Sponsored by Banner Health
By Amanda Winter
Like many of us at 18 years old, I was trying to figure out my life and next steps. I was interested in getting into the medical field, but I didn’t think I was smart enough—typical teenage skepticism.
After high school, I did head to college, but my courses weren’t inspiring me. Something just felt “off.” I was disinterested in that journey, and so I left.
I married my husband, who was in the U.S. Air Force. I took a job in a jewelry store, and I went from retail to inventory control manager.
Yet, the medical field was still calling out to me; I thought training to become an X-ray technologist would be fun. I found a school where I could get my X-ray license and started classes for my Limited Scope X-ray License. To my amazement, I made straight A’s! All of it felt right to me, so my education was fun and enticing.
After graduating within 10 months, my first job was at a family practice, where I worked as a medical assistant, and I was the only X-ray tech in the office. I still use everything I learned during that first experience in the medical field today. I enjoy the science of radiology. Becoming a practical radiology tech changed my life because I was inspired to help my patients, and it all felt like home to me.
I later became a mom, and the medical office I worked for was about an hour’s drive, so I found a job closer to home as a floating tech which meant I would round at different offices in the region. I learned, even more, met so many wonderful people and was introduced to new and innovative technology.
I used my skills as a medical imaging assistant in MRI. I learned about MRI safety and became proficient at obtaining IV access. Not long after, I jumped into my role as an all-modality medical imaging assistant float. I worked in Mammography, CT, PET/CT, and MRI. I continued to feel inspired and engaged.
Because of my experience working in multiple modalities, I was asked to help create an assessment coordinator department to review MRI and CT appointments before patient arrival. We would verify that we have a correct order, authorization and any necessary lab work to streamline our patients’ experience. The creation of the department was successful and still exists today.
I was alerted that my director of operations needed an assistant, and one was needed for the marketing department. I had no experience in marketing, but I thought, “why not give this adventure a try, too?”
And an adventure it was! In this position, I learned about operations and how it aligns marketing strategy. I taught myself how to create ads for magazines and design t-shirts, banner stands and websites. I learned about print quality, excel spreadsheets and pivot tables. The learning opportunities were endless, and I loved it.
In 2019, Banner Imaging was acquired by Banner Health as a clinical radiology program. During this time, I became very interested in becoming a project manager. Since I could balance and effectively be accountable for several locations, employees and patient care plans, I figured a project manager wouldn’t be too far of a stretch.
As I pursued this subsequent interest, I learned Banner Imaging didn’t have a dedicated project manager.
They do, however, offer a tuition reimbursement program through a partnership with the University of Phoenix, which has a Project Management Certificate program.
Banner offers a tuition reimbursement program to any qualified team member who will commit to working at Banner at least one year after graduation. The application criteria depends on the degree and/or major, your length of service and your performance rating. The appraisal program is built around each team member’s Aspirations, Results and Challenge to Grow (ARC) and considers what career path in which each individual is interested.
I am now in my final class, in the home stretch of completing that program, and I hope that Banner Imaging will use my imaging knowledge and new skill set to create a project manager position!
Along my educational journey, I’ve learned what my strengths are. We took a “strengths and interests” quiz in one of my classes. My top five-character strengths are:
- Perseverance
- Honesty
- Creativity
- Love of learning
- Leadership
I’ve learned that my career path falls in line with each of these strengths, and what I’m doing—and where I am today—feels right; it feels like home.
I read a quote by Josh Shipp, “Perseverance is stubbornness with a purpose.” It’s true; I no longer think I am not smart enough. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll teach myself how to do it. I’ve grown so much since starting my medical imaging journey. I’m grateful for so many impressionable mentors and an incredible cheerleading team. I would not have gotten here without them.
I’ve discovered that perhaps it’s not about the destination, after all.
Perhaps it’s all about the journey.
Amanda Winter, PTR is an office coordinator with Banner Imaging.
