07/05/2024
International woman's day Part 4 💙
Meet the fabulous Alix Costello, Clinical Scientist and Senior Biomedical Scientist in Histopathology .
Alix started her scientific career after completing a degree in Biomedical Sciences at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , where she worked as a Biomedical Scientist in histology.
Later obtaining a position on the NHS Science Training Programme where she trained for three years to become a Clinical Scientist at St Helens and Knowlsey NHS Trust. After completion of this qualification, she returned to Blackpool as a Senior Biomedical Scientist/Clinical Scientist where she now works as the specimen reception and dissection section lead.
"I am passionate about my job because it impacts patient lives. In histopathology our work is heavily involved in cancer diagnosis, this is something that I feel very passionate about having had friends and family members with cancer diagnoses."
Alix's biggest achievement so far is completing the Scientist training programme. The programme is highly competitive and very intense. It combines full time working with a part time masters and more then 100 work based competency assessments. "It was the biggest challenge that I have faced so far and I feel very proud to have completed it."
When asked what advances Alix would like to see in her field within the next 10 years, she said, "I hope to see digital pathology fully set up and working in the department over the next ten years. Currently, all diagnoses are made in the department by looking at patient tissue samples down a microscope. Digital pathology instead scans the microscope slides to allow tissue to be viewed digitally. This will provide Pathologists with more flexibility when reporting diagnostic work and will enhance training opportunities. "
Did you know you can donate directly to this department to help ensure they maintain the vital work they do at our Trust?
https://bfwh.enthuse.com/donate #!/
