Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Oct 01/01) - Leesa Mikijuk's legacy of broken bones has helped her career.

"I've had so many, I know what hurts and what doesn't," Mikijuk says while positioning an X-ray patient.

The radiology assistant at Baffin Regional Hospital is unique. In May, Mikijuk becomes one of two Nunavummiut graduating from a clinical instructor program offered through Mohawk College in southern Ontario. Raygelee Keenainak of Panniqtuuq is the other person.

Their mission is to train Inuit radiology assistants in a dozen Baffin communities. The assistants will continue working in their communities.

"It's good work, very challenging. The students are excited to be learning," Mikijuk says.

Mikijuk and Keenainak were two of the first Inuktitut-speaking graduates from Mohawk College's Northern radiology assistant program in 1999. The southern Ontario institution offered the program in Iqaluit.

The high incidence of lung disease in Nunavut -- and the need for chest X-rays -- makes Mikjuk's job an integral part of the health-care system.

A radiology assistant photographs bones and tissue via specialized X-ray machinery.

In community health centres, assistants will alleviate nurses' workloads at the same time as creating new careers for Inuit.

Fellow instructor and chief of radiology Glenn Jewers encouraged Mikijuk to take the instructor's program.

"I needed someone to be there when I couldn't and Leesa did really well in her training course," Jewers says.

Mikijuk's career successes have surpassed her expectations. "I never planned to be a radiology assistant," she says.

After working as an interpreter at the hospital from 1989 to 1999, she enrolled in Mohawk College's one-year radiology assistant program.

"I saw it as a good opportunity," she says.

"My goals were to help Inuit who cannot speak English so I'm fulfilling my goals."