How's this for respect?
How's this for respect?
(OP)
I've read many of the posts about respect, image, etc of the enginering profession. I've just heard a couple of ads that touch on this.
There's a LASIK surgeon in the SF Bay Area who advertises on the radio. They start in his qualifications, "Harvard MD and degreed electrical engineer"
Wow, a doctor considers it a marketing plus to point out he's got an EE degree as an undergrad. Perhaps it's not so dismal as some people think.
There's a LASIK surgeon in the SF Bay Area who advertises on the radio. They start in his qualifications, "Harvard MD and degreed electrical engineer"
Wow, a doctor considers it a marketing plus to point out he's got an EE degree as an undergrad. Perhaps it's not so dismal as some people think.
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RE: How's this for respect?
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/LASIK/risks.htm
Now I have to say that this guy needs professional help with his marketing. To me it speaks a bit of desperation. If he wants me to let him use a laser on my eyes he'd better have and equivalent level of expertise in electrical engineering. As joe public that means a PhD to go with the MD. Degree means student. Students think they know everything but don't.
Besides, why does he need to be a "degreed electrical engineer"; is there something that can go wrong with these lasers? am I going to be stuck their on the couch like James Bond (Connery version) while he fumbles around trying to switch it off? ("No Mr Bond, I expect you to die.")
Of course, for engineers to hear engineering mentioned in the same breath as MD might seem like a good idea but ask yourselves, which profession attracts the more malpractise suits?
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: How's this for respect?
RE: How's this for respect?
Sorry GT startup, unless you have a PE I have no way of knowing what you are. You could be the smartest person in the world or the biggest con artist. But there's no way that you can con the state into granting you a license. Exactly why engineering licensure exists.
RE: How's this for respect?
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: How's this for respect?
Beggar, do Eddyc a favor and name the doctor to which you refer. Apparently he would be happy to waste his time and report him. Fortunately he is a Lasik surgeon and maybe they can work out a compromise that would improve his short sightedness.
RE: How's this for respect?
If the person is practicing as a medical doctor, let him be. He's not advertising engineering services nor is he calling himself an engineer.
RE: How's this for respect?
John
RE: How's this for respect?
The Department of Biomedical Engineering is in the School of Engineering. In addition to the M.Eng., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, the faculty supervises an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited B.E. degree program in biomedical engineering for undergraduate students. The department also participates in the M.S./Ph.D. and the M.D./Ph.D. program with the School of Medicine.
John
RE: How's this for respect?
RE: How's this for respect?
as McCoy said, "damn it jim, i'm not a mechanic"
RE: How's this for respect?
So is offering lasik surgery a form of engineering service? If so he needs a PE.
-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!
RE: How's this for respect?
RE: How's this for respect?
I agree with you. However, it is not against the law to say you are a degreed engineer if that is what you are. Beggar said, "Harvard MD and degreed electrical engineer". Nothing wrong there, that is what he is. Do you propose that anyone with a degree and not a liscense take the fifth amendment when asked their credentials? In no way is performing lasik surgery a form of engineering service. Sure its a gimmik, but its a stupid ad. He is just letting everyone know he is a smart cookie, I think this was Beggar's orginal point. Kinda like being able to fly the plane AND design it.
RE: How's this for respect?
On the other hand, if he is merely a guy with an engineering degree, the corporation he works for assumes all legal responsibility for any mishaps.
Is there anyone with both a JD and an engineering degree who can confirm or deny the accuracy of what I was told?
Perhaps the engineers who refuse to get a PE have a reason for their inaction. Who wants to volunteer to be sued in today's toxic legal environment?
RE: How's this for respect?
I think you are correct in most cases but a PE can/ should buy professional liability insurance for such cases.
But yes a PE means that you take responsibility for your actions and thus are rewarded with the title "professional engineer".
RE: How's this for respect?
-The future's so bright I gotta wear shades!
RE: How's this for respect?
It seems to me that the arguments for and against getting a license are:
Pro:
1) If you are an independent contractor, you might be legally required to have a license to bid for some jobs.
2) It sounds impressive and looks good on a resume.
Con:
1) It takes time and money and a bit of hassle to get the license.
2a) If you do anything which only a PE can do, then you can be sued and lose everything you own unless ...
2b) ... you buy professional insurance.
3) Most "engineering" jobs don't require a license.
If you don't have a specific reason to get it, a PE license seems like a waste of time and money (including insurance money).
I recently read that marriage rates in the US have dropped by 50% since 1970 because of fear of the costs of divorce. This seems to be another case of people shying away from making a commitment because the legal risks are huge and the practical benefits are minimal.
RE: How's this for respect?
Shouldn't we ask how many engineers went on to become MDs?
Come on guys and gals, what's more important?
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: How's this for respect?
I hope you aren't discouraging engineers from going for their PE. In structural engineering (building design), anyone without a PE or SE is at huge disadvantage in the job market.
RE: How's this for respect?
I know of a few who started out as manual drafters who were motivated enough to learn to perform structural calculations. They have obvious limitations as an engineer without formal engineering education from universities; however, within certain bounds, they outperform and even mentor new graduates.
I agree with SacreBleu that licensure is essentially mandatory for a "normal" structural engineering career.
RE: How's this for respect?
"I wouldn't join any group that would have me as a memeber."
Professional lisensure, while I recognise it as a necessity for many subspecialties (like building industry) is not, or should not be the distinction of an engineer. Engineering is a verb not a noun!
I know a few Professional Engineers (my dad being one) that couldn't engineer their way out of a paper sack... and Quite a few (ie... the romans) that never had lisenses yet were able to build structures that have held up thousands and thousands of years...
RE: How's this for respect?
RE: How's this for respect?
Yeah, but the legal penalties were harsh enough back then to make overdesign the right way to go.
RE: How's this for respect?
Last night my wife and I were watching television. Animal Planet had a program about a monkey who scored a 1550 on the SAT.
Just because you can pass a test doesn't mean you can do the work(v.) we do.
Vooter, maybe we should instead of bringing lawsuits against Engineers and Architects that design buildings that fall down, we should Hang them in the streets or at the very least run them out of town... tarred and feathered... on a rail.
RE: How's this for respect?
If one practices engineering commercially, ie provides design services for a fee, then either they or asupervisor in the firm must be licensed. This insures the buyer that the desin was perfomed or supervised by a reasonably competent engineer.
Finally, if the Doc is a degreed engineer and proud of it, I say great and so much the better for all of us. No one has suffered and the engineering community has gained.
RE: How's this for respect?
I'm for it.