OPTILAB inspires Montreal students

Eleven lucky Montreal high school students will spend their summer discovering first-hand what it’s like to work in a medical laboratory.  These Grade 9 and 10 students are participating in an internship program at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) OPTILAB Montréal facilities. “Our goal is to increase awareness about the medical technology profession in the hopes that these students will choose labs as a career,” says Enzo Caprio, clinical administrative director of OPTILAB-Montreal MUHC. “These students will experience the different areas of our labs at several of our OPTILAB sites. In the future, this type of program can also benefit other departments in the hospital.”

A welcome day event was held at the Research Institute of the MUHC (RI-MUHC) in early July. Students were given a brief introduction on a day in the life of a lab technician and the crucial role they play in the hospital. Reaction from the participants has been very positive. “I’m so grateful for my experience. Finding a path for the future is definitely not the easiest thing to do, but this opportunity is so special and it gives me an idea of what it’s like to work in the medical field, something I’ve always been interested in,” says Grade 10 student Audrey Barroso Toribio.

The internship program is sponsored by Montréal Relève and is designed to motivate young people to pursue post-secondary studies in a field that they are passionate about. The students will spend three to five days over the next few weeks observing and learning about a career in a clinical or research laboratory.

Recruitment in this field is underway at the MUHC. If you know someone who would like to join our OPTILAB team, please visit our career section on the website.