By Joie N. Marhefka, Ph.D.
As I write this, during the fall 2024 semester, I am seeing some encouraging signs from our students on campus. I see students attending events on campus in numbers that I haven’t seen since March of 2020. I’m seeing similar trends with professional organizations and events. Our Women In Bio Pittsburgh chapter just hosted an event with nearly 100 attendees. I believe that people’s priorities and routines shifted during the pandemic, and it seems to me that things are finally getting back to normal. Therefore, I want to explore opportunities to get involved.
For students, the opportunities to participate in school activities are numerous. One option is to join a club at school. Some schools have major specific clubs, such as a BET or HTM club, or perhaps a more general STEM club, as we do. Clubs offer opportunities to participate in activities, meet other students, and perhaps sharpen leadership skills. Students can always start a new club if one doesn’t already exist. Another opportunity available to many college students is working on a research project with a professor. It’s a great way to explore some aspects of the field more deeply. It is also a nice thing to put on a resume and a way to get a good letter or recommendation. Outside of school, students can get involved in the HTM field by joining AAMI as a student member, watching HTM webinars and attending conferences. These are all opportunities to learn more about the field and can be helpful when searching for a job.
As a professional, it may take a little more effort to find ways to get involved in the field. Some hospitals and companies have committees or various organizations that employees can join. Outside of work, joining AAMI or other professional organizations can provide a chance for networking, professional development and leadership. I am currently a member of AMMI, the Society of Women Engineers, and Women In Bio. I have held various leadership roles within the Pittsburgh chapter of Women in Bio. With AAMI, I regularly attend and present at conferences and am a member of a standards committee. Attending and presenting at conferences is a great way to share your expertise, learn about new technologies and trends in HTM, and network with other professionals. Participating in standards committees is a way to help shape the industry and a good volunteer opportunity.
Finally, for people who live near a school that offers HTM or a related major, there are opportunities to participate in various activities that help shape the future of HTM. We have an advisory board for our program that provides feedback to ensure that our curriculum meets industry needs. We also have a number of professionals who volunteer to give guest lectures to our classes. I’m sure other schools are in need of volunteers for these types of activities.
While I certainly value work-life balance, I have found spending just a little bit of my free time participating in the types of activities described above to be rewarding. I believe most of my students would agree. I encourage all of you to look into opportunities like these and to find a way to get involved in an HTM related activity (if you aren’t already).
