“I believe every challenge I have faced helped shape my path in meaningful and unexpected ways,” she says. “I’m grateful for the opportunities that have brought my family to this point. Watching my son graduate and become a doctor is one of the most meaningful moments of my life.”

When Gulrukh arrived in Canada over 19 years ago, along with her husband and two young children, she was an internationally trained physician with a pediatric background carrying hope and uncertainty for the future.

“Like many newcomers, the early years were challenging,” Gulrukh says. “While my husband searched for work, I supported our family by working night shifts and taking on multiple roles at the same time.”

Gulrukh says she taught kindergarten at a private school during the week, was a medical office receptionist on weekends and filled night shifts at Tim Hortons while she prepared for and successfully completed all three Canadian medical equivalency exams.

Despite these efforts, Gulrukh was unable to secure a residency position.

“I chose to pursue a new direction through diagnostic cytology at Michener,” she says. “It immediately felt like I had found a path that resonated with my interests.”

While completing the program, she continued to work weekends and manage family responsibilities. “It was demanding, but deeply meaningful work,” she says.

Upon graduation, her career began as a cytologist through a one-year maternity leave coverage contract at a private laboratory.

Unfortunately, changes in gynecological screening guidelines significantly reduced laboratory volumes and the role became unsustainable.

“Once again, I needed to adapt,” she says.

To remain connected to the profession, Gulrukh accepted an overnight cytology technician position while she worked as a school crossing guard and bus driver to help support her family.

Just as it seemed that her healthcare pursuits were becoming out of reach, she says everything started to fall into place.

Gulrukh was invited back to the screening bench as a cytologist, received an offer from a hospital laboratory, was accepted as a Toronto Transit Commission bus driver and was contacted by Michener about a faculty position.

“As I approached burnout, several unexpected opportunities emerged all at once,” she says. “I was so grateful that my early experiences in customer service and balancing multiple responsibilities helped strengthen my communication skills, resilience and adaptability.”

She began teaching part-time at Michener while continuing to work as a cytologist to remain connected to clinical practice, and she says it quickly became one of the most fulfilling aspects of her career.

“My work as a technician across several laboratory departments broadened my understanding of the critical work that supports laboratory medicine, which helped guide my work as an educator and clinical liaison and allowed me to support learners in a dynamic and evolving profession.”

Two years later, she accepted a full-time faculty position at Michener, and – with institutional support – she completed a Master of Health Practitioner Teacher Education at the University of Toronto.

While her career path came with obstacles, Gulrukh says it has made her a better educator.

“I feel that my journey has helped strengthened my ability to teach with empathy, as I closely understand many of the challenges my students face,” she says.

She expresses sincere thanks to Michener for being the answer to her health aspirations.

“I remain deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been given and for the important role Michener has played in helping me build a meaningful and fulfilling career.”