• Link to Facebook
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
1 (250) 519 1750 vhf@islandhealth.ca
Victoria Hospitals Foundation
  • Ways To Help
    • Donate Now
    • Current Fundraising Campaigns
      • It’s Time
    • Monthly Donation
    • Thank A Caregiver
    • Tribute Donation
      • Honourary Donation
      • Memorial Donation
    • Stock/Shares Donation
    • Will & Estates
    • Events & Fundraisers
      • Visions Gala
      • Miracle Gala
      • Uplands Golf Club Annual Heart Tournament
      • Create Your Own Fundraiser
      • Community Fundraisers
      • Events Calendar
    • Gifts from the U.S.
    • Island Health Employees
      • Payday Lotto
      • Employee Giving
    • Volunteer
  • Who We Help
    • Your Healthcare Stories
    • Your Impact
    • Your Hospitals
    • Areas of Care
      • Cancer Care
      • Critical Care
      • Cardiac Care
      • Diagnostics & Pharmacy
      • Emergency & Trauma Care
      • General Medicine
      • Maternity & Pediatrics
      • Mental Health Care
      • Neurosciences & Rehabilitation
      • Senior’s Health
      • Surgical Services
    • Education
    • Research
  • How We Say Thanks
    • Our Purpose
    • Recognizing Our Donors
    • Donor Stories
  • Our Foundation
    • About Us
    • News & Announcements
    • Our Recent Successes
    • Accountability
    • Team
      • Staff Leadership Team
      • Join Us
      • Governance
  • News
  • Contact Us
  • Donate Now
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
Search
Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Ruby Manese

Diagnostic Mammographer, Mother, Wife, Friend, Traveler, Board-Game Enthusiast, Human

I am a Diagnostic Mammographer at Victoria General Hospital. Diagnostics is different than the screening mammography program, in that the people I see have clinical concerns, and also include those who have been called back from the screening mammography program. I also see newly diagnosed and post-breast cancer patients.

We work closely with the radiologist, acquiring additional mammographic images, assist with biopsies, and arranging ultrasound and MRI imaging.  I can send a patient for an ultrasound if I feel a lump, see dimpling in the skin, or discoloration, even if the mammogram didn’t detect anything. This job requires you to be observant, as well as calm, understanding, and a good listener.

Our patients are often really scared. My mom went through cancer too, so I know how that feels. I always tell my patients, “I’m sorry, I have to pull you more towards the machine, because if I can’t show the doctor what’s in there and I miss something, your life is at stake.” We actually have a sign beside the machine that reads, “Hug the machine. It could save your life.” That’s how I feel every time I perform a mammogram: I could be helping to save a life. That’s the best part of the job for me. I’m part of my patients’ journey. During their biopsy I hold their hands, and remind them not to move. I love my job and I love helping people. I like seeing my regular patients when they come for annual mammograms after breast cancer treatment or surgery. They come to reception and ask if I’m working, and if I don’t see them myself, they’ll just pop by and say “I’m on my way out, but I wanted to say hi to you.” That makes a difference. Makes my day.

“That’s how I feel every time I perform a mammogram: I could be helping to save a life. That’s the best part of the job for me. I’m part of my patients’ journey.”

“Remember film? When I was a student and when I first graduated, we had to dip the film into the solution ourselves to see the images. The technology has just improved and improved. The clarity of the images now save lives. “

I’ve been a Diagnostic Mammographer for 31 years. I was in the Middle East for ten years doing this job and then came to Victoria almost 21 years ago.

I wanted to be an engineer. I am very good at math, numbers are my forte. My co-workers with kids in school will ask me for help so they can help their kids with homework. I grew up in the Philippines and my parents sent me to school, all paid for. They said I could not go to school for math, as it would mean studying away from the province where I lived, which would have been more expensive. My dad said to me, “You have to do the X-ray job, I’m paying for your education, that’s what you’re going to do.”  He was influenced by my cousin who works as an X-Ray Technologist. Her name is Arlene and she is the main X-Ray Tech at the Burnside Clinic, here in Victoria. I enrolled, and I ended up really liking it.

