Core Skills – What is a biomedical engineering expected to be good at?
One key skill of the Biomedical Engineer is the ability to understand complex medical problems and use engineering methods to solve them. This often includes being part of multi-disciplinary team where the Biomedical Engineer “works” both sides of the problem. The Biomedical Engineer will fully appreciate that most biological systems do not follow the precise physical laws that govern mechanical, chemical, or electrical systems. The biological systems have a spectrum of responses to various stimuli – remember the last time you were given a medicine that worked for everyone else, but not you! Well understanding these less than predictable systems and yet having the skills to design and manipulate the physical systems that form part of the problem solution may give you a sense of what makes a good Biomedical Engineer. Put another way the Biomedical Engineer must master the interface between the living system and the engineered system. Problem definition is a core of skill for Biomedical
