TechNation magazine continues to promote and applaud the men and women of healthcare technology management (HTM) with the addition of the inaugural Tech Choice Awards. The Tech Choice Awards (also known as the Wrenchies) shine a spotlight on the heroes of HTM.
The idea for the awards came via a LinkedIn post by Wesley Reid CHTM, CBET, CRES, the director of tech management with ENTECH.
“As most of my ideas do, the idea for the Tech Choice Awards was born of constant open discussion with peers in our industry. Just so happened it was my favorite peer and fiance Theresa Heitchler who encouraged me to post the inquiry on LinkedIn as we talked about challenges, shop life, opportunities, and appreciation for our community,” Reid said. “We love celebrating our HTM colleagues and know TechNation does as well. I believe giving everyone a vote and access to submission will enfranchise the entire community, inspire excellence, and bring us together to celebrate each other’s commitment to our beloved profession.” A special thank you goes out to the sponsors who helped make the awards possible. The sponsors enjoyed amazing publicity during the nomination and voting process. The sponsors did not have any input when it came to selecting the honorees. The winners are based 100 percent on votes from the HTM community.”
A special thank you goes out to the sponsors who helped make the awards possible. The sponsors enjoyed amazing publicity during the nomination and voting process. The sponsors did not have any input when it came to selecting the honorees. The winners are based 100 percent on votes from the HTM community.
Finalists in each category were selected during a month-long nomination process.
Next, HTM pros were invited and encouraged to vote online. The Wrenchies are the “people’s choice awards of HTM” thanks to an outpouring of support from TechNation readers, biomeds and the entire HTM community. The online voting period saw more than 5,000 votes recorded.
The Tech Choice Award categories are:
- Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Tri-Imaging Solutions
- Professional of the Year Award, sponsored by Renovo Solutions
- Department of the Year Award, sponsored by USOC Medical
- Young Professional of the Year Award
- Women in Leadership Winner, sponsored by Avante Health Solutions
- Director/Manager of the Year, sponsored by MW Imaging
- ISO Employee of the Year Award, sponsored by Elite Biomedical Solutions
- Military BMET of the Year Award, sponsored by CBET
- Humanitarian of the Year Winner, sponsored by Healthmark Industries
- Industry Influencer of the Year, sponsored by Soma Tech Intl
- Ingenuity Award
- Association of the Year Award, sponsored by MultiMedical Systems
- Outstanding Vendor of the Year Award
To find out more about the inaugural Tech Choice Award winners visit the digital supplement online.
The special issue includes detailed information about The Wrenchies and winners from each category.
Nominations for the 2025 Tech Choice Awards will be opened later this year. Nominations and winners selected based 100% on votes from those who make up the HTM industry.
Sponsored by
Professional of the Year
Taylor Dunbar, Clinical Engineering Specialist, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dunbar’s interest in project management has been an academic pursuit and she also has an interest in women’s opportunities in engineering fields.
Challenges are a part of the HTM profession and instilling confidence in clinical colleagues may be one of them. Yet, overcoming some of those challenges results from proving capability. Dunbar has taken on the challenge.
Young Professional of the Year
Allison Woolford, CBET, Biomedical Equipment Specialist, Duke University Hospital
“My goal is to help the students truly understand what life is like in a hospital setting. I am also trying to set up a semi-annual presentation where various biomedical technicians can come in and connect with the students. That way, they can see the various job opportunities for biomedical technicians,” she says.
It is no surprise; the HTM field has been enriched by having biomeds like Woolford, who are both devoted to their work as well as contributing to the training of future biomeds.
Sponsored by
Department of the Year
The Houston Methodist Biomedical Engineering Department
With eight hospitals, an academic institute and 2,509 operating beds, Houston Methodist includes 27,947 employees, with many working in biomed. The 85-member biomedical engineering department is led by System Director Anthony Maroulis.
With big responsibilities and big challenges, this talented team of technicians and engineers has solved problems and addressed pandemic-related trials to the benefit of patients and clinical staff. They are also partnering to train the next generation of biomeds learning in an ideal environment.
