Get to Know the Medical Detectives of Your Defence Team

November 2, 2021 -  Defence Stories

Do you enjoy investigating and finding solutions to problems? Do you strive to know who, what, where, when, why, how? Do you have an interest in medicine?

For Warrant Officer Alexandre Tancrède, that is exactly what drew him to the occupation of Preventive Medicine Technician. Having joined the CAF in 2004 as a Medical Technician, Warrant Officer Tancrède spent almost 10 years learning how to treat patients in practice scenarios. He trained to be ready to treat a multitude of injury or illness with which his patients would present.

During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 as a Medical Technician, Warrant Officer Tancrède conducted water and food inspections while coordinating with Preventive Medicine Technicians in Kandahar Airfield. Through this experience, he discovered an interest for all things preventive medicine, particularly public health. It wasn’t until 2014 that he decided to make the switch to Preventive Medicine Technician – and he has not looked back.

As a Preventive Medicine Technician, Warrant Officer Tancrède is challenged daily. He no longer practices his skills with training scenarios, rather he’s treating patients and solving real problems consistently. He wanted to be part of the solution and prevent public health issues. As someone who is naturally curious, the Preventive Medicine Technician occupation encourages him to do just that. His job requires he be curious and continue learning to find answers to medical problems. The role of a Preventative Medical Technician keeps him motivated under dynamic and sometimes difficult situations. His profession fuels his drive to never stop learning. When an issue arises, it is his responsibility to find a solution and take immediate action.

It is within the scope of a Junior Preventive Medicine Technicians to handle public health, pest control, and travel health concerns. Senior Preventive Medicine Technicians tackle occupational health issues and can be trained for disaster management. Preventive Medicine Technicians are also responsible for mandatory inspections, teaching health hazards, and investigating communicable diseases identified on bases.

Preventive Medicine Technicians have their boots on the ground, ready to delve into potential adverse health situation when deployed. In certain locations, they must be trained to handle various animals such as snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and other big insects. Some critters are the size of their face and they handle with and without gloves!

A key feature of this occupation is that the learning never stops. There are many opportunities to expand your knowledge in the preventive medicine fields that interest you. Warrant Officer Tancrède’s passion for public health led him to pursue further studies and become board certified in the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI). He is grateful he found a job that he is enthusiastic about which allows him to keep CAF members safe.

For more information about the Preventive Medicine Technician occupation, please contact the current MOSID advisor Master Warrant Officer Kenneth Taylor (kenneth.taylor2@forces.gc.ca). Join the Preventive Medicine Technician occupation today!

Related Links

• Entry Standards for CAF occupations (accessible only on the National Defence network)
• Published infographic by Warrant Officer Alexandre Tancrède on his investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak in 2018