“I always wanted to work in the medical field, but I wasn’t quite sure where. When a friend from high school told me how rewarding a career as a medical laboratory technologist was, it encouraged me to pursue this opportunity to work in health care.

I started my career as a medical laboratory technologist in Winnipeg, but when the opportunity to work in Flin Flon presented itself, I took it – and I am so glad I did.

At first it was scary to move to a northern community where I didn’t know anyone, but the patients and staff have been so welcoming, which has encouraged me to give the ultimate care in what I do.

Working in a core lab in a northern community has allowed me to work within my full scope of practice and make use of all of the knowledge I gained in school. The pace is a bit slower, so I’ve been able to take the time to adjust to each bench and get comfortable before moving on to a new one.

I was recently promoted to senior technologist in Chemistry in my lab – I admire my seniors and charge for what they do in order to keep the lab running smoothly and efficiently, and it is exciting to be able to take on more responsibility.

I feel that I have grown so much as a technologist in the last couple years, and I’m looking forward to seeing where my career can take me. The possibilities are endless in this field, and I hope my colleagues and future technologists take advantage of that.”

“I always knew I wanted to work in health care, but I was unsure exactly how “hands-on” I wanted to be. Diagnostic imaging was the perfect choice for me because it offered a balanced mix of patient interaction and independent work, depending on your chosen modality.

I grew up in northern Manitoba and knew I wanted to return to work in a northern community. After spending part of my clinical placement in Thompson, I knew I found where I wanted to work once I finished school.

The team environment here at Thompson General is amazing. Since it is a small city, you meet and get to know so many people. This makes it easy to communicate, collaborate, and lend a hand between all departments as no one is a stranger to you. Having the opportunity to complete my placement at Thompson General also made the transition into my current position much more comfortable because I already knew the team and the role.

A career in diagnostics continues to reward you with new and different experiences each day. There is so much learn, and there are many ways to grow your skills. I am currently expanding my knowledge in the CAMRT CT scanning training program and someday, I hope to pursue MRI training.

Knowing that I am making a difference in a patient’s hospital stay, their experience, and even their health outcomes is incredibly rewarding. There are so many opportunities in the north in diagnostics and in your personal life.

If you love adventure and exploring the outdoors and you have a strong work ethic, then the north is the place for you. Even if you didn’t grow up in the north, the community is so welcoming, which I think makes it easier to adjust to the northern way of life.”

“Some people feel that a rural setting won’t give them the same experience as a large urban centre, but the truth is we’re a very fast-paced department. There are plenty of opportunities to build your skills, and even though I’ve worked as an emergency nurse for 15 years, I still feel like I’m learning something new every day.”