By K. Richard Douglas
Some people follow in a parent’s footsteps but question the decision. That was the case with Will Axon, CBET, a biomedical equipment technician I, working in the healthcare technology management (HTM) department at Baylor Scott & White in McKinney, Texas.
Axon had a positive view of HTM from early on, but had some initial doubts after college.
“My father was a major influence getting into HTM. While I was growing up, he moved through his career as a biomed, imaging technician and HTM manager. I recall near daily conversations asking about his day and receiving detailed answers about what equipment had gone down, confrontations he deescalated, and other conversations and challenges he had. I remember how enamored I was at the thought that my dad was the guy fixing hospital equipment. As a kid it sounded so urgent and necessary: with a tool kit and rolled up sleeves, my dad was behind the scenes helping to save lives,” Axon remembers.
He took a slightly different route in college and finished with an AAS in electronics and computer controls with two supplemental certifications — electronics technician and computer controls technician. After graduating, he was met with some offers in different industries, but the health care offers wanted someone with existing experience. He thought that he might have to go in another direction and miss out on biomed.
“About one month into the search, I received a call back from a dialysis provider who offered training for technical aptitude. It was my ‘in’ into health care. My interviewer, who turned out to be the hiring manager, invited me to an in-person interview two weeks out. I spent those two weeks in the interim becoming a dialysis expert. I had a rough start getting into the industry and I was not about to fail to earn the opportunity. As luck would have it, nothing I researched was asked about in the interview. The hiring manager liked my excitement to get into the field, I understood electronic principles, and I was eager to learn,” Axon says.
His first job was working as a BMET I for Fresenius Kidney Care covering two outpatient centers.
“My role was to maintain the hemodialysis, RO and SDS equipment while overseeing facility maintenance and clinical supply inventory. After certifying and testing into their BMET II level, I was moved into a float position where I was designated to train new biomeds, proctor annual skills validations, and assist with coverage and machine PMs for clinics in the north Texas area,” Axon says.
By his third year in the position, things became more interesting since he worked with a great team in a home dialysis program, but the concentration in one limited scope of service was a downside. Axon was eager to work on a more diverse range of equipment.
“In January this year (2022), nearly five years exactly into my career in HTM, I started my current position at Baylor, Scott and White McKinney Medical Center. Stepping down to a BMET I has been a small price for the team, scope of service and avenues for advancement I currently enjoy. From my first interview, I was upfront with my manager, Scott Gillett, that I plan to dedicate another five years to absorbing everything I can as a biomed before seeking to pivot to an imaging role (after all, Dad did it),” Axon says.
Earlier this year, he also became CBET certified and completed ultrasound certification more recently.
“To keep up with the apparent evolution of HTM, and further integration of network applications of equipment, I am currently working on a B.S. in computer science and preparing to re-certify for CompTIA Network+,” Axon says.
Games and Nature
When not repairing, maintaining and calibrating equipment, Axon likes to get outdoors along with enjoying games with friends. He also has a young family.
“I have a wife of six years, a four-year-old and a one-year-old; both boys. The one-year-old is massive. He just started walking and is already taking his older brother down in wrestling. The oldest boy is taking on a lot of my own interests, always talking about Star Wars, wanting to play with the rugby ball and Legos, and asking when he can go camping. Every day, when I come home, he asks me which doctor tools I fixed today,” Axon says.
“I plan a yearly three- to four-night backcountry backpacking trip for an annual challenge and a second weekend hike-in or drive-up trip to bring friends and family who prefer it a little more easy-going. This spring, I took two friends on a through hike of the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park and will be taking my 4-year-old on his first camping trip this October to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas,” Axon says.
He says that he meets with a group of friends two nights a month to host game night.
“What was supposed to be a quick demo is approaching our third year playing the Star Wars tabletop RPG (Dungeons and Dragons for space wizards). I started playing with the core of this group six years ago. We have played a few dozen board and tabletop games over the years, but Dungeons and Dragons has always been at the core of our play time. We are discussing going back to it after our current Star Wars RPG game comes to a close,” Axon says.
He also loves the game of rugby, although he hasn’t played since his now one-year-old was born. Axon says that he plans to get back into rugby once he finishes his degree.
“I started when I was 17 when I walked past a team’s practice and was asked to join. I fell in love with the sport immediately. Last winter, I took my wife and oldest son to the Dallas Jackals’ inaugural game, which was special to me because the Jackal’s manager was the coach of the first team I played with,” Axon says.
He says that he is always planning for the future, whether it’s his five-year career plan, the next camping trip or getting his kids engaged in sports and STEM projects.
Motivated by his dad’s early stories, the field could use more forward-looking HTM professionals like Axon.
