Making a difference in clinical care was the passion that drove me into healthcare. I found laboratory testing to be the most rewarding way to make a positive impact in society. To be able to help cancer patients was always the goal, and I quickly found that in Cytogenetics. We don’t need to meet patients to help them. Everyone deserves prompt, accurate and specific testing, and every sample belongs to someone's loved one. In many cases, the Cytogenetics team is tasked with finding the answer as to what genes are causing a patient’s cancer, which directly impacts prognosis and treatment. It feels monumental when you find the abnormality, but even a negative test result is useful information for the patient.
I earned my undergraduate and master’s degrees in molecular and microbiology and then started in research. Later I applied for roles at hospitals, landed a cytogenetics position, and found my “home.” I started working at UMass Memorial Medical Center in 2007 and Quest in 2014. As the years have progressed, my knowledge and training have expanded to many forms of genetic testing, including hematological, constitutional, pediatric, and prenatal care. I was given the opportunity to learn advanced diagnostic testing, including microarray, which helps to determine critical gains and losses in an individual's genetic makeup. Automation at Quest allows us to take on more cases. I find the work calm, meaningful, and almost meditative.
I have been given the opportunity to collaborate with residents and fellows visiting on rotations who become oncologists and pathologists. I love watching someone's eyes light up when they understand the different kinds of tests that we offer and how they apply to different kinds of clinical indications and how to interpret the results.
I stay at Quest because of the community. I really feel a sense that I belong. I'm part of a team.
At Quest, I've found a job that I feel passionate about, and I work with others who feel the same way.
Are you interested in a career at Quest? Explore our career areas where you will empower better health through our cutting-edge technology alongside creative and innovative people at http://careers.questdiagnostics.com
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