Hi, I'm Kimberley.
I am a Trainee Hospital Scientist in genetic pathology at the Children's Hospital at Westmead, working full time whilst completing my BSc (finishing Nov 2025!).
My path here isn't linear. After returning to Australia from Europe, I began working in the Emergency Department. I loved the controlled chaos, teamwork, reliance on each person performing their role, and helping people in their most vulnerable moments.
It is inspiring to watch emergency physicians, and nurses draw upon their depth of knowledge in trauma scenarios. I became increasingly curious about pathology, wanting to understand the mechanisms behind what I was seeing. I wanted that intellectual challenge for myself.
I enrolled in a Bachelor of Science and spent 18 months balancing 24/7 shifts with study. When a trainee position opened in the hospital's genetic pathology labs, I made the leap to full-time lab work whilst continuing my degree part-time.
I may not be on the front lines anymore, but the work is just as meaningful. I am helping people who have often had long, difficult journeys through the healthcare system before being referred for genetic testing.
Throughout my studies, I've rediscovered my love for mathematics: quantitative thinking and creative solutions. I've been exploring how we apply these skills to the laboratory, from assay validation to building tools that we can use in the lab using various programming languages. This is an interest I am actively developing, and these skills are essential as genetic pathology grows more data-intensive.
Working in a NATA-accredited laboratory, where our work directly impacts patient outcomes is incredibly fulfilling.
I am exactly where I want to be.