From technologist to leader: A path in nuclear medicine

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health's Metro Region

Jenny Holliday, a nuclear medicine technologist and supervisor at IU Health West, uses her role to encourage team members and ensure patients have a positive experience.

Jenny Holliday didn’t always know she wanted to work in nuclear medicine. In high school, she was interested in focusing on X-ray. However, during school, she worked in her local hospital and was encouraged to spend time in all imaging modalities. That’s when she discovered a passion she hadn’t expected.

“Nuclear medicine interested me because it seemed to be more niche, and I found it really cool,” Holliday explains. “We look at a lot of physiology, and I like to see how things work.”

Nuclear medicine uses small, safe amounts of radioactive material and a special camera to produce pictures from inside the body for the patient’s healthcare provider to review. Nuclear medicine shows the structure and function inside the body and is especially useful for diagnosing physiological conditions and certain types of cancer.

Holliday is now a nuclear medicine technologist as well as the supervisor of nuclear medicine and administration in the Imaging department at IU Health West. She’s worked at the hospital since 2012 and transitioned into a leadership role a couple of years ago.

“I was looking for more challenges and more responsibility. I feel like being a supervisor makes me feel more connected to the team. I also like that I get to collaborate with different areas of the hospital,” she says.

While Holliday enjoys the technical side of her role, it’s the interpersonal aspect that really makes her feel fulfilled.

“You have to know math and science, but also, our patients are here for quite a while. You have to be able to connect with people and find common ground to build rapport,” she says. “I like to hear people’s stories. Because we spend more time with patients, we really have the opportunity to impact their experience.”

As an Avon resident, Holliday enjoys recognizing some of her patients from the community. For her, it feels like she’s able to give back to the place she calls home.

“We really try to treat people how we would want to be treated,” she says. “I think this is just a really great team to be a part of.”

If you’re inspired by Holliday’s journey and are interested in building a meaningful career in healthcare, explore open opportunities at IU Health by visiting careers.iuhealth.org.