This course provides a broad overview of optical fiber sensing principles and techniques used for bio-chemical and medical applications. In particular, given the needs brought on by the recent Covid-19 and monkey-pox pandemics, a special review will be made on biosensors and virus-detecting approaches using fiberoptics. Besides reviewing sensors, other uses of specialty optical fibers for biomedical devices—such as endoscopes, imaging, and laser delivery, among others—will be briefly made. In addition, for attendees interested in the commercialization aspects of this field, the healthcare industry trends, needs and market characteristics will also be reviewed. The course is divided into three sections. Section I, provides an introduction to the ongoing status and trends in the healthcare industry and the medical needs that demand the use of optical fibers and fiber-based sensors. In Section II, a review of fiber optic sensor (FOS) technology is made, describing its operating principles, associated components (such as light sources, detectors, couplers, polarizers, etc.), and the specialty fiber types required for biomedical sensing system integration. A review of the non-sensing applications of fibers for illumination, imaging and laser delivery is also made. Finally, in Section III, a review of the major types of biosensors and medical fiber sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBG), Fabry-Perot cavities, as well as VIS-UV-IR absorption, fluorescence, evanescent field, SERS, and other detection techniques, will be made.