Biomedical engineering combines engineering expertise with medical needs for the enhancement of health care. It is a branch of engineering in which knowledge and skills are developed and applied to define and solve problems in biology and medicine. There are three special areas within this field: medical engineering, clinical engineering, and bioenvironmental engineering. Medical engineers design and build medical instruments and artificial organs. They develop such products as cardiac pacemakers, surgical lasers, bone and joint replacements, and artificial heart valves, kidneys, and limbs. Other medical engineers conduct research. They study materials like silicone, plastics and stainless steel to find if the human body will accept them.

Clinical engineers design computers that constantly check heartbeat, blood pressure, and body temperature or patients. Some design systems that make hospital and laboratory methods more accurate and efficient. Bioenvironmental engineers work on solving environmental problems. They look for ways to improve the places that people, plants, and animals live.

To become a biomedical engineer there are many classes you need to take and things you need to learn. In high school some good courses to take include computing, health, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, and anatomy. In college a degree to go for in this field would be bioengineering and biomedical engineering or biomedical engineering technologies, which are both bachelor degrees. Although these are good degrees to have, most employers prefer engineers who have master's degrees or doctorates in biomedical engineering.

Advancements for biomedical engineers who work for medical equipment manufacturers are promotions to project supervisors or into management positions. Engineers who work in hospitals advance by earning salary increases. Some biomedical engineers form their own consulting firms. A few go to medical school.

Biomedical engineers enjoy using their technical skills to help people. They enjoy the variety and challenges of their work. Although, they mention that communication between engineers and health care professionals can be hard because of the different technical terms used in each field. Frequent travel can also be a disadvantage.

The salary in this field can range a great deal. In Wisconsin the average starting salary as a biomedical engineer is from $36,300 to $42,300 per year. The average salary overall in this state is $46,000 to $69,000 per year. The only factors that affect employment in this field is technological advances in medicine and government interest in controlling the costs of health care.