Brenda Farnquist, BMLSc’00

What is your current career or current educational program?

Kelowna General Hospital as a radiologist with subspecialty in MSK, Prostate and Women’s Imaging.

If you are working, please describe what you do, in a few sentences.

I do general and subspecialty radiology in both a hospital, teaching and clinic setting. I read x-rays, ultrasounds, MRI, CT and mammography studies and perform image guided procedures, doing drain placements, biopsies for cancer diagnosis and therapeutic musculoskeletal and spine procedures for pain relief.

What has been your journey, since graduating from the BMLSc Program?

I went on to do an MD at UBC in Vancouver, did a residency in radiology at Queen’s University in Kingston, then did a Women’s Imaging and MSK Imaging and Interventional fellowships at Harvard University / Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. I worked one year as a staff radiologist at Queen’s University during which time I received a teaching award. I now work in Kelowna.

How did your BMLSc degree help you to get where you are now?

It was my prequel to medical school. I was able to further my knowledge using my Medical Laboratory Technology diploma background.

What is the most valuable experience you gained from the BMLSc Program?

It was the hands-on time in the labs and relationships with my professor that helped me with my future career goals. You get to know your professors well, so they function as amazing mentors and references.

What did you enjoy most about the BMLSc Program?

Loved my time in the lab doing electron microscopy. The collegiate atmosphere with staff and fellow students was amazing as it was a small department. I really benefited from the one on one interaction with professors.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to BMLSc students and recent graduates?

The sky really is the limit. This program is fantastic as a sounding board for your future. It really helps you figure out what branch of medicine or whatever other related career you’d like to do. It gives you such a sound practical background.

Name one thing on your bucket list.

I would love to do a loppet Nordic ski race someday!