From Physics Teacher to Cardiology Technologist & Medical School

In celebration of our convocation 2023, and the opportunity for us to finally be together and celebrate in person after three years, we asked our graduates to share their Anderson College experience.

Asking, “How has Anderson College changed your life?” prompted over a hundred submissions … this is one of those extraordinary student stories.

We hope this reflection moves you, as it has our Anderson family, and inspires you to ever embrace the career and life you imagine and, truly, deserve.
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It was a different and exciting journey for me to start a health program at Anderson College because I had been a teacher for 10 years. Moreover, my specialty was not related to health or cardiology. I was Googling for first aid tips to help my son as he was having seizures and I saw an Anderson College advertisement; I skipped it at first.

“While [my son] was having an echocardiogram (ECG) and Holter testing, I thought to myself, … “Why don’t I study that program?””

During the diagnosis of my son’s problem, we visited a cardiologist. While he was having an echocardiogram (ECG) and Holter testing, I thought to myself, as a physics teacher, “I teach these waves and they use them in health, how strange!” And then, right away I thought, “Why don’t I study that program?”

By the way, I had already paid my registration fee to another college for a program which is related to my specialty. I started searching about the program of Cardiology Technologist. I got an appointment with Jun and the day we met everything was clear in my mind. I was going to start a program, even though I had no idea whether I would be successful or not. The class start-day came, and I was so excited because I was returning to studentship days.

First of all, everything was so different and looked easy and hard at the same time. Easy to understand but hard to memorize everything. I won’t forget the day I passed the first quarterly exam. That day I said to myself, “OK, I believe I will do this job”. I attached great importance to all my feelings, because in those days I was a new immigrant in Canada, I was a mature student, I used to be a teacher for long time but now I was sitting at a desk, and I had classmates. More so Covid-19 started to spread all around the world, and we went to virtual learning which was likely the first time in Canada.

“After graduating, I was hired right away by a clinic as a full-time employee. While working there I was hired by Humber River Hospital.”

Every day, I learned a lot and kept studying hard. However, I worried about the Canadian Society of Cardiology Technology (CSCT) exam and was unsure about the working area. Thankfully our instructor, or as we always called her, our Mother Heather was there and helped us to differentiate real life outside of our dreams. Her lectures about life kept us tight to studying hard and not giving up. They were unforgettable years.

“I got accepted to medical school and I have almost finished the first year. When I become a cardiologist, who knows maybe Anderson College students will come to my clinic for practicum!”

During studying the Cardiology Technology program, my interest in the human body and especially in the heart increased day by day. Every day, I was more and more amazed at the structure and function of the heart. It was not easy to study that program while having no health background, but my interest kept me going and made me powerful. At the end of the hard-worked year, I successfully graduated with a good GPA score. After graduating, I was hired right away by a clinic as a full-time employee. While working there I was hired by Humber River Hospital.

My exciting journey and interest of the heart expanded when I looked toward becoming a cardiologist. I got accepted to medical school and I have almost finished the first year. When I become a cardiologist, who knows, maybe Anderson College students will come to my clinic for practicum!

Janette A.

If you felt inspired by Janette’s story and are looking to launch you ‘heartfelt’ career you can click to learn more about our Cardiology Technology program. Or if you have other interests, you can explore one of our other 30+ leading-edge programs.

When you’re ready to train and embrace the next level of your career, we can help you navigate the steps along the way. Book your virtual appointment with one of our supportive admissions advisors today and let’s get you started, shall we?