Jonathan Subala holds an occupational associate degree in radiography with ARRT certification and post primary certification in magnetic resonance imaging. His education serves him well as MRI technologist lead with Scripps Clinic John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in a military family. We moved to San Diego, California from Hawaii in 1994 and have been here ever since.
Q: Where did you receive your imaging training/education?
A: I attended the radiography program at Pima Medical Institute in Chula Vista, California, and earned an associate degree and ARRT certification. I obtained my post primary certification in MRI through an online program from Greenville Technical College, located in South Carolina.
Q: How did you first decide to start working in imaging?
A: Growing up, I always had a passion for art. My father also worked in radiology as a diagnostic and CT technologist and I had a visit to the hospital that he worked at when I broke my hand as a teenager. I knew I would pursue radiography when I saw firsthand the art involved in helping others through medical imaging!
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: The most rewarding aspect of my job lies truly in the care of our patients. Providing a calm and soothing environment is essential for obtaining great images as MRI scans can be very difficult for patients, especially for those who are claustrophobic and/or already nervous about what their images might show. Taking the time to explain the procedure in detail, letting patients know what to expect throughout the process, and giving them a chance to ask questions can go a long way. It really is the bright smiles of patients who come out of the scanner calm and relaxed at the end of their exam that is most rewarding.
Q: What do you like most about your position?
A: I work alongside an exceptional team of MRI technologists and clinicians, and I really enjoy the collaborative effort to find and communicate areas that we can build and improve upon. I like the continuous team building environment most, which ultimately leads to quality patient care.
Q: What interests you the most about the imaging field?
A: Coming from an outpatient clinic that specializes in cardiac MRI, I am particularly interested in how developing AI technology can be used to improve cardiac image quality and reduce total scan time. I am also interested in seeing the further development of AI imaging tools to help improve technologist workflow and obtain consistent and accurate imaging planes.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment in your field thus far?
A: I am grateful for the time and effort of those who have passed their knowledge on to me, and I recognize the importance of sharing the wealth of information with others. It has become my personal goal to freely share what I have learned with those who come willing to learn. Becoming a teacher in the field of MRI has been my greatest accomplishment thus far. Throughout my career in MRI, I have successfully trained 17 MRI students.
Q: What goals do you have for yourself in the next 5 years?
A: I hope to expand on the cardiac program within the Scripps Health system and establish the Anderson Medical Pavilion as the training hub for cardiac MRI. I would also like to build upon our cardiac MRI capabilities with the addition of a cardiac stress MRI program.
Fun Facts
Favorite hobby: Playing guitar and ukulele
Favorite Show: “How It’s Made”
Favorite food: A Filipino dish called Kare Kare
Favorite Vacation Spot: Visiting family in Hawaii
1 Thing on Your Bucket List: Traveling to Japan with my wife and daughters
Something Your Co-workers Don’t Know About You: I was in Air Force Junior ROTC for 3 years in high school and presented the California flag in a four-man color guard team.