When I was a new grad, I went to Saudi Arabia and was trained to do mammography. I also learned lithotripsy, fluoroscopy, angiogram, and CT. When I started doing mammograms, I was like, “Oh, I really like this.” I began training in assisting biopsies and other special procedures in the breast.

When my family moved to Canada, I challenged the certification exam. My husband and I had two small kids, a one and five year old, and I thought, “I can’t go back to school. I need to pass the certification.” I reviewed it on my own and, fortunately, I passed. Then, because I had done so much in my role in the Middle East, when I started at VGH they really didn’t have to train me. That felt so good.

Over the last 30 years I’ve seen tons of advancements in imaging. Tons. Digital Mammography and 3D imaging (tomography) is amazing. Remember film? When I was a student and when I first graduated, we had to dip the film into the solution ourselves to see the images. The technology has just improved and improved. The clarity of the images now save lives. It’s amazing.

Sidney is home. It felt like home the moment we moved here. I know it’s normal for a lot of people to move from one place to another, but not with us. My kids grew up on the Island and they are not talking about moving away. My son, Royce, is a nurse at Six South at Royal Jubilee, and my daughter, Ruth, is in second year social work. My husband, Rex, says our kids are in jobs helping other people because of me.

Our kids still live with us, as do their partners, so there are six adults in our home, plus our two dogs: Tobio and Bok choy. We do a lot as a family. We watch movies, we love Wednesday wings night, and we play games. We found a new game that we’re crazy about called “Left, Right, Centre.” You never know who’s going to win and you just have to roll the dice and it tells you what to do. My husband, who is very competitive, makes it fun. He loves to see me lose. It makes him laugh so hard.

My husband and I love to travel; we work hard and then we play. Since last year, we’ve been to New York, Las Vegas, Alaska, Cancun, and I’m going on a Caribbean cruise in the spring. With travel, it’s always new and so exciting the first time you see something you had only seen before in photos. We just went to Chichen Itza, in Mexico. It’s one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it’s so beautiful.

I’m grateful to be able to travel, and then return to a home and job I love.

“My son, Royce, is a nurse at Six South at Royal Jubilee, and my daughter, Ruth, is in second year social work. My husband, Rex, says our kids are in jobs helping other people because of me.”

They are humans first, who put other humans first.

More than 8,900 caregivers and staff work around the clock in our Victoria Hospitals

#HumansFirst is dedicated to sharing the stories from behind our hospitals’ frontlines. These stories remind us that those who provide care and keep the lights on in our hospitals also have lives outside of them. They have family and friends, they enjoy hobbies and interests, and they have all lived through their own personal triumphs and heartbreaks. Like all of us, they are human, and they have a story to tell.

Support the Humans in Our Hospitals

Related Stories

#HumansFirst: CJ

February 13, 2023/by Victoria Hospitals Foundation

#HumansFirst: Nate Warden

May 7, 2024/by Victoria Hospitals Foundation

#HumansFirst: Madison Carr

May 12, 2025/by Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Copyright 2023 Victoria Hospitals Foundation

Charitable Registration #10793 5637 RR0001

Navigation

  • Careers with Us
  • Contact Us

Contact Us

Victoria Hospitals Foundation
Wilson Block
1952 Bay Street
Victoria BC V8R 1J8

(250) 519 1750
(250) 519 1751
vhf@islandhealth.ca

Our Partner

Island Health
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
Website by Caorda
Link to: It’s Giving Tuesday: Donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation are Matched! Link to: It’s Giving Tuesday: Donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation are Matched! It’s Giving Tuesday: Donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation are M... Link to: #HumansFirst: Dr. Hayley Bos Link to: #HumansFirst: Dr. Hayley Bos #HumansFirst: Dr. Hayley Bos
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation uses cookies to offer a more personalized and secure experience on its website. By continuing, you understand our use of cookies. For more information, please click here. I Understand
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT