A DAY IN THE LIFE: SENIOR TECHNOLOGIST
Senior
technologist
Name: Jacqueline R. Simons Job: Senior technologist for anatomic pathology Company: King Edward VII Memorial Hospital
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8 to 4 Shift work may be required
Salary expectations: $80,000 to $86,000 for senior technologists. General lab technologists can earn between $71,000 and $77,000.
What attracted you to your chosen career?
I was deeply fascinated by human physiology and disease processes affecting the body. I had a desire to understand the underlying causes of disease at the cellular level and to have the ability to diagnose these conditions. Being part of a laboratory team enables me to provide clinicians with diagnostic information to treat patients and save lives.
How did you start on this career path?
My employment with Bermuda Hospital Board began in 1989 as a nurse’s aide at what was then known as St. Brendan’s (now the Mid- Atlantic Wellness Institute).
Because medical technology was of special interest to me, I arranged to shadow technologists in each section of the lab, from microbiology to cytotechnology and histology. The ability of cytotechnologists to microscopically locate and diagnose pre-cancerous cells at varying stages in specimens ranging from pap tests to breast samples was simply awesome! The histologists prepared tissue samples for microscopic evaluation and performed complex tests to determine the types of cancer present in these samples. This was the lab area for me.
What professional/academic qualifications and experience did you need to start your career?
This profession requires studies in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and maths (including statistics). Upon entering and completing a specialised programme for cytotechnology (which encompasses histotechnology), we were required to complete
48 FAST TRACK / Careers module / 2010-2011
clinical rotations for one year and obtain a Bachelor of Science degree. Additionally, each technologist must sit national board exams in order to practise in their field.
What further qualifications will you need for future career progression?
The future of cytotechnology lies in molecular testing. Testing for HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer, is increasingly conducted by cytotechnologists.
Additionally, cytotechnologists are being trained in some labs to screen for cancer in prostate specimens, to directly assist histopathologists. These new career progressions will undoubtedly broaden the skills of the technologist and enable us to play a more integral role in the future of pathology labs.
Describe a typical working day.
As a senior medical technologist, I need to ensure that each area can operate optimally. Specialised machines, cell and tissue stains, urgent specimens and physician queries all require immediate attention. Answering emails is vitally important, as I often network with field technicians and overseas supply vendors to ensure efficient operations. Seniors must also microscopically screen cases that require confirmation of a diagnostic call and generally ‘troubleshoot’ any problem as required.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best part of my job is knowing that a correct diagnostic call can save a life and give that patient the opportunity to return to his or her family.
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