Profile
Dawn Sutherland
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About Me:
I live with my husband and 5 children in Falkirk. When i’m not working as a Specialist Biomedical Scientist I love going on walks in our local woodland 🌳🦌and help to coach the mini’s at my local rugby club 🏃🏻♀️🏈
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While my working day is spent as a Biomedical Scientist my spare time can get very hectic. My children do lots of hobbies and I join in with them while at rugby helping to coach the younger age groups.
I love getting out and about either walking or on my bike. My favourite places to cycle to are the Falkirk Wheel and the Helix and Kelpies in Falkirk.
I have a big passion for music of all kinds. I have played various musical instruments including the trumpet, clarinet and the bagpipes. I even used to play in a pipe band!
I like spending any spare time I have making things by knitting and sewing. I also like mending and fixing things which comes in handing when my children frequently present me with broken toys including remote control cars and gaming controllers. I love seeing their faces light up when I get their favourite toys working again!
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My pronouns are:
She/her
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My Work:
I’m a Specialist Biomedical Scientist and work in a hospital Pathology Department. I prepare cytology and biopsy samples from patients to help doctors find out why people are unwell.
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In Pathology I rotate between the Cytology lab and Histology lab. I take a patients sample and carry out a set of special steps to transer the sample onto a slide so that the cells can be examined under a microscope. A sample could be a biopsy, like a piece of tissue from a lump or bump a patient might have in their skin, or it could be a fluid sample like a urine sample. A doctor will then look at the slide down the microscope to see what is wrong with the patient. The shape, colour and number of cells can give clues as to what disease or illness the patient may have. The result can help the doctors decide what treatment or medication the patient needs.
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My Typical Day:
Once I get up and ready for work I have a 5 minute walk to the bus stop. I get 2 buses to work and arrive at the hospital in time for starting at 08:30. I get the Cytology lab set up for the day and prepare any samples that have been taken overnight. I meet my friend who works in the pharmacy department for lunch. In the afternoon I check the samples I have prepared in the morning under the microscope and then take them to the Consultant doctor to report. Once all the days samples have been prepared I shut down the lab and finish at 16:50 to catch my bus home.
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Setting up the Cytology lab in the morning involves sorting the staining machine and running quality control slides. This ensures the stain is correct prior to staining any patient samples as this is how the Consultant is able to tell what is wrong with the patient. I then set up the microbiological safety cabinet where I will prepare the samples. This ensures I am not exposed to any illnesses the patient may have when I am handling their sample. I use various different equipment such as centrifuges and cytospin centrifuges to concentrate the cells in the patients samples and transer these onto slides. The lab gets different kinds of cytology samples that range from cyst fluids, bronchial washings and joint fluids. Some samples are urgent and I will prioritise these so the results can get back to the patient quickly. Sometimes I will not be able to prepare all the samples the lab receives in a day and they are put in a fridge for the next day.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
I would like to get some resources so I am able to do fun activities when taking part in public engagement activites.
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Education:
1996 – 2001 Falkirk High School. This is where I first found my interest in science winning the Biology Prize at Standard Grade and Higher level
2002 – 2006 Edinburgh Napier University to study BSc Hons Biomedical Science
2008 – 2011 Stirling University, BA Politics
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Qualifications:
2000 – 7 Standard grades at grade 1, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Spanish, Home Economics and, Office and Information Studies. Standard grade English with a 2.
2001 – Scottish Highers: Geography – A, Biology – B, Mathematics – B and Chemistry – C
2006 – BSc (Hons) in Biomedical Science 2:1
2007 – IBMS Certificate of Competence
2008 – City and Guilds level 3 Diploma in Cervical Cytology
2011 – BA in Politics with merit
2014 – IBMS Specialist Diploma in Cytopathology
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Work History:
2000 – 2003 Part time job in a local restaurant as a kitchen porter.
2004 – 2006 Medical Laboratory Assistant in Haematology, Specimen Reception.
2006 – 2008 Trainee/Biomedical Scientist in Cytology in Pathology Department.
2008 – 2009 Bar Staff.
2009 -2015 Biomedical Scientist in Cytology in Pathology Department.
2015 – 2019 Tissues and Cells Scientist at Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
2019 – 2023 Biomedical Scientist at Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
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Current Job:
Specialist Biomedical Scientist in Pathology
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Employer:
NHS Forth Valley
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My Interview
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What did you want to be after you left school?
A Vet
Were you ever in trouble at school?
No I never got into trouble
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would like to work with horses
Who is your favourite singer or band?
I love all kinds of music from Biffy Clyro to Roy Orbison
What's your favourite food?
Cheese Burgers
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
To win the lottery. To own a horse. To visit New Zealand one day!
Tell us a joke.
Why did the microscope cross the road? To get to the other slide!
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