At LifeLabs, we are proud Canadians, serving Canadians from coast to coast. In the “Empowering Canadians” story series, we showcase the inspiring voices of our team members as they share what fuels their passion for serving Canadian communities, advancing healthcare, and embracing innovative technologies.
In today’s story, we are profiling Director, Strategic Initiatives, Claire Murray, whose career at LifeLabs shows how empowering Canadians means never forgetting the faces behind every sample.
Nineteen years ago as a Lab Patient Technician, Claire was helping a young girl who never had bloodwork before but was starting a healthcare journey with a serious illness. Claire led with skill and compassion to collect the specimens. However, as she was picking up the tubes, the patient’s mom had an important message for Claire.
“She quietly bowed her head and said, ‘please let the people who touch these tubes know how important they are to us.’ The crowded Patient Service Centre got very still for me,” shared Claire. “The mother did not ask for the results to be good – she asked us to remember the importance of our work and how it affects all of those who come to us.”
“This was a defining moment in my career. It has become my true north because I have had many different roles since that time, but always, I see how we all play a part in each patient’s health journey,” Claire continued.
Since that day, Claire has grown into a people leader who empowers those around her while managing LifeLabs’ government growth portfolio. Alongside her team, she evaluates opportunities to expand LifeLabs services to communities across Ontario, helping to empower Canadians in their health journey.
For Claire, the impact of her work really hit home during her Canadian citizenship ceremony when the judge asked her what she does for a living.
“The judge stopped the lineup and started to tell me about the great service he’s had at his neighbourhood PSC, and how great our organization is. He wanted to know more about what it was like to work for LifeLabs and loved that I had been an employee for so many years,” said Claire.
But no matter what she achieves, Claire will always be guided by the meaningful interaction with a little girl and her mom 19 years ago.
“Every single role at LifeLabs touches a sample and has someone attached to that sample asking for us to understand the importance of what we do. I was proud that day and have been proud of the work I do, that we all do, ever since,” said Claire.
Stay tuned for more stories from our team members, as we continue to empower Canadians to take control of their health and make informed decisions.