Robert Jarvik

I first became aware of my hero doing an act as simple as watching TV. The program I was watching came to a commercial and the Lipitor add Featuring Robert Jarvik. The commercial has been discontinued, but I still remember how interesting the concept of an Artificial heart. That man could engineer a device that could stop immanent death. This idea of bioengineering has been a fascination for me. Robert Jarvik was obviously interested in this at a young age because he engineered the surgical stapler when he was just in high school. He truly is an amazing person.

Robert Jarvik didn’t get to where he is today from idleness, he had to work hard and become educated. He originally received a bachelor’s degree in zoology from the University of Syracuse. After he completed that he had a very hard time getting into a medical school. He applied to over 25 in the US and was turned away. Finally he got in a school in Italy and received his medical degree there. However he needed to find a way to combine his medical skills with mechanical and engineering. SO he Enrolled in New York University and worked toward a degree in occupational biomechanics. He received his M.A. from the university in 1971. So started his career in biomedical engineering. He went immediately to work at the university of Utah.

As a young man Robert Jarvik, Displayed Tremendous ability. Designing numerous useful medical devices before even graduating high school. He was a hard worker. After high school though he consider going into a career as being an artist, but his father developed an aneurysm. This significant event in his life caused him to pursue his career as a biomedical engineer. Specifically involving the idea of inventing an artificial heart that could be non temporary.

Robert Jarvik has helped Many people and communities with his device and inspiration. His Device the Jarvik 7 Has helped many severely ill patients who can’t wait for a transplant to survive. In the process of saving lives he saved families from losing a dearly needed mother or father. He also inspired other biomedical engineers who have designed other devices Potentially influencing and helping hundreds of thousands. His Quote:
"Leaders are visionaries with a poorly developed sense of fear and no concept of the odds against them."
Robert Jarvik

It is not easy to become as great as Robert Jarvik, but if I follow these steps I think it will be possible. In high school I need to put myself though vigorous and self challenging courses. Then in college I will obtain a pre-medical bachelors degree, and attend medical school. From there I will decide if I want to just be a doctor or if I want to go through 4 more years of school and become a biomedical engineer. I will need to set lifetime goals of being a good person and want to help people, because that is really the only way you can succeed.