Maysam Bantan receiving a certificate of appreciation for the Milwaukee School Engineers Team.

When most people hear the word “neonatal” they are likely to think of a mother taking care of a newborn baby. Few people are likely to associate it with a female student from Saudi Arabia, who is currently taking a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering in Wisconsin.

Maysam Bantan is in her final year at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. It is a long way from Jubail, the industrial city she grew up in which is home to some of the largest petrochemical companies in the world. By contrast, Wisconsin is a state of nearly six million people; has over 14,000 lakes; and is the home of Harley Davidson Motorcycles.

Maysam, a student with King Abdullah Scholarship Program, told the Saudi Gazette: “I wanted to do a unique major that we don’t have in Saudi Arabia so that I can be special in what I am doing and in what I am giving back to my country. I didn’t want to be a doctor as my parents wished me to be, and I didn’t want to be a teacher, interior designer or anything else that most of the Saudi women are. I wanted something unique that Saudi women rarely pursue at that time so I choose to be an engineer.” In her role training to be an engineer, she’s currently working on something which will help women everywhere.

Maysam spends most of her time learning how to solve medical equipment and healthcare related problems using mathematics, science and engineering principles. Currently in her final year and graduating this summer, Maysam explained, “We have to design medical devices and systems that can be used in environments ranging from homes to hospitals. For my senior design, I work with a team that is creating a high fidelity neonatal mannequin for training purposes. This simulation neo-natal mannequin should help nursing students, nurses, and physicians to diagnose regular and irregular heart and breath sounds to reduce misdiagnoses.“

If those engineering goals aren’t time consuming enough, Maysam has also spent hundreds of hours volunteering by helping fellow Saudi students and local Americans in the Wisconsin community. Speaking to the Saudi Gazette, Maysam said, “It feels so satisfying to help others. I had a great chance to improve my leadership skills and expand my social relationships and network. I even improved my social communication with people who are from different cultures and backgrounds.” She was one of the founders of “Us to US,” which encourages Saudi students studying in the United States to volunteer, and last year her group won first place in the biggest annual Saudi volunteering festival in the United States, “Us Day15.”

Maysam and her team completed 18 different volunteering projects in the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin including: Providing dinner at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission for the homeless who are under drug rehabilitation as well as meals for single mothers and their kids; and collecting clothes in good condition, cleaning them, and donating them to those who are in need. They also provided an entertainment program for one of the Islamic elementary schools in Milwaukee, which integrates games with some of engineering concepts, so the work was educational and fun.

“I really loved the spirit of our team. That period was one of the most precious times in the US as an individual who is living abroad. The most important thing I learned from interacting with Americans is that I realized that there are many different ways to give back to the community. Sometimes money is not the most important thing to have to be able to help. Having knowledge in specific field or science is an efficient mean to help others with. I really appreciate that Americans appreciate and understand the concept of volunteering. People here appreciate it, the government provides centers and places where we can volunteer, and education supports it.” Maysam said.

As she looks ahead to returning home to Saudi Arabia this year, Maysam has set her sights on trying to get a job with one of the best known US companies in the world – General Electric. “I dream of and I hope to get a job at GE. This company means a lot to me because I had my first unique summer internship in their largest GE Healthcare Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin. I will also take my experience in volunteering and spread it out back home. Teach others what I learned here and share with others what I gained here.”

It seems the fields of engineering and volunteering are about to inherit a bright new talent both in the United States and back in Saudi Arabia. Maysam Bantan has a lot to give professionally, and a lot to give back to others.

Maysam Bantan and other Saudi students in Wisconsin.

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