"Up to 50 people can have their life saved or helped by one person's donation"
33-year-old Francesca Stevens talks about her day job and her aspirations for the future...
How did you get started in tissue donation?
[I did] A degree in Anatomy & Human Biology at Liverpool University. I temped for a few years while applying for jobs and then this came up!
What attracted you to the job?
I was able to directly use the experience and knowledge gained during my degree, working for a world renowned organisation, the NHS. There鈥檚 variety in the job; no day is the same, and you get to directly save and improve lives, which is amazing!
Tell us a surprising fact about tissue donation鈥�
Up to 50 people can have their life saved or helped by one person's donation.
What are you interests outside of work?
Keeping fit, going to concerts and seeing local bands, baking cakes and going on holiday.
Did you think you鈥檇 stay in the job?
When I started in Tissue Donation, I didn't really know what the future would hold or where the job would progress to. I hoped that I would be able to work my way up through the job roles, but I'm not sure I thought as far ahead as whether I'd still be here nearly eight years later!
What are the perks of the job?
The perks of the job are that it is so varied; one day we can be in the office and the next we are travelling the country and carrying out tissue donations, which is a much more physical aspect to the job. No week is the same, which is great. We also get to meet recipients of tissue donation and see first hand how the work we do can positively impact on people's lives.
What are your aspirations? Where do you see yourself in five years鈥� time?
My aspirations for the future are to see if there is any scope for progression in Tissue Donation. The challenges that lie ahead for me are to put the experiences and knowledge I have gained towards a different job role within Tissue Services. At the moment, with a baby imminent, I'm not sure where I'll be in the next five years!
