- Role Model -
Dayna Butler
Profile
Name: Dayna Butler
Occupation: General Internist Eastern Health & Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Employer: Eastern Health
Education: BSc (hons), MD, FRCPC; Memorial University of Newfoundland/ University of Western Ontario
Hometown: Conception Bay South, NL
Current community of residency: St. John's, NL
What does your typical work day involve?
Hospital based: Emergency room, medicine wards, clinics Teamwork with nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, residents, medical students Travel for conferences/ presentations
What do you love most about your profession? Why did you choose this career?
Patient care. Most of my patients have complex conditions/ multiple medical issues, I love the detective work of figuring out what is wrong and treating them.
When did you realize you wanted to work in STEM?
Junior High
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Biology, chemistry, math
What advice would you give girls, who are still in school, who might be considering a career like yours?
There's really no one "right" path to medicine. While most applicants to medical school have done an undergraduate degree in sciences, there were people in my class who did music, french, english, math, business, engineering, education, etc before applying to medical school. Just do what you enjoy.
Why do we need more women in skilled trades and STEM?
Women are better doctors! ...I'm only sort of kidding...there is actually evidence to suggest that women adhere to guidelines more strictly than their male counterparts, spend more time with patients and their patients may even have better survival outcomes.
Who was your role model? What about this person inspires you?
The internist that took care of my grandmother. I was probably 8 or 9 when I first heard my grandmother talking about how much she respected her opinion, how she was so intelligent and kind. I met her years later, when I was in high school, when she visited my grandmother's retirement home and played piano with her. And I met her again yearsss later during residency. She is one of the smartest people I've ever met, but she is also just a genuinely lovely human.
What do you do for fun? What are some of your hobbies/activities?
Reading, painting, crocheting Travel... pre 2020
What superhero do you relate to most? Why?
The Ninja Turtles are superheroes...right? Donatello is the most relatable, the one who always thinks things through and keeps everyone else from getting killed...he makes all their gadgets, he's basically the STEM turtle.
Anything else you wish to share?
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SCIENCE
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