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50 years of expertise to help power better care
For 50 years, a dedicated team of technical experts has quietly worked behind the scenes at Vancouver General Hospital to ensure medical technology is safe, reliable, and ready for every patient. This is the legacy of Biomedical Engineering.
“Our job is to support the entire life cycle of medical devices,” says Pej Namshirin, Manager, Operations and Regional Initiatives from the Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering team. “From helping to plan and select the right technology, to ensuring it performs safely for years, to its eventual retirement, our expertise is there at every step.”
This legacy of practical problem-solving runs deep. In the late 1970s, the team developed the world’s first automatic surgical tourniquet on-site at Vancouver General Hospital, improving safety and precision in the operating room. That invention inspired new rehabilitation technologies and even supported astronaut health through NASA collaborations.
That same spirit of hands-on expertise was on display this week when the team hosted an open house to mark its 50th anniversary.
“This event is about showcasing the evolution of our profession,” says Pej. “We’ve moved from analogue machines to highly complex, integrated digital systems, but the core mission has never changed: we are here to solve problems and support our clinical partners.”
Working side by side with medical staff, Biomedical Engineering teams consult on equipment, provide training, and troubleshoot in real time.
“By understanding the challenges and workflows of the clinical teams, we can provide support that truly makes a difference at the bedside,” says Pej.
Vancouver General Hospital was one of the first hospitals in Canada to establish an on-site Biomedical Engineering department. That pioneering vision has evolved into a regional service supporting more than 120,000 devices across 27 hospitals and 142 clinics in the Lower Mainland.
From leading British Columbia’s pandemic ventilator response to supporting 16 new operating rooms in the Jim Pattison Pavilion operating room renewal, the team’s impact is felt everywhere.
“We see ourselves as a crucial part of the care team," says Pej. “Our job is to ensure that every piece of technology performs flawlessly, giving our clinical colleagues the confidence to focus their full attention on delivering the best possible care to their patients.”
As health care continues to evolve, the team remains ready to support clinicians with their expertise.
