James Calliham
Medical Imaging Director
Saint Joseph Hospital
What is something people don’t know about your job?
I don’t think most people realize how dynamic and diverse the radiology department is. We have multiple imaging modalities (MRI, CT, X-Ray, Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT, etc.), employing a variety of technologies to determine specific diagnoses. Here at Saint Joseph, we perform about 100,000 diagnostic imaging exams each year, and while, first and foremost, we provide ancillary support to the ED and inpatient units, we also are a revenue-generating department expected to help drive new business opportunities. It’s a constantly changing environment, so it certainly keeps me engaged.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
I think the most challenging aspect of my job is the same that all health care leaders face in the current environment: How do we continue to improve the quality of care we deliver while reducing overall costs? In radiology, we’re expected to provide the highest quality imaging, utilizing the latest technology, performed by the best trained technologists. Imaging equipment can be among the most expensive capital purchases a hospital makes. Striking the right balance between providing cutting-edge technology and being fiscally responsible requires good long-term capital planning and strong service line collaboration.
Where do you see this field in five years?
Things are changing so rapidly right now, but I believe the one area with the greatest potential to be a game-changer in radiology would have to be around the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I recently returned from the RSNA (Radiology Society of North America) annual meeting in Chicago where almost every vendor was presenting their version of AI technology. We’ve been hearing for several years about how AI will revolutionize medical imaging, but this was the first time I really felt like we’re on the cusp of seeing AI used in real-world application. While I don’t see AI replacing radiologists, I can definitely envision it being utilized as a complementary tool to more accurately identify and diagnose things like lesions and tumors that are undetectable to the human eye. It’s pretty impressive technology, and five years from now, I think we’ll see it at the forefront of image acquisition and interpretation.
What was your first job?
I grew up in a rural area in south Texas, and when I was 14, I worked at a little country general store/gas station/feed store that sold just about everything under the sun. One side of the store was set up to sell groceries, hardware supplies, fishing tackle, you name it. The other side was set up for old men who would come in to drink beer, play dominoes and tell stories. It was a unique experience, and it was my first opportunity to work in a position where I served the public. Many of the lessons I learned in that job have stayed with me over the years and, I believe, have served me well.
What is the best advice someone has given you?
My dad always told me “Education may be expensive, but it’s not nearly as expensive as ignorance.”
Will Cook
Director of Imaging
National Jewish Health
What is something people don’t know about your job?
I provide oversight for the employee Clinical Radiation Dose Monitoring Program for National Jewish Health, which includes the imaging and cardiology teams, the Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Center and the National Jewish Health South Denver Outpatient Clinic. I enroll clinical personnel that need radiation monitoring badges through an outside radiation monitoring company. Radiation monitoring badges are collected monthly and are sent out to determine the monthly dose. I have the medical physicist review and sign off on the monthly radiation monitoring reports to make sure no one has received excessive radiation.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is to make sure the imaging department is in compliance with the several accrediting agencies that exist, including The Joint Commission, American College of Radiology, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food & Drug Administration and the State of Colorado Radioactive Materials License Program. Making sure we meet the standards as written, however the interpretation of the standards are not always written clearly. That said, the personnel that represent the various regulatory agencies, tend to interpret the regulations with some degree of variability. The other aspect of regulatory agencies is there has been a lot of emphasis on radiation reduction practices and standards for all modalities that produce radiation such as CT Scans.
Where do you see this field in five years?
Imaging will continue to play a vital role in patient care, but will continue to be challenged by shrinking reimbursement rates. As with many areas of health care, there is a balance to offering the latest technology with what insurance companies are willing to pay for imaging services.
What was your first job?
Most of my jobs as a kid were working for my father and helping him on the farm such as irrigating, driving a tractor, etc. My first job was as a diagnostic radiology technologist at LaJunta Colorado Medical Center. It was a good experience, and I was able to perform a wide variety of imaging procedures. At rural hospitals, they do not have the depth in staffing for specialization, so you have to learn it all. The other aspect is that I was “on call” a lot, so getting up in the middle of night was challenging.
What is the best advice someone has given you?
Good question. I’ve had several mentors in my career that have given me good advice, but I would say one of them advised me to get my master’s degree to advance my career. It helped me in that it provided me more knowledge, skills and confidence to pursue other jobs such as the one I have now.