Program Highlighted | Toxicology
Interview with | Marsha Haynes
Date | January 2001

Interview | Marsha Haynes

Marsha is an Innis College fourth year Toxicology student.

Innis: Hi, would you please introduce yourself and your program of study?
Marsha: Hi, my name is Marsha Haynes and I am currently in the toxicology program, entering my fourth year this fall.

Innis: So why toxicology? What exactly attracted you to this field?
Marsha: I loved science when I was younger but as I entered university I didn't love physics as much, and toxicology was more involved with poisons and drugs that may be harmful for the body. So I was particularly interested in drugs and their whole process in making, as well as forensics sciences. It's pretty fun and interesting.

Innis: Are you considering going into forensic science then?
Marsha: Yes it's one of my considerations, as well as a job at a pharmaceutical company.

Innis: Excellent. What role did advice or influence from peers, mentors, relatives or others play in your decision to enter toxicology?
Marsha: I had a mentor with the Innis College Mentorship program who studied pathology in Hong Kong during his doctoral fellowship, and he gave me some advice on pathology and toxicology. Talking to professors was helpful as well. However, the majority of it was myself and just going with gut instinct, going into programs and courses which I felt most comfortable in. That's how I made my choice for toxicology!

Innis: So which courses really influenced your decision towards toxicology?
Marsha: Pharmacology and toxicology, as well as pathology courses. All three played a decision as to where I wanted to go.

Innis: How would you rate the facilities and opportunities offered by this program at the University of Toronto?
Marsha: I would rate it well! They have a large library filled with journals and books that could help you look up information in a straightforward manner. The professors are not always available at times when you are available, but there are teaching assistants whom you can talk to, as well as the undergraduate office where the secretaries and representatives can help you out.

Innis: Do you find them sufficient or do you wish that there were more resources for toxicology students in particular?
Marsha: One thing that I found insufficient was professor contact. I understand that some classes are very large and that professors can only make themselves available during certain times. However, there should be more associate professors or teaching assistants available, phone consultations, especially around exam time when they like to make themselves scarce! Other than that, it's pretty straightforward. Whenever I had a problem I went to the pharmacology/toxicology undergraduate office. Janet Berketa was a great help to me. I guess that makes up for the lack of professors.

Innis: What aspects of this program do you find fascinating or inspiring? - curriculum, professors, practical experience etc.
Marsha: The labs, the practical exercises help you to become familiar with laboratory techniques. They were really interesting. There was a lot of pressure on us to do well in labs and conduct experiments in a certain way but what you were learning was very interesting and fascinating. A lot of hands-on experience there.

Innis: So of all the courses in this program that you have taken, which one did you enjoy the most and why?
Marsha: I would say pathology because it was a course that dealt with the pathogenesis of certain diseases like cancer, and the various types of cancer. You get a step by step process of all the diseases. It was very interesting because it happens to a lot of people around you but you never really knew what was going on. You would go and see slide shows and read books about it.

Innis: Are there any things that you might have done differently while completing this program?
Marsha: I would have probably taken more electives even though the cost of tuition is very expensive and being in a specialist program does not allow you a lot of space. I would have loved to take more elective courses and learn more about the arts. So a little more freedom with course selection within the program would have been nice.

Innis: Do you think there should be more variety in the toxicology program? Or do you believe that it is appropriate as it is?
Marsha: It is appropriate as it is, however it is very restricting. So some courses that they think may be required for you to take in a certain year shouldn't be required then so a student may take an arts or psychology course. It would influence well rounded individuals in the university instead of having them focus on just science or computer science, or engineering. They do have their breadth requirements but I find that they should allow one or two electives every year.

Innis: What area would you choose to complement this one?
Marsha: I took a course in immunology and I found that it explained a lot about the pathogenic system so I thought that it complemented pathology and toxicology. I was glad that I took that course.

Innis: Do you have any further suggestions on how this program might be improved for other students?
Marsha: Given the fact that there is a great population of students in the program, the pressure exerted on students to get a certain quality of work done in a certain amount of time should be decreased. However, the school does want to maintain a certain standard such a bell curving and maintaining the class at a certain average and so on. The pressure that myself and my other colleagues feel is immense. So if there is any way of alleviating this pressure, then by all means!

Innis: Is there a very heavy work load?
Marsha: Yes, toxicology and pharmacology and all of the students are competing, if not for medical school then for graduate school. You find that the pressure is on you and you may not perform up to standard. It can be discouraging.

Innis: Do you find that most people continue through this program or drop out?
Marsha: Not so much drop out, but their expectations may lower and their future plans may change. Many people come into the program believe that they will enter medicine but everything changes after that, or after the first exam!

Innis: From what I understand of your program, the courses that you take mostly deal with theoretical of factual aspects. Was there anything to do in terms of field work, or gaining experience that really applied to the toxicology field?
Marsha: No. In the toxicology program you are only expected to do biochemistry labs, so there wasn't so much practical. It was more theoretical. I would have liked more practicals but along with that comes more work and responsibility on top of the theorectical stuff being learned.

Innis: Do you have any comments on the teaching assistants such as their availability or helpfulness?
Marsha: They could have been more available even though there was a strike during part of the year. Especially around exam time or when the exams are handed back as you may have queries about the marking scheme.

Innis: Do you find them useful when they are available?
Marsha: Oh yeah. When they are available they are very helpful.

Innis: So what is the one piece of advice that you would give to someone who is interested in pursuing this program?
Marsha: I would have to say time management. I know they've heard it time and time before but I cannot stress it enough. Time management is the most important thing. You learn to set time apart for studying, doing work, and going to see professors for extra help. Make sure that you have time for yourself as well as to relax. Not too much time, but enough time to relax and get grounded, and to get away from the classroom and study environment. You have to know when to turn the TV off, know when not to go to those clubs, but to discipline yourself to put your head in your books and get down to it.

Innis: Do you find that you have enough time for your own personal extra-curricular activities?
Marsha: There are sacrifices that you have to make but in the end it pays off. I guess I do, but I also make sacrifices for my studies.

Innis: As a student in this field, I am sure that you have researched the job market and your possibilities. What kinds of employment opportunities are there?
Marsha: Well, I'm looking more into the pharmaceutical industry at the entry-level positions. A lot of the jobs are more pharmaceutical sales based, and that's what I want to get into. There's more institutional work in the hospitals being a toxicologist. Those are the main fields that I've heard about.

Innis: Is there anything else that you have to say about your program?
Marsha: It's an interesting topic but you've really got to discipline yourself to really study, to meet those deadline and to get those marks up.

Thank you very much for coming today and best of luck in all your endeavours. It was a pleasure meeting you!

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