Fixing Machines and Saving Lives: HCC Biomedical Electronics Program Powers Careers in Health Care

Fixing Machines and Saving Lives:  HCC Biomedical Electronics Program Powers Careers in Health Care

Jermaine Davis has a passion for “fixing things and helping people.” That combination made him the perfect fit for the Houston City College (HCC) Biomedical Electronics program, where students learn to maintain and repair the life-saving machines used every day in hospitals and clinics.

As an HCC intern at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Davis trained on essential hospital equipment––from defibrillators to IV pumps and vital sign monitors.

“The hands-on experience I received definitely helped me succeed in this field,” Davis shared. “When I make sure equipment works properly, I am also helping provide patient care.”

Training the technicians who keep hospitals running

Housed within the HCC Department of Electronic Engineering Technology, the Biomedical Electronics program prepares students to enter one of Houston’s most vital and fast-growing technical careers.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for biomedical equipment technicians in the Houston area is expected to grow by more than 17% over the next decade, as medical facilities expand their technology-driven operations.

“With Houston’s rapidly growing healthcare sector, the demand for skilled professionals who can keep this equipment running safely has never been higher,” said Helen Graham, Ed.D., vice president at HCC Northeast. “These technicians are an integral part of the medical team inside the operating room. Their expertise makes sure life-saving equipment is ready when it’s needed most.”

HCC has been training students in this specialized field for more than three decades, and its graduates are making their mark locally and across Texas. Longtime professor Hosein Tahvilian notes that more than half of the technicians in the Texas Medical Center are HCC graduates.

“Our graduates have a 100% job placement rate,” Tahvilian said. “With demand so high, many can earn up to $100,000 a year.”

HCC’s strong partnerships with health care organizations ensure students learn how to train and troubleshoot on the same cutting-edge technology that’s used in today’s hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices and for medical equipment manufacturers and distributors.

“We are committed to staying ahead of the curve,” Graham said. “By collaborating with industry partners, receiving guidance from our advisory board members and investing in state-of-the-art equipment, we’re preparing students to lead the next generation of technology support.”

Adapting to the future of biomedical technology

When program Advisory Board Member Dave Echols helped launch HCC’s Biomedical Electronics program nearly 40 years ago, medical technology looked very different.

“Back then, we taught with portable x-ray machines, IVAC infusion pumps, nebulizers and defibrillators,” Echols recalled. “It was the same equipment I worked on at my job with the Harris County Hospital District at the time, and I brought that knowledge straight into the classroom.”

Since then, Echols has watched the field evolve from analog systems to sophisticated digital and laser-based technologies and has been most impressed by the advancement of lasers and MRI systems.

Today, there are about a dozen students in the program, says Tahvilian, but there’s room to grow. They emphasize that with HCC’s strong industry connections and a proven track record of graduate success, students often secure jobs immediately after graduation.

Among them is Jermaine Davis, who earned his Associate of Science in Electronics Engineering specializing in Biomedical Electronics in fall 2025. A logistics professional in the health care industry, he has now to put his new skills to work.

“I would recommend this program to anyone who loves solving problems and making a difference,” he said. “I know this is the right career for me.”

To learn more about the HCC Biomedical Electronics program, visit hccs.edu/electronics.