Claire Buxton, a Medical Radiation Therapist at the Walker Family Cancer Centre, describes her career at Niagara Health as a "perfect fit."
When Claire Buxton first walked into a radiation therapy department as a university student, she didn’t know she was stepping into a profession that would become her perfect fit, or that it would be one of the most in-demand roles in healthcare.
“I knew I didn’t want to be a nurse or a doctor but I wanted to do something in healthcare,” she says. “Finding a career in the hospital where I can be involved in patient care but still have time for my social life outside work was why I ended up in radiation therapy.”
Today, as a Medical Radiation Therapist at the Walker Family Cancer Centre, Buxton treats cancer using high-frequency radiation, works with advanced technology, collaborates with physicians and physicists and supports patients through some of their most difficult moments. She loves the patient interaction, the technical challenge and work–life balance.
“My entire college graduating class left their work placements with full-time positions,” she says.
Unfortunately, many students don’t know her career exists until they see it firsthand. This highlights a major challenge - and opportunity - for the healthcare system: students can’t pursue careers they’ve never heard of, even in fields where hospitals urgently need talent.
Healthcare shortages
At Niagara Health (NH), bridging this information gap has become a priority. Similar to challenges faced across the province, the healthcare system is experiencing shortages across multiple professions from radiation therapy and respiratory therapy to lab technology and diagnostic imaging. At the same time, high school students are searching for career paths that align with their strengths, interests and lifestyle goals.
Buxton’s story offers students a real, relatable example of what a lesser-known healthcare career looks like and why it’s worth considering. Her path also underscores the message Niagara Health wants to share with students:
“There are many meaningful, well-paid, future-proof healthcare careers beyond nursing and medicine,” explains Amanda Basilone, Manager of Talent Acquisition. “And the system needs people in them.”
Supporting educators who guide students’ career choices
To help close this gap, NH is strengthening relationships with local schools and actively sharing real stories, real roles and real workforce needs. A recent information session with the District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) was one part of this broader effort.
“The Niagara Health Career Panel was an incredible opportunity for our guidance counsellors, co-op teachers and Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) leads to hear firsthand about the diverse and rewarding careers in health care,” says Neil Sheard, Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being at DSBN.
The event hosted by DSBN featured speakers from across NH, each demonstrating how diverse and accessible healthcare careers are.
“From patient safety and clinical care to data analytics and workplace diversity, our students have so many pathways to explore,” he says. “The panelists’ stories highlighted that success often begins with curiosity, flexibility and a willingness to learn.”
Quality and Patient Safety
“Our partnership with the DSBN helps us connect with the educators who guide students as they explore their future,” Basilone explains. “We want to be sure that students know about all the exciting paths to consider in healthcare.”
Brandon Batey is one such example. His career began with an interest in chronic disease management and cardiac rehabilitation. After working in Saskatoon and London, Ontario, his curiosity about what makes care safe and effective grew. That passion eventually brought him back to Niagara, where he now serves as manager of Niagara Health’s Quality and Patient Safety team.
“The culture here is collaborative, community-focused and supportive,” he says, “and many of my family and friends work at NH, so, joining the team felt like a natural extension of being part of a community I care deeply about.”
Roles such as Batey’s combine collaboration, critical thinking and a commitment to patient safety.
“This field welcomes those from diverse backgrounds - clinical experience to social sciences and more,” he says. “A career in this area allows you to contribute to safer, more effective healthcare in a way that truly shapes the patient and staff experience.”
Decision Support
As Manager of Enterprise Analytics, Virginia Pullar is happy to introduce students to data and analytics roles in healthcare — positions that don’t require a clinical background. She loves the constant discovery of exploring datasets and turning information into action that improves patient care and strengthens services.
But for Pullar, the work is also personal: “I’m raising my family here, and my friends and relatives rely on access to the best possible care. By providing insight to our leadership team, I help shape programs that matter when people need them most.”
Her advice for future professionals?
“Focus on the courses that spark your curiosity and motivate you to keep learning. Take the time to understand your strengths and passions, as they will help guide you toward opportunities where you can excel… Spreadsheet pun intended,” she chuckles.
Closing the gap
“At Niagara Health, there truly is a place for everyone,” Basilone says. “When students see real people thriving in roles they didn’t even know existed, they can finally imagine themselves here. And that’s how the gap begins to close.”
For more information about careers and opportunities at Niagara Health, visit our careers page.
“At Niagara Health, there truly is a place for everyone,” Basilone says. “When students see real people thriving in roles they didn’t even know existed, they can finally imagine themselves here. And that’s how the gap begins to close.”
Other in-demand careers at NH:
- Medical Lab Technologist - college-trained lab professionals are in high demand and essential to diagnostic care.
- Respiratory Therapist - a profession critical to emergency care, ICU teams and newborn deliveries.
- Patient Experience - focused on communication, empathy and improving care without providing clinical treatment.
- Diversity & Inclusion Specialist - career paths aren’t always straight lines —academic struggles don’t define a student’s future.
- Environmental Services - flexible roles that offer students an entry point into the hospital system while they continue their education.
