nowak added.
Ken O’Day from BC Group International was among the finalists for the Lifetime Achievement Award. He said that no one is more deserving to receive the recognition than Patrick Lynch.
“I am happy to hear Patrick is the recipient of this award, he is well deserving,” O’Day wrote in an email. “I am not surprised to hear that Patrick was receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award. He has been such a solid influence on so many of his colleagues and various HTM organizations over the years. He worked tirelessly to advance himself and his chosen profession into a well-respected career path. He has a kind heart, which is evident with the many charitable health care groups and missions with which he has been involved, like Biomeds Without Borders.”
“Well done my friend and congratulations,” he added.
Binseng Wang, another finalist for the Lifetime Achievement Award, applauded Pat’s selection as the inaugural winner.
“I believe you will hear from just about everyone that Pat is honest and not shy in sharing his opinions. He is not afraid to offend any person or company and is clearly focused on providing the best possible and safest equipment for the patients seeking care in the hospital that he was working at. He is also a true believer that all professionals in the field should learn and help each other, so we all can do our best for the clinicians and patients,” Wang said.
“I think this award is long overdue, probably in part because he retired a few years ago and has not participated actively in conferences and events due to health challenges,” he added. “Colleagues up and down the East Coast remember him contributing to the founding of several regional biomedical associations and participating vigorously in numerous meetings. I also learned that he has helped many young people coming into the profession by sharing his knowledge and experience.”
When asked what Pat has meant to his career and life, Wang shared the following.
“For me Pat is a symbol of a good, trustworthy colleague who is always willing to fight for the common good and not shy in defending his ideas,” he said. “Although I did not have the opportunity to work with him in the same organization, I have witnessed the contributions he has made to the professional organizations he helped to create and their members. He is a good example of what a dedicated and professional CE/HTM should be.”
Trimedx CE Healthcare Technologies Senior Site Manager Manuel Vanderpool, CHTM, summed up the feelings of many.
“I am so excited to see Mr. Lynch receiving this award as I truly see him as the people’s choice and someone who advocated across all levels to improve the industry,” Vanderpool said.
“I have always seen Pat as one of those individuals who truly worked his way up and knew exactly what the field needed and knew how to be a voice for all, regardless of if you were in-house or third party,” he added. “I have always been an admirer of his work and appreciate his dedication – which he exhibited toward our craft. I believe that Pat’s defining characteristic is his never wavering search for improvements.”
“My generation is the one coming up on the heels of those like Mr. Lynch – who set the cornerstone of this industry – and I have cited Mr. Lynch’s work(s) more times than I can count,” Vanderpool continued. “I truly owe him a debt of gratitude for helping keep the industry aware of the challenges/changes in a forever changing landscape. I have seen Mr. Lynch as more of a ‘mentor to the field’ than any others through his continued relationships and his ability to always seek the truth.”
“Pat set an example for many of us to continue. Look at what you do and always look to improve. He is always engaged and sets an example to follow. Above all, I consider it an honor to have his respect and friendship,” Goll added.
