National Science Week 2023 Spotlight - Mandy-Lee Grimsley
This year's National Science Week, PathWest shines a spotlight on our regional medical scientists.
Meet Mandy-Lee Grimsley, currently Acting Medical Scientist in Charge at PathWest Geraldton.
Mandy-Lee has always had a fascination for science and especially enjoyed her high school human biology and chemistry classes. After completing high school, Mandy-Lee knew she wanted to have a career in science, and genetics, so she pursued a Bachelor of Science at Murdoch University completing it with double majors in Molecular Biology and Biomedical Science.
Mandy-Lee shares ‘It was during one of my university breaks that I landed a casual job as a lab assistant at PathWest Geraldton. After chatting to the scientists and seeing what they did, I fell in love with the lab and went back to university and completed my Bachelor of Science in Laboratory Medicine from Curtin University.’
‘I was very fortunate or maybe it was just meant to be. After graduation, I landed a Medical Scientist job in Geraldton and have been here ever since, working my way up to Senior Scientist and currently Acting Medical Scientist in Charge in Geraldton. Now, I balance my role and family life. I am still loving what I do and have loved watching our lab grow and evolve as our demands for testing changed, especially through the COVID-19 pandemic,’ Mandy-Lee said.
Importance of pathology services in Port Hedland
Geraldton has a growing population, and our service covers a large part of the Mid West. In the last 8 months our service changed to a 24/7 service with a scientist onsite 24/7.
I have witnessed firsthand the importance of having a pathology service in the region with an extensive range of testing capability. It made it easy and accessible for our patients to have tests done with their support network close by.
It saved a lot of time, money and energy with people not having to travel to Perth multiple times. I can also see the same accessibility with our onsite Chemotherapy centre. Patients are able to have their tests, treatments and transfusions with special requirements all tested locally, without the need to travel to Perth to receive the same care.
Geraldton is also one of only two regional labs that offer testing for ovulation hormone tracking so that patients undergoing fertility treatment have same day turn around for a time critical treatment. This service extends to other regional towns closely situated to Geraldton.
Mandy-Lee’s message to younger generations
Not to sound cliché but if you have a passion for something, then chase it for all its worth. There is merit to working hard to reach your goals, and science is ever changing. With medical, engineering and IT advances, every day is a challenging day.
It is also important to take time to breathe, have a balance between work and home – it is healthy. I feel if you have an inquiring mind then science may definitely be for you. Laboratory Medicine I felt stratifies the desire to help others while trying to figure out what is causing a problem, and who doesn’t like to solve a good problem?