Multi-level educational affiliations for a CE (clinical engineer) department

Educational programs for clinical engineers and biomedical equipment technicians should provide students with an exposure to the clinical environment. Through alliances with educational institutions, hospitals can assist future engineers and technicians in obtaining a well-rounded education. These affiliations provide a hospital with engineering expertise for research projects, as well as a resource for the clinical engineering department. One hospital, Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, has successfully developed internships for technician candidates in an Associate's degree program and for undergraduate and graduate engineering students through educational affiliations with three different academic institutions. The internships of the students intertwine, giving them a unique educational experience.