How long have you worked at Mint Medical?
Almost ten years! March 2023 will be my 10-year anniversary.
What has your career journey been like?
When I submitted my application online almost ten years ago, I didn’t think I would get a callback! But only after two weeks of waiting I got a call from CC, and the rest was history. I started at Kaiser Oakland and then branched off to other facilities: Highland, Kaiser San Rafael, Kaiser South San Francisco, and more recently, Kaiser San Leandro. I love sharing my knowledge and experience with these other hospitals.
What’s your day like?
It depends, but usually, I am scheduled to scan patients. There are other days where I have “admin days” where I can work on accreditation, quality assurance (QA), and quality improvement (QI). I am also on standby in case other techs need help or have questions about a study or protocol.
How would you describe the Mint’s culture?
The company culture at Mint Medical is the best I’ve ever had the privilege to work for. Balanced. Fair. And fun!
What is the best thing about working here?
I’m happy about many things, but the vascular ultrasound team and my boss are the most important thing to me. We are all very compassionate about patient care and each other. I also love that there’s an excellent work/life balance: no weekends or on-call is a huge plus in my book.
How would you describe your coworkers and managers?
My boss is the best boss I’ve ever worked for. If it wasn’t for her decision to give me a chance and hire me, I don’t know where I would be. She is very fair and professional and, at the same time, a great friend. Very easy to talk to and express any concerns. I also love that she’s very direct and inform any of us if we need to step up our game. My coworkers are awesome, and I appreciate their hard work, compassion for patients, and abundant positivity.
What is your team like?
My team gets the job done. Very flexible when it comes to covering shifts, especially during an emergency. Andre (Scheduler) is also very good at communicating with the different facility managers and coming up with solutions for makeup days. The other techs at different locations are always willing to learn. They never hesitate to call or text me if they have questions or need help with a study.
How has the organization helped with your professional development?
Mint Medical has helped me become even more confident, not just as a sonographer, but in other aspects of my life. I feel like I can communicate with any of the surgeons at a comfortable, professional level that I did not have when I first joined the group; I was timid and would get nervous when I would tell surgeons of any preliminary report or ultrasound findings. It has also helped me to be a better leader and communicator with other techs, especially the new ones that need guidance in their studies. As a tech, there is no study that I don’t feel very confident about) and I can get the job done no matter what situation…whether it’s a tough outpatient or inpatient setting or if a patient is difficult.