Heartbeat: Three astonishing decades in science
March 16, 2020
Carolyn Potter, Senior Assistant Technical Officer will be retiring after three decades dedicated to science.
Carolyn’s illustrious career began in May 1989 at City Hospital’s clinical chemistry department. Joining the Trust, she started as a medical laboratory assistant in the biochemistry sample reception.
“I was welcomed immediately and soon made to feel like an important member of the team by both management and my co-workers,” explained Carolyn who vividly remembers her first day.
As the years passed, there was a slight restructure in the department where chemistry and haematology worked together under one lab to better improve productivity. Though initially, these were challenging times, Carolyn thoroughly enjoyed her role and not long after the team was expanded due to the quality of work produced consistently both inside and outside of the lab.
A senior assistant technical officer role often involves having to balance a varied workload whilst ensuring all the medical laboratory assistants are supported. Carolyn said: “I have been doing the rotas for the department and all of the paperwork that goes into making sure the department runs smoothly for numerous years now.”
“I look after the welfare of our medical laboratory assistants and any issues that they may have. I also manage annual leave and the ordering of products for our department which certainly keeps me busy alongside my bench work.”
Carolyn’s colleagues across the organisation are full of praise for her work and contributions over the past 30 years. Meena Khatun, Medical Laboratory Assistant, said: “Carolyn is a wonderful, caring person as a colleague, supervisor and friend. She runs the pathology sample reception to perfection and is the go-to person for anything and everything.”
Elaine Williams, Medical Laboratory Assistant echoes these thoughts and said: “Carolyn is the matriarch of sample reception. She’s headstrong and has a big heart. We all know and love her as a work colleague and friend. I am glad to have had the pleasure of working alongside her and under her wing for all these years.”
We hope you join us in wishing Carolyn a happy retirement. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the Trust.