Maureen Lee

Maureen Lee (Toronto, Ontario)

Radiation Therapy, Class of 2019

Biography

My name is Maureen Lee and I am a recent graduate of the Radiation Therapy program. I completed my first undergraduate degree in Biology at Wilfrid Laurier University before attending Michener. I was born and raised in Toronto and grew up playing competitive hockey. My athletic upbringing has continued to be a big part of my life. I love playing beach volleyball, softball, hockey and staying as active as possible. I am fortunate to have a big family that all live very nearby so when I am not at school, working, or playing sports I love spending as much time as possible with them.

What and where did you study before joining MRS?

I completed an Honours BSc in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Sociology at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo before joining the MRS program.

What attracted you to the MRS program?

As I approached the end of my first degree, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I was first introduced to Radiation Therapy when a family member of mine was undergoing treatment at Princess Margaret. Experiencing the impact that the therapists had on our journey on a daily basis inspired me to look into the program and I’m so glad I did.

How is MRS different from your previous university experience?

I was fortunate to have two great university experiences, although they were quite different. MRS offers a very intimate learning experience where you will get to know everyone in your program and the teachers extremely well. It was the perfect combination of hands on and in class learning that I didn’t get in my previous experience.

Once you decided to pursue this field, why did you choose to study with us?

The decision to study with The Michener Institute/University of Toronto seemed like an easy choice. Both institutions have incredible reputations and there was no doubt in my mind that I would be getting the best education possible. The opportunity to learn from the best in the field and have the opportunity to complete my placement at some of the top cancer centres in Canada and globally solidified that decision even further.

What is your favourite MRS accomplishment?

I was lucky enough to complete the 3rd year research course where you have the opportunity to conduct a project in the clinical environment. The course itself was a lot of work but I recently presented my project at the UTDRO Research Day in addition to two upcoming conferences. Presenting my work along side extremely accomplished professionals in the field is a great feeling and definitely my biggest accomplishment so far.

How is the workload? Do you have to get involved in campus life, sports, clubs or work part-time?

The workload is demanding, yet manageable at the same time. It was a priority of mine to maintain part-time work while in the program in addition to playing the sports I enjoy most. I know a lot of my peers in the program were also heavily involved in a variety of programs. It requires some serious time management but is definitely do-able.

Where was your clinical placement? What was it like?

My clinical placement was at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Being able to gain hands on experience in one of the top cancer centres in the world offered me invaluable skills that you can’t get just in the classroom. There are high expectations of you but I truly believe the clinical placement aspect of the program brought my education to the next level and I feel very equipped to enter the workforce in the near future.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I am currently preparing to write the CAMRT exam and then will hopefully be joining the workforce as a Radiation Therapist shortly after. I also have the opportunity to continue research in the field at PMH after the exam, which is another interest of mine that I am excited to continue pursuing.

What advice do you have for prospective students who are considering the program/profession? 

I would recommend really doing your research or talking to people in the field to get an idea of what the day-to-day looks like for that profession. Radiation Therapy in particular is not a very well known field to the general population, so knowing exactly what you would be doing and deciding if it aligns with what you’re looking for and your personality is a great first step. Also knowing that it offers the opportunity to work across Canada or internationally can be attractive for some and something to keep your mind open to.

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For more information about the MRS Program visit www.medicalradiationsciences.ca