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Study the sciences while in high school. However, biomedical engineer Katherine
Crewe warns that students should also continue to hone their communication
skills -- an increasingly important area often overlooked by those in engineering.
"Communication skills are extremely important," says Crewe. "You're working
in a team environment and that involves two things -- understanding and telling.
And when you're working with a group of doctors, you have to explain engineering
principles to the doctors, and you have to understand medical principles in
order to apply the device."
Jin-Shee Lee is the chair of the Council of Societies. It's one of four
components of a large umbrella group that represents about 32,000 biomedical
engineers.
Lee recommends that students interested in the field keep up their studies
in all the sciences, plus math. Traditionally, engineers are known to ignore
biology, but for someone interested in this discipline, a thorough understanding
of anatomy is a must.
Once in university, students can pursue a range of options. You can either
specialize in a branch of engineering followed by a master's in biomedical
engineering, or focus on the life sciences first, followed by a master's degree
in engineering. Both routes are acceptable, although many experts say the
strong early foundation in the life sciences is preferred.