Is this even possible?

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I'm new to these forums, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out with my career. I've always been fascinated by engineering, but the problem is that I am a fan of various, different fields and business. I know that there is engineering management, but management isn't exactly the thing I like in business. I like marketing, supply chain management, financial analysis, essentially, the more involved fields in business, and not really management. But anyways, the point of this post is that I'm wondering if there is a way to combine these fields:</p>

<p>-Medicine (as in the biomedical engineering stuff basically)
-Computers (hardware and robotics, and some programming)
-Business (in the fields I mentioned before preferably)</p>

<p>How can I combine all of these fields to find a good career path for myself? I was thinking of working for a Biotech or Biomed company that looks at computers in medicine (btw, what are the applications of comps/robots in medicine besides imaging), that eventually deals with the business aspects of the company, but I don't think that will work because I'm not sure how much a company will need marketing professionals or something for an engineering firm, so thus I might not find enough jobs.</p>

<p>Wow, this post is growing exceptionally large again, so let me in final sum up what I'm looking for again:
1. A way to combine all of those fields
2. How computers apply to medicine besides imaging
3. What is the best career path to attaining the said career in question 1?</p>

<p>thanks, and sorry for the long post once again!</p>

2

<p>industrial engineering might be a good fit</p>

3

<p>I would suggest EE w/ Biomedical concentration and an MBA afterwords...</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
1. A way to combine all of those fields

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Definitly biomedical or medical diagnostics. These fields are huge for people wanting to go into computers/medicine/business. Also, prosthetics might be viable and bioinformatics is defitinly combining computers with medicine and is heavily influential on the business of large pharmaceutical companies.</p>

<p>
[quote]
2. How computers apply to medicine besides imaging

[/quote]
</p>

<p>As mentioned above bioinformatics applies computers to molecular problems in attempts to discover cures, etc. Wikipedia it.</p>

<p>Also, medical diagnostics is great for machines that run test to diagnos patients and is very lucrative. It is "the big expensive machine that goes bing" afterall.</p>

<p>Also, computer guided lasar surgery, not to mention every machine in the world that has a PLC uses some sort of controls software. These machines range from the large complex systems that make drugs to monitoring equipment.</p>

<p>Also, these all have a business side.</p>

<p>
[quote]
3. What is the best career path to attaining the said career in question 1?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Engineering (Computer or biochemical) and look into bioinformatic degree programs. Then, get a MBA, or see if you can't do them at the same time.</p>

5

<p>Tons of applications of computers in medicine.</p>

<p>There's always orthotics/prosthetics. Robotic prosthetics, artificial hearts, stints, valves, medical machines... You could also look at designing analysis machines (one college friend of mine worked on a bioengineering project that analyzed bone fractures by sending ultrasonic pulses through a person's arm or leg and analyzing the harmonics that came off whatever it hit), stuff like that. That involves both biomedical engineering and computer/electrical engineering. Businessy sorts of things can always be added as you take a more managerial position in whatever company you end up in... You can supplement your education by taking a few business classes, maybe eventually add an MBA.</p>

<p>I'd start out in mechanical or biomedical engineering and add in some systems and robotics sorts of courses. Maybe take some business electives. You should be able to find a cool career in there somewhere!</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

6

<p>If you're strictly talking about hardware, robotic surgery is an interesting area. However, if you're into software as well, bioinformatics is an interesting field as well.</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
Tons of applications of computers in medicine.</p>

<p>There's always orthotics/prosthetics. Robotic prosthetics, artificial hearts, stints, valves, medical machines... You could also look at designing analysis machines (one college friend of mine worked on a bioengineering project that analyzed bone fractures by sending ultrasonic pulses through a person's arm or leg and analyzing the harmonics that came off whatever it hit), stuff like that. That involves both biomedical engineering and computer/electrical engineering. Businessy sorts of things can always be added as you take a more managerial position in whatever company you end up in... You can supplement your education by taking a few business classes, maybe eventually add an MBA.</p>

<p>I'd start out in mechanical or biomedical engineering and add in some systems and robotics sorts of courses. Maybe take some business electives. You should be able to find a cool career in there somewhere!</p>

<p>Good luck!

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</p>

<p>hey, thanks for the reply, but I was wondering if I could have some more advice about what would be the best path for attaining my goal. I definitely want to earn an MBA at some point, but I was wondering how long I should wait before I go back to get one? As in, how many years should I work before pursuing the MBA?</p>

<p>Also, I have a few more questions:
-Although I would like to open a successful startup, that might not even get started depending on various circumstances, so I was wondering how likely it is to get a managerial, or business position at various engineering firms.
-Finally, I hate to ask this, but how much in general do those that work in the business industry for an engineering firm make on average?</p>

8

<p>I'd say to play it by ear.</p>

<p>Go get your undergrad in whatever engineering track you decide to go into (sounds like bioE is a good start for you), and then get internships and whatnot. There'll be a good time to get an MBA for you, and if you hook up with a good company, they might even <em>pay</em> for it. Who knows when the best time might be for that, and when you might fall in with a company who'll support your desire to go back for an MBA! Nothing you can possibly predict at the moment, and nothing you need to decide right now. Just take it a step at a time, with the MBA thing.</p>

<p>Most engineering firms are pretty open about the fact that they have technical paths and managerial paths. You just have to find a firm that fits you well.</p>

<p>Also, business folks, on average, tend to make a little more. Not always the case, though. Plus, both fields are pretty lucrative. Speaking from experience, a job that pays less money that you love is vastly preferable to one that pays a lot where you go in every morning wanting to chew your foot off and run away.</p>

<p>You don't know where you're gonna end up working, and really, nothing's at all cut-and-dried in the real world. There's no set "path" for achieving your goals, so definitely take it a step at a time and pay attention to opportunities that present themselves to you. If you end up chatting with someone who's in the field, talk to them and ask them for suggestions, ask them how they got to where they are, and then see if that works well in your life plan.</p>

<p>But really, everyone gets to where they are in a completely different way. What may have been the best way to get to a point for one person might be the worst way to get there for you, so just follow your own path and see what opens up, and who you meet, and what connections you make. Then use those connections to ratchet yourself, bit by bit, to where you want to end up. Best to just get your undergrad degree now and keep your ears open.</p>

9

<p>Look, if any engineer wants to know the "business" side of things, in most cases they just need to go back to school and get an MBA. </p>

<p>With that said, BME seems likes the best bet followed by an MBA.</p>