Feyza Tunc (she/her) is a third-year Health Sciences student who shares her insights from working in occupational health and safety at Markham Stouffville Hospital. She highlights her experience organizing mask fittings, creating physical demands analysis (PDA) reports and shadowing doctors during orthopedic and laparoscopic surgeries.


Feyza’s co-op journey:


Work term one: In her first work term, Feyza worked in an academic tutoring position with York Region Tutoring where she helped high school, college and university students with science and math courses.

Work term two: Next, Feyza worked at Oak Valley Health in Markham Stouffville Hospital as an occupational health and safety student. She completed N95 mask fit tests, physical demands analysis assessments and inspections. She also assisted the hospital safety team.


Q&A with Feyza:


Feyza sitting at a table behind a ginger bread house.

 What has been the most rewarding thing about co-op?

"The most rewarding part of my co-op was learning about occupational health and safety, a field I previously knew little about. It was fascinating to see how organizations like hospitals prioritize staff safety through initiatives such as flu campaigns, mask fitting and mandatory e-learning on safety protocols."

"I gained valuable insight into the strategies the occupational health and safety team uses to support injured staff and prevent future incidents. Seeing the team’s dedication to creating a safe and supportive environment was incredibly inspiring and rewarding."


What is the most interesting thing you have done while on a work term?

"During my co-op term at the hospital, one of the most interesting experiences was conducting inspections and shadowing healthcare professionals to complete physical demands analysis (PDA) reports. During an inspection in the operating rooms, I had the unique opportunity to observe an orthopedic surgery and a laparoscopic surgery. While shadowing registered nurses in the surgery unit, I also observed a colonoscopy procedure."

"Watching how teams communicated, handled materials and worked in such a dynamic environment was fascinating and gave me valuable insight into the healthcare field."

Feyza Tunc in personal protective gear with her arms out.

Feyza Tunc standing in front of a christmas tree.

What did you enjoy about your company’s culture?

"I really enjoyed the sense of community fostered within the hospital’s culture. The fun contests, like the pumpkin carving and gingerbread house competitions, were a wonderful way to bring different departments together and spark some friendly competition while celebrating the holiday spirit."

"The holiday decorations in each unit and the treats handed out by the hospital added to the festive atmosphere and made everyone feel appreciated."

"Beyond the holidays, the culture of care and friendliness stood out to me. Whether it was organizing retirement parties, writing thoughtful cards for departing colleagues, or simply looking out for one another, there was a strong sense of support and connection among the staff. It created an environment where people genuinely cared for each other, which made coming to work enjoyable and fulfilling."


What sort of challenges did you face?

"One challenge was coordinating mask fit tests for staff with shifts outside the scheduled appointment times, such as after-hours or weekends. It was difficult to accommodate their schedules and some became frustrated with the inconvenience. Balancing mask fit compliance while addressing diverse schedules required flexibility, effective communication and patience to ensure everyone could complete their tests."

"Additionally, much of my work involved independently communicating with managers and different units within the hospital. This was quite intimidating at first, as I had to talk to many people during their busy schedules and did not want to disrupt their workflow. However, as I became more familiar with the hospital environment and met some incredible people, I realized how friendly and supportive everyone was, which made the process much easier."

Feyza Tunc and someone else posing in a mirror wearing scrubs.

I took the lead on most of my tasks, including addressing safety concerns and coordinating with various departments. This experience helped me build confidence and develop stronger communication and problem-solving skills.

Feyza Tunc


What's next for you?

"I want to pursue a career in the healthcare field. The experiences I had in this job shadowing healthcare professionals and observing the impact they had on patients has solidified my desire to work in a patient-facing role. My goal is to apply to medical school or other clinical programs where I can be actively involved in patient care and make a positive difference in their health journeys."