(HARLINGEN, Texas) – Siblings often have a powerful influence on each other’s lives, and that can correlate to a professional career.
Texas State Technical College Biomedical Equipment Technology student Saul Turrubiates became interested in the health care field after he saw the career success that his older brother has achieved as a biomedical equipment technician.
Turrubiates, who is studying for an Associate of Applied Science degree at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, recently was hired as a biomedical equipment technician for iServe Biomedical in Houston.
“My duties are to calibrate and perform preventative maintenance on medical equipment,” he said of his new job. “I repair and install various parts on that equipment to keep the systems safe.”
Turrubiates likes the company’s family atmosphere.
“It’s a small company, and everyone treats each other like family,” he said. “My supervisors Javier (Valdez) and Rene (Torres) have vast knowledge in the field, and they are alumni of the same program (at TSTC). It’s rewarding to know there are opportunities for career growth.”
He added that what makes the job rewarding is that his work gets recognized.
“It’s great satisfaction because I work side by side with my bosses,” he said. “That motivates me to work harder.”
Torres, co-founder and president of iServe Biomedical, said Turrubiates has a caring attitude that is highly valued and aligns well with iServe Biomedical’s mission.
“Saul has demonstrated a strong work ethic,” he said. “He is a great team player and has a passion for making an impact in a valued industry.”
Turrubiates said his experience at TSTC has been engaging.
“Collaborating with my fellow classmates on hands-on assignments was stimulating,” he said. “Learning how to troubleshoot any type of equipment was really exciting. By learning that component and repairing it, it has translated into my job. I’m looking forward to my future after I’m projected to graduate in the spring semester.”
Ray Longoria, a TSTC Biomedical Equipment Technology instructor, praised Turrubiates’ leadership skills.
“Saul can inspire individuals to overcome obstacles in stressful situations, such as complex medical device repair,” he said. “His ability to identify strengths in individuals is a talent. He encourages building relationships and communication with team members to learn from each other.”
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Biomedical Equipment Technology at its Harlingen and Waco campuses.
According to onetonline.org, the average annual salary for medical equipment repairers is $47,720 in Texas, where the number of jobs in that field was forecast to increase 18% between 2020 and 2030.
Registration for TSTC’s spring semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.
