Biomedical engineering technology alumni reflect on value of two-year degree

McKEESPORT, Pa. — Alumni from the biomedical engineering technology program, which has moved from Penn State New Kensington to Penn State Greater Allegheny, said the degree prepared them for impactful, hands-on careers supporting patient care through medical technology across the medical and technology industries.

The two-year associate degree prepares students to inspect, maintain, troubleshoot and repair the technology healthcare teams rely on every day, including heart monitors, infusion pumps, ventilators and defibrillators.

For students interested in healthcare, technology and hands-on problem-solving, alumni said the field offers a practical path into a growing industry.

A two-year path into healthcare technology

Jeffrey Grimm, who manages biomedical equipment services for Allegheny Health Network hospitals in Jefferson, Canonsburg and Grove City, said the field centers on ensuring medical devices function properly so clinicians can deliver care and patients can receive it safely.

“Biomeds perform services on medical devices that ensure that patients receive and clinicians deliver proper care in hospitals, surgery centers, medical clinics and offices,” Grimm said.

Grimm said the program appealed to him because it offered a faster path into the workforce while opening doors to multiple career opportunities, including traditional medical equipment service, imaging services, information technology, device integration, sales and specialty areas.

“This degree got me my start and formed valuable relationships that have supported my entire career,” Grimm said.

Technical careers with purpose

For alumnus Tyler Schwenning, the program provided a direct path into a highly technical career with real-world impact.

“The degree was short and sweet in a highly technical field,” Schwenning said. “More importantly, the job is impactful and helps make a difference in people’s lives.”

Schwenning now works for Bayer as a senior systems engineering technician in research and development, where he manages contrast injector prototypes during testing and refinement.

He said the program helped him build technical knowledge surrounding medical devices while also developing an understanding of how hospitals and health care systems operate.

“This degree got me in the door,” Schwenning said.

Working behind the scenes in patient care

Sam Gormont, who works as a biomedical equipment technician at Mount Nittany Medical Center, said the career combines technical troubleshooting with direct support for patient care.

“Anything from an infusion pump to an anesthesia machine, we are the ones to call when it is broken and not working correctly,” Gormont said.

His responsibilities include repairing medical equipment and completing preventative maintenance to ensure devices continue operating safely and reliably.

Gormont said troubleshooting became one of the most valuable skills he developed through the program.

“Figuring out the problem is the best part, and it is so rewarding when you fix something,” Gormont said. “Another skill is communication. With this field, you must communicate clearly with staff.”

He also said the field’s close-knit professional community helped attract him to the program.

“It is almost like a brotherhood where you look out for each other,” he said. “The biomedical engineering technology degree at Penn State is basically a ticket to the field,” Gormont said.

With predictions of up to 50% of current biomedical engineering technicians retiring in the next decade, thousands of jobs will be available for graduates. The biomedical engineering technology program prepares students to be essential members of the healthcare community after just two years. Learn more about the biomedical engineering technology program at Penn State Greater Allegheny.