Sponsored by
Lifetime Achievement Award
Patrick Lynch, CHTM, CBET, CCE, MBA, CPHIMS
Patrick “Pat” Lynch, CHTM, CBET, CCE, MBA, CPHIMS, is the recipient of the inaugural Tech Choice Awards Lifetime Achievement Award presented by TechNation magazine based on nominations and online voting by the HTM community. 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 created a way to save these items which could impact patient care in other parts of the world,” Goll added.
“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.
Sponsored by
Military BMET of the Year
Josh Garvin, VISN 10 Information Systems Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
“Joshua Garvin is a veteran of the United States Army where he was an intelligence analyst for many years. Since 2012, Josh has been working for the Department of Veterans Affairs in networking- and cybersecurity-related capacities. As of March 2021, he has been a Biomedical Equipment Support Specialist (BESS) for the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) covering Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. In his time with VA, he’s made a significant impact to the healthcare technology management (HTM) community in this region and throughout the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Josh has worked to ensure VHA medical centers in his region meet the key performance indicators related to cybersecurity, such as vulnerability management. He’s also played a hand in countless VISN-wide projects such as the deployment of Zeiss FORUM Eye PACs in preparation for an electronic health record changeover. Josh’s passion for cybersecurity is even more evident in his enthusiasm to educate those that need or wish to learn more about the topic. He holds education sessions in the VA for interested BESS for several years, and he’s even created training content available to all biomedical engineers and BESS. The topics covered range from medical device security KPI improvements, basic networking skills, adding devices to the domain, PowerShell tutorials, IBM web reports, isolation management and much more. Josh also takes the time to provide additional support and education to those VA sites that express the need. He has regularly held one-on-one trainings for sites struggling with cybersecurity actions and/or have new VA HTM staff onboard. He is the co-lead for the National VHA HTM IT Education Workgroup that aims to educate the HTM field in medical device security knowledge. This expertise has even been featured in a variety of TechNation articles with Josh as co-writer to three published articles. He truly encompasses what it means to be the Military BMET of the Year from his time in the Army to now serving his fellow Veterans as a BESS for the Veterans Health Administration.” – Jennifer Harrison, Biomedical Engineer, Veterans Health Administration
Sponsored by
Director/Manager of the Year
Chris Nowak, Director, Clinical Engineering at Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Chris Nowak is personable and professional all at the same time. He has the ability to recall names of the hundreds of HTM professionals he has met over the years. He knows “the clinical engineering, HTM business, like the back of his hand, from A to Z.” His credentials include CBET, CHP, CSCS, and past president of AAMI. Nowak is applauded for his attention to detail and always “doing what is right” for patients and his staff. He supports the continuing education of team members and always wants the best for those who work with him. He is truly concerned about their wellbeing.
Sponsored by
ISO Employee of the Year
Keven Sun, Biomedical Service Technician, CME Corp
“Keven Sun is everything an ISO employee/ BMET/CBET should be. Keven has that ‘can do’ attitude and he wears it so well. There is nothing technical/mechanical that Keven cannot and will not fix. He is the kind of young, eager, full of potential BMET/CBET that everyone wants on their team and I am lucky to have him on mine. I have known Keven for a few years now and I have watched him grow as a tech and as a person. So much of this job is accolades and recognition and certifications and rightfully so. However, when did we forget the importance of being a genuinely nice person. I would bet that each of us would rather work with an extremely talented and genuinely nice person versus the know it all biomed with all the certs after his/her name. Patient care and mutual respect are our 2 top priorities here at CME. We place these above all else and Keven Sun knows his customers well and always provides this level or higher of service. We are in a selfless career field, where pats on the back are rare. I want to give Keven his time to shine because he has earned it as a young CBET and yes, because he is a genuinely kind person that everyone wants to work with.”
– John Waller, New England Regional Biomedical Services Manager, CME CORP
Sponsored by
Humanitarian Award
Emmanuel Essah, Biomedical Program Manager at Mercy Ships
“You can use your God-given skills and your talents in the biomedical engineering field to bring hope and healing to the forgotten poor. You will get to befriend patients that we serve. Even though I do not have direct interaction with patients in my day-to-day job, the equipment that I repair or maintain is used to treat the patients. Whether it’s for monitoring, diagnosis, etcetera,” Essah says.
