George Maweu is a biomedical engineer in Kenya with over eight years of experience and has specialised in medical imaging machines. In addition, he has worked as a nuclear engineer for The Thorium Network. George has degrees in bioengineering and biomedical engineering as well as electrical and electronics engineering.

A tech life as a biomedical imaging engineer in Kenya

Background

Did you like science and engineering and knowing how things work when you were a child? Can you remember the first machine or piece of equipment which interested you?

Yes, I was interested in science and engineering when I was a child. My late father was a Telecommunications Engineer and so I could see radio systems around at home. I used to play with cups and a pipe and communicate with other children further away. So, that was my first encounter with engineering circuits for communications.
I also saw the television being opened by my father for repair. So, I got interested in what it looked like inside and what happened during tests.
I made my first circuit of a bistable multivibrator during Christmas time. It worked with LED lights of different colours to make them switch on and off.

Have you always liked fixing things?

Yes, I liked fixing things when I was young. I recall a day when I repaired my cousin’s radio after it broke. I was only 8 years old then.

Was there a particular person who inspired you at school?

I was much inspired by my science teacher who used to show us how simple science could make things easy.

Who do you consider are great engineers or scientists from the past?

In my life, I have considered Albert Einstein as the greatest scientist. I also consider Michael Faraday to be a great engineer.

Engineering

Why did you decide to study bioengineering and biomedical engineering rather than a different type of engineering?

I was very interested in saving people’s lives, and I thought of how I can do so by using engineering. Despite having good grades which could have allowed me to study medicine, I chose biomedical engineering to try and help people by engineering means.
One life story which inspired me very much was that of theoretical physicist Dr Stephen Hawkings, who had motor neuron disease and was unable to walk. Engineers made him a wheelchair with speech software because later he lost the power of speech. His mind was connected to a computer, and he was able to communicate. I was inspired by the engineers who designed that system, and it made me study for my degree.

You continued your studies with electrical and electronic engineering.
Was it easier to study this time as you already had practical experience?

Yes, with experience and knowledge in the field it was easier.

Why did you decide to continue your studies and why this branch of engineering?

I wanted to understand fully how medical machines work with electrical being the major driver. I also wanted to do my projects in a unique way, where given a machine, I could do all the work until it started to work.

Work as a Biomedical Engineer in Kenya

You have worked in different places and gained varied experience. What are your strategies for starting a new job and becoming productive and efficient quickly?

Yes, I have worked in many areas and my strategy is making an impact when I start a new job. I adapt to new environments very fast, and always do my best whatever the situation. Plus, I like doing my best with my gained skills from past assignments.

How do you establish relationships with colleagues, customers, and other employees?

I make sure I understand each member in the working environment and make sure I do my best to fulfil their needs. The first goal is to fulfil the needs of your customer. Also, I listen to what they say and act upon the recommendations given.

What are your techniques when something is very difficult to install or to repair?

I usually take time to understand it more by research and consulting my senior colleagues and contacts.

What are your tips for the best ways to share knowledge and experience with other engineers?

Educating them in the new challenges they are likely to face with a certain machine. As well, sharing with them new emerging technologies in the field.

How do you keep everything calm when a job is very urgent?

By assuring the customer everything will be okay.

Have you ever arrived on site and found that it’s been much easier than you expected? For example, have you just needed to switch on a machine?

Yes, I have these sorts of experiences where you go onsite expecting a major problem but upon arrival, you find it’s something very simple like a circuit breaker or a blown fuse.

Equipment

What are the types of equipment you work on (and have worked on)?

I have worked on a range of equipment including the following.
MRI
CT
X-ray
Fluoroscopy
C arm
Mammogram
Cath Lab
PET Scan
Cyclotron
LINAC
DXA Scan
Ultrasound

I am now an expert in medical imaging project management, feasibility studies and consultancy.

What is the best piece of equipment you have ever worked on?

LINAC

What has been the most difficult piece of equipment you have ever worked on?

PET CT

Is there a piece of equipment you would you like to work on?

Yes, the cyber knife.

The reason why I would like to use a cyber knife is that it is an advanced robotic system that is a form of radiosurgery. Radiosurgery is a treatment approach that delivers precise and concentrated doses of radiation therapy to specific areas of the body. There is no surgery – no incisions or anaesthesia are required for this treatment. The cyber knife is so precise that there is also minimal radiation exposure to the surrounding healthy tissues during the treatment.
I am also interested in the cyber knife system because it is the only radiation system that features a linear accelerator (Medical LINAC) directly mounted on a robot to deliver the high energy X rays or photons used in radiation therapy. The robot moves and bends around the patient to deliver radiation doses from potentially thousands of unique beam angles, significantly expanding the possible positions to concentrate radiation to the tumour while minimizing dose to surrounding healthy tissues.

Cyber knife has got a lot of advantages when it comes to the treatment of cancer. It’s the only machine making use of robotic technology and makes a precise control to the radiation beam emitted to the cancer tissue.

Work as a Nuclear Engineer

You worked for The Thorium Network as a Nuclear Engineer. What did this work involve?

Consultancy services for medical imaging machines and nuclear machines. As well, education on radiation protection in the radiology areas, advocacy for safe use of nuclear in medicine, planning on medical imaging projects.

How did you work successfully on a remote basis? What advice would you give to other engineers working remotely?

I managed by planning my time very well and giving priorities to what’s important. What I can advise is that it’s not easy to work remotely as an engineer, you have to be a very good timekeeper and very hardworking. Having communications skills, patience, and expertise are key.

Making a future star

Apart from a strong technical background, what are the three most important skills to have to be successful as a medical engineer?

Management and planning, problem solving, and research.

Your future as a Biomedical Engineer in Kenya

What are your plans for the future?

To have the best medical engineering firm and part of a college/university in order to give back to the community.

What is your next challenge?

I will be working in west Africa for Panox Imaging for sales promotion of medical imaging machines. My job will involve training the doctors and other engineers, installation and after sales support services as well.

Where would you like to be in your engineering career in 5 years’ time?

I am working on attaining a PhD in Engineering and becoming a consultant.

Further reading

Leading a team of Radiotherapy Technicians in the UK

Who repairs and services the medical equipment in a hospital?