Stephens International Recruiting is helping AAMI launch a program to encourage biomed students to become active participants in their field through AAMI membership.

To kick off the program, Stephens has purchased a block of 50 student memberships, which the company will donate to selected biomed students. Of the 50 memberships, 25 will be divided among the three campuses of Texas State Technical College -- a school the biomed recruiting firm has worked with extensively over the years -- while the remaining 25 memberships will be awarded to other biomed students selected by Stephens.

About Stephens International Recruiting
Stephens International Recruiting, Inc., offers healthcare recruitment and placement services worldwide.

Stephens specializes in positions for military and original equipment manufacturer- trained engineers and technicians.

Information about Stephens is available at the company's website -- www.bmets-usa.com.

"We feel strongly about the professionalization of the field and helping people learn about their trade association," says Cindy Stephens, president and chief executive officer at Stephens International Recruiting. "These memberships will help those who are entering the field understand newer technologies and network with other professionals. "Many veteran biomeds have been involved with AAMI for years, but more students and new professionals need to become aware of AAMI so that they can reap its benefits, enhance their careers, and become active participants in the field."

Roger Bowles, EdD, CBET, associate professor and interim department chair for biomedical equipment technology at Texas State Technical College in Waco, TX, is delighted with Stephens' generous gift to his students. "I've always felt it was important for students to become active in their field at an early stage, and this will give some hard-working students an opportunity to take part," says Bowles.

A Trend Among Schools

As recently reported in AAMI News, a growing number of biomedical engineering technology instructors are encouraging or requiring their students to become AAMI members.

For example, Bill Sears, dean of engineering technology for DeVry University in Arizona, has made arrangements for his students to purchase their required $30 AAMI student membership through the school bookstore along with their textbooks and other course materials.

To encourage students to take advantage of the resources available, AAMI offers memberships to students at a significantly reduced rate. Membership in AAMI provides students with a subscription to AAMI News, AAMI's specialized Horizons publications, and Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology (BI&T) - all of which contain articles of practical use for students on topics such as career and certification advice, information technology and Joint Commission issues, troubleshooting guidance, best practices, and other important topics.