Putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. We are committed to ensuring our people — those who make BCIT distinct, are developing while feeling valued, supported, and connected.
BCIT is a people-first organization. We aim to celebrate our employees by sharing their stories through the Our People series. The series features BCIT’s extraordinary employees who share a strong sense of pride and ambition for the Institute and make up our diverse community.
Get to know Thomas Wong, Program Head, Nuclear Medicine Technology, School of Health Sciences, who has been working at BCIT for over 12 years. Thomas oversees the daily operations of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program and supports its students and teaching faculty.
What has been your most memorable moment working at BCIT?
I have many great moments to choose from, but I will highlight the professional development that BCIT has provided me. Whether it was taking the Vancouver Community College Provincial Instructor Diploma Program (PIDP) courses or workshops to improve my instructional skills or attending nuclear medicine conferences with my colleagues to keep pace with industry trends, my professional development experiences have enabled me to grow as an educator.
What do you enjoy the most about working in post-secondary education?
I know it sounds cliché, but working at BCIT is very rewarding. Every day, I get to support my students and watch them grow as novice learners to becoming competent graduates who are ready to enter the nuclear medicine field. It’s also a tremendous privilege to work alongside my amazing team of like-minded professionals, who strive for teaching excellence and share the common goal of supporting student success.
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What are projects or initiatives that you have completed at the Institute that you are proud of?
I’ve been very fortunate to have been part of some exciting projects, such as championing a program review, participating in accreditation reviews, and developing a major curriculum change proposal. However, one project that I’m particularly proud of is the development of a virtual unfolding case study simulation that I created with the BCIT Learning and Teaching Centre.
This screen-based simulation allows students to walk through the steps of a nuclear medicine imaging procedure from start to finish by requiring them to make decisions that can influence the outcome of the study. Decisions involved patient preparation, communication skills, selecting technical parameters, and determining the next steps of a protocol. This project was designed to provide students with valuable simulation experience of a nuclear medicine procedure in a safe, virtual environment.
Is there an Institute event or initiative that you look forward to every year?
I enjoy BCIT Professional Development (PD) Day. The sessions are always interesting and engaging, which helps break up the monotony of the daily work routines.
I also love the opportunity to meet and connect with faculty and staff who work in other areas at the Institute. I am very excited for the sessions that will be offered at the next PD Day coming up in June.
Do you have a favourite spot or activity at the BCIT campuses that you enjoy spending your time at and why?
There are a couple of areas on the Burnaby campus that I enjoy spending time in. I particularly enjoy catching up with colleagues in the 2nd-floor faculty lounge of the Health Sciences Centre (NW04), or grabbing a refreshing beverage with them at the Habitat Pub. When the weather is nice, I try to go for a relaxing walk at Guichon Creek to take in some natural serenity.
Share with us how what you are passionate about outside of work.
I am a self-proclaimed gardening enthusiast. Disregarding my variable success rate, I love sowing seeds and watching them grow from tiny seedlings to rewarding harvests. My favourite plants to grow are hard-neck garlic, squash, kale, marigolds, and dahlias.
Aside from gardening, I also enjoy playing recreational ball hockey and spending quality time with my wife and kids.
