01/06/2026
When Gbenga Olayinka stepped off the plane in northern Maine, it was like he’d traveled to another world. He had just flown halfway around the globe, to his new home. He had never visited the United States before, having grown up in Nigeria, but the warm welcome he received on that chilly May night told him he had come to the right place.
“I’m adapting so easily because of the people. For example, when I got here, my supervisor Dr. Gallagher came to pick me up at the airport. Not every laboratory manager would do this. And it was late, like 10 or 11 o’clock at night!” exclaimed Gbenga. “Everybody is so nice, and they helped give me a place to stay while I looked for my own apartment. Not every facility does that. I have colleagues that are also coming to the US and one that came this year didn’t know where the hospital was or where to stay and the hospital is not helping that much.”
Gbenga’s journey into medical laboratory science began not with a plan, but with curiosity. While working as a laboratory attendant at Achievers University in Owo, Nigeria, he found himself fascinated by the conversations taking place in the lecture hall. He decided to enroll in the program, started attending classes, and completed his practical’s as he pushed himself to expand his skills. In 2021, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Laboratory Science. Today, as a Medical Technologist at Cary Medical Center, Gbenga plays a critical, often unseen, role in patient care.
“There is the patient, and the doctor is going to make a decision based on the test you’re going to do for that patient in the lab,” explained Gbenga. “You get samples and can be helping two hundred patients at a time as you process the samples that come in. Even with this kind of volume, you cannot place less significance on any test you have. You have to be correct one hundred percent of the time with no room for error because the doctor and the patient are relying on you to help them.”
Gbenga likens his work to the crime and mystery shows he enjoys watching. Each case is a new puzzle. Sometimes, what seems obvious turns out to be wrong, and that’s where his work in the laboratory makes all the difference. On one recent shift, a patient appeared intoxicated. The laboratory results told a different story. There was no alcohol present. Further testing revealed a heart issue, allowing the care team to treat the real problem quickly. “We let the science tell us what is happening,” said Gbenga. “That’s our responsibility.”
Moving to the Maine was a leap of faith. Gbenga had never visited the United States before and worried about his safety after hearing stories of shootings and violence. His experience in Aroostook County has been the opposite.
“Most people are nice, and they are friendly,” he stated. “I’ve not had any bad experiences, and I have had nobody steal my packages. It’s peaceful and I like it.”
What has helped make the transition easier, he says, has been how Cary Medical Center welcomed him. From quick outreach by HR to a virtual tour he found online, the hospital made him feel comfortable and wanted. Staff even went so far as to help him get a bank account established.
“Cary was very fast with contacting me, scheduling the interview, and giving me a response that I was selected,” recalled Gbenga. “So, when another laboratory contacted me, I told them I was already working at Cary Medical Center.”
Today, he’s building friendships, adapting to The County’s unique culture and cuisine, and growing professionally in a collaborative environment where colleagues support one another personally and professionally.
“My colleagues are fantastic. Dr. Regen Gallagher, our lead Tina Lira, and my other colleagues have formed good relationships so you can easily say ‘I’m having this challenge in the lab, have you seen this? What would you do?’ They reply almost immediately, which is nice,” he explained. “The collaboration is awesome.”
Gbenga’s story is a story of curiosity rewarded, courage embraced, and community found. If you’re looking for a place where your skills matter, where people support you, and where your work makes a real difference, Aroostook County may be closer to home than you think.
Live and Work in Maine Aroostook Partnership
