Growth & Jobs | Beyond the Lab: Biomedical shaping Jamaica’s next generation of professionals

For some students, an internship is simply a requirement to be completed before returning to the classroom.

For Ackalia Green, Jolene Walters, and Traye Wellington, however, their time at Caledonia Medical Laboratory (Biomedical) became something more: an opportunity to discover new strengths, test their confidence, and gain a closer look at the people and processes behind healthcare delivery.

Although the three interns arrived with different expectations and, in Green’s case, a career interest far removed from medical laboratory science, they shared one important experience: they left with lessons that extended well beyond their individual assignments.

“Memorable, transformative, and enriching,” is how she describes her internship experience.

Walters calls hers “eye-opening, rewarding, and appreciative”, while Wellington describes the experience as “challenging, rewarding, and transformative.”

Their experiences highlight the broader purpose of Biomedical’s internship programme.

“The programme is now increasingly focused on structured learning, mentorship, and exposing interns to the different functions that contribute to the operation of a modern medical laboratory, as well as the wider world of healthcare and business,” said Andrewlyn Gooden, Biomedical’s business development manager.

From theory to practice

For Jolene, a medical laboratory sciences student, the internship provided the opportunity to take lessons from the classroom into a working laboratory.

She heard about the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) internship programme through a friend and applied because she wanted practical experience to complement her studies.

“I expected to mostly observe and do basic tasks,” she said, “but I hoped to get real exposure to lab operations and workflow, not just theory from textbooks.”

Instead, she was given real responsibilities and direct feedback from supervisors, helping her to develop stronger organisational, time-management and communication skills.

“I also have a greater appreciation for the demands of laboratory work, particularly the importance of accuracy and consistency. It’s not just running tests but following through carefully so nothing falls through the cracks,” she noted.

One of her most memorable moments was watching a medical technologist return calls to patients. “I was able to get a glimpse into the more personal side of laboratory work and the interactions that take place beyond the technical processes.”

For Wellington, the transition from university to a professional laboratory environment was equally significant.

He wanted hands-on experience and an opportunity to understand what working in a real medical laboratory was like.

The experience, he said, helped him appreciate how much responsibility comes with producing an accurate laboratory result.

“It is easy to focus on specimens, numbers, and laboratory procedures, but at the end of the process, there is a person depending on the accuracy of that result,” he shared.

That realisation has given him one lesson that he expects to carry throughout his career: “Every result has a patient behind it.”

An unexpected journey

Green’s journey was different.

She entered Biomedical through the TEF programme, but medical laboratory science was never her intended career path. Her passion is culinary arts and hospitality, and while she plans to remain in that field, her internship exposed her to skills that could prove valuable when she eventually builds her own business.

“My expectations weren’t very vast as this was not my field of study,” she said. “Nonetheless, I expected to at least develop business skills that can help me in the future with starting my own business and promoting it.”

According to her, “My supervisor encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and develop my people and professional skills. In the process, I gained skills in research, information gathering, organisation, and presentation.”

A particularly memorable opportunity came when she was allowed to contribute creatively to Biomedical’s 2027 calendar. She also had to make calls and communicate with external individuals on behalf of the company.

“Despite it not being something that I naturally love, being able to do those tasks helped to build my confidence,” she said.

Learning to speak up

For all three interns, personal development was as important as technical knowledge.

Walters said one of her biggest challenges was learning to ask questions.

“I’m normally the student who sits at the back and just listens rather than speaking up in class,” she said. “Learning to ask instead of staying quiet was a real growth moment for me.”

Investing in the future

Biomedical has hosted interns through its University of Technology (Utech) internship programme for more than eight years and has partnered with the TEF for three years.

The programme has evolved beyond basic work experience, with interns gaining exposure to areas including laboratory operations, phlebotomy, business development, human resources, IT, and administration.

“We engage young people who demonstrate a willingness to learn while also considering communication, initiative, adaptability, and the ability to respond to feedback,” Gooden highlighted.

“Young people bring fresh perspectives,” Gooden continued, adding that investing in them means investing in individual careers as well as the future resilience of Jamaica’s healthcare system.

“We also want interns to understand that professionalism extends beyond technical competence. Communication, teamwork, confidentiality, accountability, customer service, and problem-solving are all part of the experience,” she shared.

Different paths, lasting lessons

The three interns are now looking ahead to very different futures.

Walters hopes to complete her degree at UTech and pursue a career in medical laboratory science. She will carry forward the importance of attention to detail and consistency.

Wellington plans to continue in laboratory medicine and pursue postgraduate studies, with an interest in biomedical and clinical research. He will remember that behind every sample is a patient

Green is looking toward culinary arts, hospitality, and eventually, entrepreneurship. She will take with her lessons in marketing, research, communication, and confidence.

Their destinations may differ, but their experience at Biomedical has left each with something valuable.

Biomedical’s message to young Jamaicans considering healthcare and laboratory careers is straightforward: “Be curious, be willing to learn, and take every opportunity to develop yourself.”