Jenny Williams, Biomedical Scientist Dissector

I was in my mid 20s and working in retail. I’d always been interested in anatomy, from a forensic science perspective, but I never thought it could be a career.

I decided to take a degree in physiology and later I joined the cytology department and worked on the cervical screening programme where I worked for 10 years. I came across the biomedical science role by accident. I didn’t know even the job existed. I started as a support worker and then, with the support of WUTH, I did a foundation course with specific modules to convert my degree, followed by a masters, to become a biomedical scientist.

When I started working in histology, I knew I’d found my place. Every day is different, every case you look at is different. It’s just so interesting.

Now that I’ve qualified for dissection, I’m doing that three afternoons a week. We get samples sent to us which may be small, like a piece of skin, or resection, which is a larger specimen from an organ such as breast or kidney. Sometimes we are dissecting to support the clinician’s diagnosis so we need to know what diseased tissue looks like. Sometimes we are checking to make sure there is no diseased tissue.

I want to continue learning and developing, and I’d like to progress to cancer specimens, which would free up the time of the medics so that they can focus on the reporting aspect.

When I was younger I used to doubt myself, but I don’t any more. I’m so grateful for all the  support I’ve had from colleagues, and that, together with my training, has built my confidence.

For anyone who’s interested in a scientific role but doesn’t think they can do it, I’d say listen to my story and think again.