When Marguerite Tran arrived at Winchester District Memorial Hospital almost a year ago, she didn’t know what to expect. As a student in the Medical Radiation Technology program at Algonquin College, she had learned all of the theory in class. Now, she was going to put that learning into practice.
“For the first few weeks, I got to shadow each staff member to get to know the Diagnostic Imaging department,” she recalls. “I felt like I was learning something new every day, and the whole team was welcoming and always willing to help. It’s been that way the whole time I’ve been here.”
Marguerite took a one-year pre-health program at Algonquin before learning about the medical radiation program. “Obviously, I knew x-rays existed, but I didn’t realize it was an option as a career. I really like anatomy, and it’s cool to see inside the body and take pictures to help figure out what is going on.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, student placements were cancelled. Six months later, they were welcomed back and have been a great support to the WDMH team. In fact, close to 140 students trained at WDMH in the past year.
“Teaching the next generation of caregivers is a priority for us,” explains CEO, Cholly Boland. “Many of these students turn their educational opportunity into a career at WDMH, and we are happy to welcome them.”
Marguerite says she would love to work at WMDH when she graduates: “I like the diversity, from general x-rays, to mammography, to CT scans, to bone mineral density tests. There is always something interesting going on. And I like the atmosphere here. Everyone is very friendly.”
If you would like to provide comments or suggestions about hospital services, please contact Cholly Boland, President and CEO, WDMH at 613 774-1049 or by email at [email protected].
