UBC’s Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science program supports students in gaining practical, hands-on laboratory skills and advanced knowledge of the scientific principles underlying the disciplines practiced in hospital and medical research laboratories around the world.
This fall, we sat down with a few of the students to find out what attracted them to the program, and what excites them about the year ahead.
Patricia Daduica
Year: 3
Hometown: Prince George, B.C.
What sparked your interest in pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science?
After completing a registered technologist diploma in 2013, I started working as lab technologist at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) in Prince George, my hometown. I continue to work there as a casual, but I decided to go back to school and attend UBC to earn a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science, as more and more management positions are calling for applicants to have a degree. Although I’m young, I thought now, when I have the time and motivation to pursue further education, would be the ideal time to complete my degree!
What excites you the most about the 2015/2016 school year?
Expanding my knowledge in multiple disciplines, living by myself for the first time, and experiencing university life as much as I can!
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
I never set out to be a lab technologist! Originally, my goal was to go into forensics. But, after my first week of practicum, I fell in love with the job and now, I can’t imagine doing anything else!
In fact, it was during my first practicum, when I was working at a blood bank that I issued my first unit (and subsequent units after that) for a patient that was bleeding in the operating room – a move that helped save their life. I have never felt so awed as I did in that moment, seeing their hemoglobin go from critical to stable post-op.
Today, through my work at UHNBC, I’ve come to really enjoy working on the instrumentation in the Biochemistry department. Some part of me is amazed that here I am, a 22-year-old, working on a million dollar analyzer – knowing how to troubleshoot, take it apart, conduct maintenance to keep it running smoothly – and also being able to recognize when to release patient results and when to question the integrity of the results. Hard to put into words, but I love the work.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Hopefully back in Prince George in a permanent position working at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. But I’m open to wherever life takes me!
Amy Ho
Year: 4
Hometown: Richmond, B.C.
What sparked your interest in pursuing a degree in medical laboratory science?
I read an article about pathology a few years back and found it really intriguing. After doing some research, I discovered that UBC actually had a Bachelor’s program belonging to this field, and that this program would be a combination of laboratory skills/knowledge and medical knowledge, which seemed really interesting to me. I remember seeing a list of subjects we would be learning on the BMLSc webpage, and being very interested in all of the subjects they had listed; that’s probably what locked in my decision to apply.
What excites you the most about the 2015/2016 school year?
I’m excited to learn new things this year. Third year was a real eye-opener for me and the classes that we took were unlike anything I’ve taken before at UBC. I’m excited to see what new courses we’ll be taking in fourth year, and to see my BMLSc friends every day again!
What’s one thing we might be surprised to learn about you?
In my free time, I enjoy writing stories and poetry about anything that inspires me.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In 5 years, I hope to be either studying for a career in genetic counselling or just getting started as one.