By John Wallace
Joel White, CNMT, is an associate director at Banner Imaging who embraces the leadership challenge and works hard every day to become a more engaged and knowledgeable leader. His entry into the medical imaging world began following some motherly advice.
“I was about 20 years old and trying to pick a major. My mother is very smart and is an MRI technologist. She suggested I look into being a nuclear medicine technologist because ‘They get paid really well and just sit around all day.’ Her words not mine,” White explains. “She stated you had to be smart and like math/science. I also think she knew I liked to help people and that it would be a good career path for me, but she didn’t say that.”
White adds that visiting health care facilities with his mother as a child influenced his career decision.
“When I was young, I remember visiting her in the X-ray department and remember how awesome it was to see all the films hanging and people talking about them. I feel like I grew up around health care settings – whether it was the hospital she worked at or the other facilities she worked in,” he says.
His career choice is a decision that continues to bring him joy.
“I love educating and supporting the people on my team. Every day, I get a chance to teach people what I know and how to guide them to be their best self. I love that my team knows they can count on me to be there when they need me,” White shares. “I also love that our patients at Banner Imaging are truly grateful that my team members are performing their exams with excellence and delivering care that is above the rest.”
When asked about his greatest accomplishment, White struggles to find a work-related answer.
“I really don’t feel like I have a great accomplishment,” White says. “I have many things I am proud of that I accomplished. Moving to Arizona at 19 years old, earning a nuclear medicine technologist license and scanning for 10 years, and taking the challenge to become a leader … and site manager of an outpatient imaging site … and now a director over multiple sites and projects …, these are all great but, I think the most important to me right now is thriving as a single dad to a beautiful 8-year girl. I cherish the fact that I am responsible for what she has done, who she is now, and what she will be in the future.”
When not parenting his daughter, White serves as an imaging leader who tries to educate and share knowledge.
“My leadership approach has evolved since becoming a leader in health care six years ago. I aim to be the ultimate educator and supporter for my teams,” he says. “I want my team to have the knowledge and tools to succeed. I aim to show my team how to deliver high-quality care by doing it alongside them. I want to make sure I communicate the why and the how so that they can understand my expectations and Banner Imaging’s expectations. Being one team, is important to me. Everyone working in the same direction to deliver high-quality care to our patients.”
“Another strong leadership quality I have, I am not afraid to ask questions, challenge or debate a peer/leader to find the best way to do something,” he adds. “I have learned to do that respectfully and professionally so that our leadership team can be successful in what we do.”
White hopes he can impact those he works with in much the same way he receives positive influence from his superiors.
“I have three mentors and they are still my bosses. I have learned so much from all three of them. As you can imagine, I have learned something different from all of them,” he says. “They have helped me grow from a medical imaging manager to an associate director and maybe a director soon. They have helped me stay grounded, focus on what is important, remain empathetic, listen more, and be able to communicate better. They have also challenged me to be a better leader and to work every day at that. I have learned from them that a title does not make you a leader. Great leaders don’t walk around telling you how great they are at what they do.”
White predicts the future of imaging will bring “change” and he is already busy preparing for that future.
“I am currently working towards my bachelor’s in health care administration from the University of Phoenix,” he says.
White acknowledges that being a single father, imaging leader and college student takes up a lot of time. However, he does not let it slow him down.
“I am always busy. Soccer practice, single dad, school, writing papers, soccer games, social life, and maintaining a home, and these are reasons to just do the bare minimum because I am busy. Just not in my nature. The point of all that is no matter how much you have going on, if you apply yourself, you will figure out how to get it all done and accomplish what you want to accomplish,” White says.
1. What is the last book you read? “The 5 Levels of Leadership”
2. Favorite movie? “Old School”
3. What is something most of your coworkers don’t know about you? I have an ostomy from being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2009.
4. Who is your mentor? Kara Mayeaux
5. What is one thing you do every morning to start your day? 1 cup of coffee
6. Best advice you ever received? It is OK to say you don’t know the answer because no one knows everything.
7. Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My mother, Deborah White
8. What would your superpower be? Invincibility
9. What are your hobbies? Woodworking, collecting comic books, watching movies
10. What is your perfect meal? Roast beef, mashed potatoes, carrots and gravy
