From the nurse and the grocer to the teacher and landscaper, the Upper Keys community can’t thrive without the skills and talents of local workers who serve, produce, repair, research, advocate for, fundraise or build. We like to call them the “Mile Makers.”
The fourth “Mile Maker” is Justin Grijalva, radiologic technologist at Baptist Health South Florida’s Mariners Hospital.
When did you know you wanted to be an image technician? I initially thought I wanted to get into physical therapy. That’s also the reason why I had my bachelor’s degree prior to radiology school. I was working as an assistant in a hospital during the time I was applying to physical therapy programs. During this time, I was exposed to the radiology department where I became hooked and the rest is history.
What does it take to be an image technician? What’s the career path? Things have changed a bit since I graduated in 2015. About two years of prerequisites are required before entering a radiography program. These courses include anatomy, physics, medical terminology and several others. The radiologic technology program is two years long.
Students can expect full-time hours each week including both clinical and classroom work. When I graduated from my program, technologists had the option to learn other modalities (CT, MRI, cardiac cath lab, etc.) through cross-training. Now, there are several bachelor programs that are specific to CT or MRI. It is important to select a program with a strong reputation that is also nationally accredited.
How many years did you study? I had a bachelor’s degree prior to entering my radiology program. It then took me two years to get my radiography certificate. In 2019, I pursued my master’s in business administration with a focus on health care. I finished my MBA in 2023. A master’s degree is obviously not needed to be a radiologic technologist unless you want to move into administrative roles.
What does your day-to-day look like? We are responsible for explaining the exams to patients, starting IVs and collecting lab work if necessary. Patients are positioned on the table and images are acquired using technical factors and anatomical landmarks. We are also responsible for charting and transporting patients to and from the radiology department. Technologists are also involved with assisting physicians during procedures by using x-ray equipment.
What’s the favorite aspect about your chosen career? My favorite part of the job is being able to provide a service that providers rely on for accurate diagnosing of patients. I enjoy seeing the final product of my examination, whether it be a simple X-ray or a multiphase CT scan. Diagnostic imaging is a crucial part of patient outcomes.
What is one aspect of your career you think people would be surprised to know? I think many people would be surprised to know how often X-rays, CTs, and other modalities are utilized in a patient’s care. Because of this, technologists are required to have a thorough understanding of anatomy, pathology and what tests are necessary to arrive at different diagnoses.
If you were hiring someone with your title, what are the three most important characteristics that person should have? Accountability, adaptability and compassion are three traits I would look for. Accountability is important because if the person doesn’t show up, nothing else matters. This also means owning up to one’s mistakes and never blaming others. Adaptability is crucial because techs must learn how to use several pieces of equipment from different vendors, especially if they work at multiple facilities. Compassion is a must for me because as clinicians, we must assume our patients are going through the worst day of their lives. We have the opportunity to give them a positive experience and change that.
