My Former Life as a Hematologist

Once upon a time, long, long ago when I was in eighth grade, I stumbled upon what I wanted to be when I grew up. As part of the unit on the circulatory system in biology, we looked at blood cells under the microscope. I was completely and utterly entranced. I learned that there are five types of white blood cells; red blood cells have a unique and perfect shape, and platelets are very tiny but necessary to stop bleeding. I also learned that someone that studied blood was called a hematologist, and that it was I wanted to be. 

My goal didn't change throughout high school. I designed an independent study on comparative hematology and became further interested when I learned about functional and anatomic differences in reptilian, amphibian, and avian blood cells. It was easy to choose a college once I found one that offered a major in medical technology. After college I worked in hospitals in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York state, following my husband while he attended graduate schools. We had agreed to take turns in school, so in 1983 it was my turn to start my M.S. degree in hematology at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.

It was a heady time, full of interesting and exciting classes, along with the less exciting experience of working in the hematology lab every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night on the 11-7 shift so I could make enough money for tuition. I finished my classwork in two years and had just started my research when my dream job came along - Supervisor of Special Hematology. That's where all the really interesting hematology tests were performed - coagulation factor assays for hemophiliacs, testing for von Willebrand's disease, hemoglobin electrophoresis for thalassemia and sickle cell disease, D-dimer assay for thrombotic disorders, and platelet function tests. I was lucky enough to get the position, so my research got pushed to part-time. Eventually I did finish my research, wrote and defended my thesis, and published an article (gripping reading indeed!) in a peer-reviewed journal. Before I had my kids, this was probably my biggest accomplishment!

Having my kids changed things. I had worked as a hematologist for 14 years, but with two small children and a husband that was traveling three weeks a month, my having to be on call and work nights, weekends, and holidays began to take a toll. Trying to work at home was less than successful when I found out that toddlers and permanent red and purple stains for blood slides did not work well together. I wasn't a good hematologist, nor was I a very good mother during this time, so my career as a hematologist came to an end. I remember my former life as a hematologist fondly, but my life as a mother has been even better.