By Erin Register
Originally from Beaver, Pennsylvania, Daniel Lapic, 43, is the supervisor of CT imaging at UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. Lapic spent 17 years as a CT technologist, including four years as the lead technologist, and has been in his current position for about a year and a half.
Daniel was nominated by UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Senior Director of Imaging Services Lydia Kleinshnitz. Kleinshnitz spoke very highly of Lapic, saying, “Dan was our lead in the department for many years and was recently promoted to the supervisor role about a year ago. He has really changed the culture and decreased turnover. He has engaged the team and is building a solid team.”
ICE learned more about this “Rising Star” in a question-and-answer interview with Lapic.
Q: Why did you choose to get into this field?
A: I entered this field because my mom said, “Daniel, you’re either going into the radiography program or the nursing program … you choose!” Actually, that wasn’t the main reason, but she was a heck of an influencer. Previously, I had worked in a hospital setting, working several different positions which allowed me to get a solid glimpse of what so many others did in health care. I always appreciated nurses and what they did, and my mom being one of them made that all the more true. I was also intrigued by the radiology department and the exams they performed but never thought my life path would ever take me there.
Q: What do you like most about your position?
A: What I enjoy most about my job is the people I work with day in and day out and the constant challenges of working in a University Level 1 Trauma center provides.
Q: What interests you the most about the imaging field?
A: What interests me the most about the imaging field currently, and has since I began my career in CT imaging, is pathology.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment in your field thus far?
A: My greatest accomplishment hasn’t been singular in nature. When I answer this question at this moment in all truthfulness, my greatest accomplishment has been to learn from past mistakes and grow from them, to know it’s ok that I don’t always have all the answers and to invest in the people who work for you. This has been my greatest accomplishment thus far.
Q: What goals do you have for yourself in the next five years?
A: My goals are to see my department develop leaders in CT imaging with strong backgrounds in educational development and broad technological skill sets.
