Diana Radley, MBA, ARRT (R), CRT (M), is a wife, a mother, a student, an educator and the director of imaging services with MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. Each of her roles delivers responsibilities and opportunities, none more important than “the opportunity to impact lives.”
“I love my job because it allows me to serve both my team and our community in meaningful ways. I take care of my team so they can provide the best care possible to our patients. When caregivers feel supported, empowered, and valued, the quality of care naturally improves,” Diana says. “I strive to build genuine connections, fostering trust and partnership through transparency, encouragement, and a culture of safety and support.”
“What fulfills me most is the opportunity to impact lives, whether it’s guiding a team member toward their next career milestone or ensuring a patient receives timely, accurate imaging that supports their healing journey,” she continues. “This work is more than a job; it’s a calling. I’m honored to lead with heart, purpose and integrity.”
Diana is an accomplished imaging professional, but she says that her greatest accomplishments were achieved away from the workplace.
“While I’m proud of my professional accomplishments, my most outstanding achievement is my family,” Diana says. “My son is now in his third year of college, majoring in electrical engineering, mathematics and cybersecurity. My eldest daughter recently began her college journey to become a nurse practitioner. My youngest daughter, a high school junior, dreams of becoming a nurse.”
“Being a wife, a mother and a full-time professional while pursuing my education has been the most rewarding challenge of my life. Balancing family, career and personal growth has shaped who I am today, and I wouldn’t trade that journey for anything,” she adds.
Speaking of her career, how did Diana begin her diagnostic imaging and leadership journey?
“I began my college journey in Michigan as a biology major on the pre-med track, with aspirations of becoming an OB-GYN. I’ve always had a strong passion for women’s health, and I was committed to pursuing a career in medicine, specifically in medical school,” Diana explains. “But after marrying my husband, Paul, and relocating to San Diego, I started to reconsider the demanding path of becoming a physician as we planned to start a family.”
“It was Paul, an MRI technologist, who encouraged me to explore medical imaging by volunteering at Sharp Memorial Hospital. That experience changed everything. I was introduced to a world where technology, precision and compassionate patient care came together in powerful ways,” she adds. “Inspired by what I saw, I shifted my career path to medical imaging, and I’ve never looked back.”
Her family and her career thrived in the years that followed.
“Shortly after my son was born, I completed X-ray school and began building my career in medical imaging at Sharp Healthcare. I earned my ARRT certification in radiography and my California mammography license. I later completed my bachelor’s degree while working full-time and advancing into leadership roles,” Diana says. “Most recently, I earned my MBA in healthcare administration, which has further solidified my role as director of imaging services at MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center and Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital.”
Diana is a leader on a mission to lead and serve.
“I lead with my heart. At my core, I’m a servant leader. I believe leadership is about lifting others, and standing beside them, not above them,” she says. “My job is to support my team, remove barriers, and create an environment where they feel safe, valued, and empowered to do their best work. When my team thrives, our patients receive the best care possible. That’s what drives me every day.”
“I also see myself as a transformational leader,” she adds. “I love inspiring people to grow, to think bigger, and to believe in their potential. I set high expectations, but I never ask my team to do anything that I wouldn’t do myself. I build trust through connection, consistency, and transparency, because authentic leadership starts with relationships.”
“For me, it’s not just about managing departments, it’s about creating a culture where people feel seen, supported and motivated to make a difference. That’s the kind of leader I strive to be,” Diana says.
Her grandfather and uncle impacted her outlook and approach from an early age.
“I have always believed that mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have as leaders. Not just to shape careers, but also to impact lives. I have been fortunate to have two incredible mentors who helped me become the person and leader that I am today: my great uncle, Robert ‘Bob’ Baird, and my grandfather, Roger Andersen,” Diana shares.
“Uncle Bob was once the CFO of Detroit Edison, and he showed me what it means to pursue excellence without sacrificing family. He even pursued law school while serving as CFO and being a husband and father of two daughters. Uncle Bob taught me that you do not have to choose between personal life milestones and professional growth. You can do both if you lead with intention and heart,” she continues. “He was also deeply involved in his community, even running for office in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and personally going door to door to connect with voters. Uncle Bob’s example taught me that leadership is service.”
“My grandfather, Roger, was a self-made entrepreneur who left high school to help support his family. He built a legacy in Brighton, Michigan, owning a restaurant, a snowmobile shop, co-owned a NASCAR truck race team, a real estate portfolio, among several other businesses,” Diana adds. “At 16, I begged my grandpa for a job at his restaurant, ‘Cheryl’s Place.’ I wanted to be a waitress; however, he started me as a busser and potato peeler in the prep kitchen. I eventually became the closing cook on the weekend. That experience gave me early leadership responsibilities and taught me the value of earning trust through hard work. Later, I worked as an office manager in the NASCAR world, where I learned about business operations and team dynamics, all lessons that serve me today.”
From the prep kitchen to the fast-track of NASCAR, Diana soaked up countless lessons from her experiences.
“Those experiences shaped my approach to leadership and mentorship. Throughout my career in imaging, I have mentored imaging professionals across southern California, and I absolutely love it,” Diana says.
In closing, Diana shares the importance mentors continue to have on her life and career.
“I carry the lessons of my Uncle Bob and Grandpa Roger with me every day. Their stories remind me that leadership is earned, not given, and that the most meaningful legacy we leave is one we build in others,” she says.
1. What book are you reading currently? “The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success” by Deepak Chopra, M.D.
2. Favorite movie? “Crazy Rich Asians”
3. What is something most of your coworkers don’t know about you? I am an artist at heart. Long before I was managing imaging departments and mentoring future leaders, I was sketching in notebooks, blending colors on canvas, and shaping clay with my hands. I draw, I paint, and I sculpt. Each medium offering a different kind of peace, a different kind of expression.
4. Best advice you ever received? People come into and out of our lives to help form who we are. For some, their chapters in our lives may be very short, and some may last a lifetime. Either way, they come with a purpose, and we need them at the exact time they present themselves.
5. Who has had the biggest influence on your life? My faith and my family
6. What would your superpower be? To make everyone understand that we all have a very limited time on this earth. To appreciate how fragile life is. And to live with goodness and purpose.
7. What are your hobbies? I love planning parties.
8. What is your perfect meal? A home cooked meal with everyone that I love.