Emmanuel Essah is making a real difference in the lives of his fellow Africans and bringing his skill set to the benefit of those who need medical intervention desperately.
Ingenuity Award
Carl Cross, Biomedical Engineer at VHA
“He innovated an entire PowerBI Analytics portal for the Medical Device Cybersecurity data for the entire VHA Healthcare Technology Management (HTM) community which consists of approximately 2,000 Biomedical Equipment Support Specialists and Biomedical Engineers throughout the U.S. This portal compiles key cybersecurity data as it relates to medical equipment in VHA medical centers. Since its inception, this portal has been utilized over 175,000 times by VHA HTM professionals, and it directly benefits the HTM community on a daily basis.
He has also developed enterprise interactive reports for tracking each Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) directive to monitor remediation of cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the field. These reports are vital to the successful management of cybersecurity threats to medical systems in the VHA health care system.”
Sponsored by
Women in Leadership Award
Dana Hamed, Clinical Engineering Supervisor at Middlesex Health
“Dana has taken on a difficult challenge in stride this year, both becoming supervisor and an interim manager for our department. Despite the difficulty of covering both positions for a prolonged period, Dana has stepped up to the new roles and responsibilities. Dana exemplifies many key leadership qualities, she has a strong work ethic, stays until the job is done, and she’s available to help solve crisis issues at any time. Most importantly, she leads by example by being kind and empathetic, always willing to help find solutions, and committed to learning and improving.”
– Kyle Cagnoli, Clinical Engineer, Middlesex Health
“Her style of leadership is one of her greatest strengths. She is strong and decisive while being personable with the team to ensure their concerns are met equitably. She has a great mindset to evaluate a problem and works to solve it for the betterment of the patients the facility serves.”
– Michael Heusser, Chief Biomedical Engineer for VA CT
Sponsored by
Industry Influencer of the Year
Bryant Hawkins, Sr.
HTM on the Line podcast
“Bryant is an outstanding leader, influencer, educator, mentor and friend. Not only does he impact the HTM industry with his time and service, but he gives of himself as an open and transparent human. He is dedicated to the field by reminding us to pour our knowledge and experience out for new HTM professionals. His passion and dedication to connect with others in our field is one of a kind. All the while he remains humble, as he shines brightly. He acknowledges that this industry is not a solo mission to become successful, but we are a community that commands integrity to keep patients and clinicians safe. Among many awesome titles, he most certainly deserves the acknowledgement of TechNation’s Influencer of the Year.”
– Nicole Ruffin, Biomedical Equipment Technician, Crothall Healthcare
Outstanding Vendor of the Year
Sage Services Group, sageservicesgroup.com
“Sage Services Group and Wes Stichweh provide top notch service for all of our patient monitoring needs. Whenever I have something broken, Wes is just a phone call away. I don’t even have to worry about boxing it up. No matter how big or how small, he will stop by the hospital to pick it up. Even if he is on vacation and can’t make it to the hospital, he will send me the repair form and a FedEx label for me to ship it out. Once it is shipped out, the turnaround time is amazing. I know that within a week, I am going to have my device back and it is going to be working better than ever. The convenience and the repair process are impeccable.”
– Allison Woolford, Biomedical Equipment Specialist, Duke University Hospital
Sponsored by
Association of the Year
Florida Biomedical Society
“The Florida Biomedical Society truly deserves recognition and an award for their exceptional contributions to the field. Their annual symposiums are not only highly informative but also incredibly engaging and consistently attracting a diverse and substantial audience. What sets them apart is their commitment to creating a family-friendly atmosphere. Beyond their academic pursuits, the society’s members actively participate in community initiatives, showcasing their dedication to giving back. With their substantial reach and impact, the Florida Biomedical Society stands as a prominent and influential force in the biomedical community. Their unwavering commitment to education, inclusivity, and community engagement makes them a deserving recipient of this esteemed award.”
– Myra Becerra, Biomed Supervisor, Memorial Healthcare System
To find out more about the inaugural Tech Choice Award winners visit the digital supplement online.
The special issue includes detailed information about The Wrenchies and winners from each category.
Nominations for the 2025 Tech Choice Awards will be opened later this year. Nominations and winners selected based 100% on votes from those who make up the HTM industry.
