To mark ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) are celebrating the outstanding achievements of the women we have working in science.
Dr Delia Ripley is a Senior Programme Manager for the National Healthcare Science programme. Here, Delia tells us about her career in science and how her non-traditional background only spurred her on to succeed.
“Ever since I was in primary school I have had a curiosity and interest in how things work. My dream was to be a scientist, wearing my white coat, conducting experiments.
It was my interest in genetics and the building blocks of life which saw me study biomedical science at university, graduating with degree and later, a masters in the subject.
My first job was at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board as a Biomedical Scientist. It was here that I saw a job at my old university for a lecturer. Although I loved my job as I scientist, I was very passionate about encouraging and inspiring others into the field and therefore, felt my enthusiasm would be better suited in a teaching role.
I have now been a lecturer, specialising in haematology, blood transfusion and immunology at Cardiff Metropolitan University for thirteen years.
Whilst teaching, I became the Programme Director for the BSc (Hons) Healthcare Science (Life Sciences) programme and was responsible for supporting students who were training to be healthcare scientists in local health boards. Alongside this, I also successfully completed a part-time PhD in Immunohaematology and began working with a national professional body in healthcare science helping them to establish their educational policies and processes. In 2016 I I became the only Reader in healthcare science in the UK.
There are so many role models out there for women, and so much opportunity. It was the Professor that supervised my PhD who gave me the support and encouragement to strive forward in my career, and I’m so glad that did! I get to work with the most amazing individuals who are working in a diverse array of scientific disciplines across the NHS. Their expertise, commitment, and dedication to providing the best services for patients is outstanding. I am so privileged to be in a position where I get to work with these individuals on a daily basis, and make a small contribution towards helping them to make a real difference to the lives of others.
So, my words of advice to anyone out there wanting to enter in to a career in science is just go for it and aim for the top! There is nothing you can’t achieve. My background is non-traditional -I was the first in my family to go to university, but now, I’m in a job where I get to make a real difference and I feel so privileged to be doing what I’m doing, amongst amazing people – it’s a job that I love.”