By K. Richard Douglas
Wesley Chapel, Florida is northeast of Tampa on the west side of the state. Except for hurricanes, it’s a good place to live.
The area has several hospitals, including Advent Health Wesley Chapel. One of the biomeds at that hospital knows the state of Florida well.
“I have always been passionate about helping people and enjoy fixing things. The concept of machines offering critical information and support to save lives truly captivated me. My curiosity deepened as I discovered how engineering and technology unite to create devices that assist healthcare professionals in delivering more precise and effective care,” says Dina Nordin, biomedical engineer II with GE Healthcare, working at Advent Health Wesley Chapel in Wesley Chapel, Florida.
Nordin attended Santa Fe College where she earned an associate of science degree in biomedical equipment technology in May 2019.
“I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Applied Science at the University of South Florida,” she says.
Nordin began her career interning at the Veterans Memorial Hospital in Gainesville, Florida.
“After that, I secured my first job as a biomedical equipment technician in Jacksonville, Florida. Since then, I have advanced to a biomedical equipment technician II role,” she says.
Nordin does have some specialized skills that may set her apart from many biomeds.
“While living in Phoenix, I learned to operate the Baxter Prismaflex. Afterward, I taught myself how to troubleshoot and service the machine independently. I have specialized expertise in Panda Warmers and Giraffe Incubators,” Nordin adds.
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
During her time in the field, Nordin has worked on some projects and has taken on a few challenges as well. Giraffes aside, Nordin has plenty of experience installing medical devices for humans and bringing them online.
“I have been involved in configuring new Philips monitors in our department, collaborating with the Philips team to ensure correct network settings and effective communication. Additionally, I worked on a project to setup transportable monitors and ECG machines with proper network configurations to enable successful data transfer to Epic,” she says.
Nordin says that when the ICU team installed new monitors for the department, she assisted with the Philips team in setting up the monitors, making sure each monitor was configured to the correct settings and also adding the devices into the inventory.
One challenge of living on the western side of Florida is the potential for hurricanes coming into the gulf. This can mean putting in some additional hours at work to monitor the situation.
“I was not affected by Hurricane Helene this year, but unfortunately Hurricane Milton was a direct hit on Tampa and caused some major damage to our city. [During] Hurricane Milton, I had to spend the night at my hospital and make sure nothing went wrong with any of the departments. Luckily, we had no incidents,” Nordin says.
When taking some time away from work, Nordin likes to see the world and experience other countries.
“I love to travel. I have been to Vietnam, Morrocco, Cambodia, Amsterdam, Italy, France and Munich,” she says.
Her family lives in Jacksonville, Florida, and she has a sister who lives in Melbourne, Australia.
As a biomed who has gained experience in the field, she has her sights set on a career ladder in HTM and continuing her career in a management position.
“I am a highly driven BMET with a deep passion for how healthcare and biomedical engineering support and save lives. My goal is to assume a leadership role in this field. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable experience and taken on roles that have prepared me to be a successful leader, with a focus on teamwork and problem-solving,” Nordin says.
No doubt this Sunshine State biomed will achieve her goal and continue to advance within HTM.
BIOMETRICS
Favorite book:
“Verity”
Favorite movie:
“She’s the Man”
Favorite food:
Sushi
Hidden talent:
I love to make pottery!
Favorite part of being a biomed:
The best part of being a biomed is knowing that I am responsible for maintaining all critical medical equipment, from machines used in invasive procedures to laboratory centrifuges. Taking on this responsibility and rising to the occasion gives me peace of mind, knowing that the hospital operates smoothly.
Why do you read TechNation?
I love hearing other people’s stories and how they make a difference in their field.
