Yana retrains and finds a healthy career
Sometimes you have to create your own opportunities. It’s a lesson Yana Swainson learnt the hard way. She returned to the island in 2012 assuming she had everything in place to find employment: a university degree and six years’ work experience gained at an American bank.
“I applied for many jobs,” she said. “Most times I was overqualified, sometimes underqualified. It was my mom who suggested I try nursing.”
The CedarBridge Academy graduate earned her bachelor’s degree in business management through the Bermuda College and Mount St Vincent University.
She had also pursued a minor in insurance and risk management while at the Canadian school. She decided to build on that investment.
“I went back to school and studied nursing in North Carolina and then started a business, Bermuda In Home Care, servicing seniors, people who were disabled, children, etc,” Ms Swainson said.
“I was constantly running out of supplies for clients and started doing research to see how I could make medical supplies more accessible for people who couldn’t get out of the house; people whose family members were too busy to get them for them.”
It was at about that time that she met American physician Mike Serebrennik.
“A year later, he decided to take a hiatus from full-time medicine and his research also showed that medical supplies were a viable option,” Ms Swainson said.
They decided to go into business together and in 2014 formed Lighthouse Medical Supplies Ltd.
“We decided the best option was to go online to serve our clients and their families; people who live overseas,” Ms Swainson said.
“Initially, I just wanted to sell diapers; little did I know it would blossom into something else.
“As word got around, people started calling for other things and I realised there were other things people might need. We’re now a fully fledged medical supply company.”
The firm specialises in products for incontinence care, skincare, infection control, wound care and rapid diagnostics products.
Same-day delivery is offered to your door.
• Clients can order products online at www.lhmeds.com, by telephone on 777-LITE (5483) or through Bermuda Health Magazine
Looking for a way to source health and medical supplies locally?
Lighthouse Medical Supplies Ltd offers a range of products and is showcasing the “latest and the best” at an expo on Saturday.
About 30 healthcare professionals and manufacturers will also be on hand. The free event runs from 8am to 6pm in the Princess Victoria Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess.
Demonstrations and advice on wound care, long-term care, surgical and hospital supplies, durable medical equipment and rapid diagnostics will be available.
The expo is open to health professionals and the general public; a play area for kids will ensure they’re occupied while parents browse.
“A lot of times it’s just knowing what’s available, keeping up with healthcare awareness,” said Lighthouse partner Mike Serebrennik.
“It can make a difference. We are going to have a lot of life-enhancing products and services. We will have demonstrations so people can touch, so they can see how things work. Everyone’s welcome to come and ask questions and walk away with knowledge.”
