Washington State Biomedical Association

David Sieminski, Senior Field Service Specialist for Hospital Respiratory Care with Philips, hosted the May 20^th meeting of the WSBA at Harborview Medical Center. Christopher Cella, Clinical Specialist with Philips gave our talk on Respiratory Ventilation . David and Philips kindly agreed to let us post their PowerPoint presentation from the very informative lecture on our website, linked here. Kip Newby, Field Service Specialist with Philips, also attended. Philips provided the evening’s meal.

The agenda for the evening included WSBA business regarding another group that attempted to form chapters in what they thought were underserved areas of  Washington and Oregon. By the time we met, this group had already ended its charter, leaving us still a bit unsettled, but relieved nonetheless. A big tempest in a small teapot.

The WSBA thanks Harborview Medical Center, Philips, and David Sieminski for an informative and interesting evening.

Pre-meeting meal and social

Some WSBA members

President and Secretary discuss WSBA business

David Sieminski opens lecture.

Christopher Cella presents.

Christopher Cella of Philips.

Please feel free to browse around our web home, and let us know what you think, if you are so inclined. Please be aware, though, that we are not affiliated in any way with the now defunct NWMIA. The 24 x 7 Jolt article about the NWMIA incorrectly linked to the WSBA website. Julie Kirst, editor of 24 x 7 has assured us that she has corrected this mistake.

BMET Appreciation Week

The WSBA met April 15^th at Virginia Mason Medical Center. Jerry Norimatsu, Field Service Engineer for Echoserve presented a talk on the “Basics of DICOM and Network Troubleshooting,” which gave us several basic troubleshooting  tips for  networking problems. Afterwards, Courtney Allen, Radiology Applications Specialist with Virginia Mason, provided DICOM’s troubleshooting side. Both speakers gave thorough overviews of their respective issues with many specific techniques for troubleshooting problems.

WSBA President, Sandy Whyte, opened the meeting with a discussion of the upcoming Symposium and the classes that might be offered.  He also requested  input from members about the classes they would like to have. President-Elect Mark Ruark, spoke about our website.  Thanks to Virginia Mason Medical Center and Echoserve for an interesting and informative evening and great food.  Thanks to Secretary Corrie Schumacher for organizing the meeting.

President Sandy opens the meeting.

Echoserve's Jerry Norimatsu.

WSBA members.

Courtney Allen, Radiology Applications Specialist with Virginia Mason

Secretary Corrie Schumacher.

March Meeting of the WSBA

The Washington State Biomedical Association met March 18 at the Allen Institute for Brain Science. It was a first-rate opportunity to see the equipment used to support cutting edge research.

After an excellent dinner of gourmet pizza and salad, the Engineering Manager, Cliff Slaughterbeck, PhD., gave a talk entitled, “This is Your Brain. This is Your Brain on the Internet,” which described their ongoing project of creating a three-dimensional map of active genes in the adult mouse brain. He also talked a little about an upcoming project to map the human brain. Afterwards,  he led two separate groups on a tour of the facilities, showing us the equipment (some of which he had designed himself) used to process and digitize the mice brains.

Much more information about the Allen Institute can be found at www.alleninstitute.org.

Information about the Allen Brain Atlas can be found at www.brain-map.org, where the Allen Institute research is made public. Both sites, especially the brain map site, are worth a look.

The WSBA would like to thank Viki Phillips, Support Engineer,  Cliff Slaughterbeck, Engineering Manager and the Allen Institute for Brain Science for such an informative and enjoyable meeting.

Enjoying some pizza.

Cliff Slaughterbeck starts a tour.

Cliff shows off some of his cool tools.