Luis A. Carvajal, EdD, MPA, CMLSO, RT (R) (CT) (QM) ARRT, holds a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership and Education. He is also a Florida Department of Health FL DOH Educational Provider.
In the imaging world, Carvajal is the director of regulatory affairs for Jackson Health System–Miami Dade County Public Trust.
His career began thanks to a kind gesture from a college buddy.
“A classmate invited me to a radiology program open house while attending college in New York. Since I was about to complete college pre-medical requirements, I was informed by the radiology school counselor that I met the prerequisites needed prior to a mandatory entry exam,” Carvajal recalls. “Lo and behold, my radiology career started at Bellevue School of Radiology Technology in New York City.”
His successful career includes many accomplishments, but like many imaging professionals he ranks a more personal item as his top achievement.
“My greatest accomplishment is the day I married my wife, Jina, and becoming a parent. Thanks to my wife’s support, I have been able to achieve graduate and postgraduate degrees,” Carvajal says.
“Regardless of accomplishments, family comes first. My family consists of my daughter, Melina, a high school student and a Jackson Health System volunteer during the summer. My daughter is fascinated with the world of ophthalmology. Ever since her first glasses prescription, she was amazed how ophthalmologists diagnose and treat eye and vision conditions. My wife is an elementary and preschool teacher. She prefers to teach preschool because it is the most critical years of a child’s life, language, motor and social skills,” he adds.
“In my professional career, first as an educator, I have been able to witness our radiology technology program graduates further their careers by becoming physicians, physician assistants, practitioners and nurses. Still, I get calls from the ones in radiology administration leadership positions to advise them on management issues, labor shortages and other problems,” he says.
Looking back, he is thankful for his college classmate and a career that he loves.
“As a health care leader, my number one priority is always toward patient safety and thus support, help and facilitate processes to build positive relationships across the organization.
I am grateful to regulatory affairs leadership for the willingness to help me whenever needed and thus allowing me to exceed my goals. Patient safety begins with care; to me care means creating a culture of safety and respect to build a healthy environment within an organization,” Carvajal explains.
His approach to leadership is molded after one of the great military minds.
“Robert E. Lee on Leadership: Executive Lessons in Character, Courage, and Vision’ was one of the first books I read in my graduate school journey. General Lee insisted on the desire to communicate with his commanders on a personal level and openly expressed concern, sympathy and acceptance of others,” Carvajal says. “My leadership approach is to connect positively and consistently with everyone all across the organization in a friendly way; always-offering help, always engaged, demonstrates eagerness to help in any situation. A leader is always open to learn from mistakes and find opportunities to make the organization better.”
“A leader has to demonstrate confidence in a skill, yet always be eager to learn,” he adds. “A leader needs to be humble; it does not portray arrogance relative to a skill level and is always eager to share knowledge with others. Colleagues should seek out a leader and view him/her as open and willing to help others.”
When asked to look into his crystal ball and predict the future of imaging, Carvajal mentions technology and artificial intelligence.
“Technologies are becoming increasingly complex and increasingly interconnected,” he says. “Extreme cooling with liquid helium is essential for the operation of MRI magnetic coils. Nowadays a vendor introduced a magnet that requires only 0.5% of helium compared to conventional MR systems. Addressing helium shortage through innovation is key to secure the future for all MR patients.”
“In addition, today we have the first FDA-cleared portable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system capable of providing neuroimaging at the point of care,” he adds. “The imaging artificial intelligence industry presented at the recent RSNA annual meeting is growing by integrating AI into diagnostic imaging. For instance, AI can assist neuroendovascular surgeons pinpoint a patient stroke lesion from home prior to coming to a hospital and thus improve the efficiency and quality of care of a patient. Time is brain.”
Luis A. Carvajal
EdD, MPA, CMLSO, RT (R) (CT) (QM) ARRT
- What book are you reading currently? “Generations” by Strauss and Howe is a book I have read and will be reading because of the evolution of the different generations and upcoming editions. The incoming medical-radiology workforce is comprised of Millennials and Generation Z, so as a leader one has to know the workforce diversity, racial diversity of Gen Z and Millennials as well as parenting trends that begin to adapt to a more racially diverse society. Nowadays our hospital system is having quarterly web conferences by bringing speakers or subject matter experts on management and society issues to provide insights on preparing us for the changing workforce and marketplace. The first one was Kim Lear, a writer and researcher who explores how emerging trends impact the future of our workforce and marketplace.
- Favorite movie? ”The Addams Family.”” My daughter is a die-hard Jenna Ortega fan especially after the Netflix series “Wednesday.”
- What is something most of your coworkers don’t know about you? I played professional baseball in the minors with the Saint Louis Cardinals right after high school for 3 years. I love baseball; I am a die-hard Yankees fan because of the proximity of New York-Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, a hospital I worked as CT-IR technologists to the old Yankee Stadium. My wife used to pick me up after work and then take the cross-town bus to the Bronx. Now living in Miami, I support the Marlins.
- Who is your mentor? My mentors are Dr. Gary Danton and Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs Elvira Nasaysayan because both set clear expectations, and require and maintain accountability of self, the team, and other stakeholders to ensure goals are met. I have learned to lead by example by being open to receiving feedback to learn and grow. One has to learn to build positive relationships across the organization and collaborative decision-making among stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and interests.
- What is one thing you do every morning to start your day? I pray every day before leaving for work and when I arrive back home.
- What is the best advice you ever received? Put your emphasis and strengths in areas that one as a leader can control.
- Who has had the biggest influence on your life? After my mother passed away during college, my godmother had the biggest influence on my life. She was there for me 24-7, always calling me and giving me advice about everything? Even after I married, my daughter and wife became her children. My godmother passed 4 years ago at the age of 104 years old.
- What would your superpower be? Reading. I love to read. During my college years, I was accustomed in New York City during winter season to go to Barnes and Noble bookstore grab a book and a coffee and find a corner to sit. On Saturday nights, wait for The New York Times and Daily News Sunday paper delivery. I enjoyed William Safire’s Sunday Times Magazine crossword puzzle. The puzzle used to take me roughly a week to complete because it was a challenge?
- What are your hobbies? My favorite hobbies are to ride my road bicycle along the Beach Boardwalk and long walks through any local park.
- What is your perfect meal? My perfect meal is my personal smoothie composed of oatmeal, almond flakes, strawberry, blueberry, a scoop of peanut butter and almond milk. When in season, I grab a couple of mangoes from my patio instead of berries.
