Mentor Interview with Mike Kusik
I did my interview with Mike, who is one of the radiology technicians, because he has had the most experience in working in this department so my mentor suggested I do it with him.
Question 1: How long have you been working in the radiology department at Mercy?
Answer: I started working at this hospital in 1984.
Question 2: What was your major in college?
Answer: I majored in Psychology and I minored in archaeology because I was a farmer and I always thought that was going to be my career.
Question 3: What interested you to work in the medical field in the first place?
Answer: I have always been interested in anatomy. As a kid I saw these cartoon x-ray machines in magazines and I thought they looked really cool to work with. So while I grew up as a farmer and enjoyed myself, I did always see myself going into radiology especially in high school.
Question 4: Where else have you worked as a radiology technician?
Answer: Well after I graduated from college I knew I didn't want to live in the mid-west anymore, so I applied to jobs in all the mountain states. I went to Cascade, Idaho and worked for a little while. Then my friend from Colorado told me about a job offer for any x-ray techs in Durango. So then I moved here and started working at the old hospital in 1987 and I've been here ever since.
Question 5: What advice do you have for anyone that is interested in going into the medical field in general, or in specific becoming a radiology tech?
Answer: You have to be good with people and enjoy working with them. I've always liked helping people when they need it so that's something you need too. When you first start your job, you need a little sense of humor, enough to make the patient comfortable. And get prepared to see the good, the bad, and the ugly because it's not always pretty. You need compassion, but most of all empathy is most important because that is what makes you care and want to help these people. It makes you feel better about yourself too.
Answer: I started working at this hospital in 1984.
Question 2: What was your major in college?
Answer: I majored in Psychology and I minored in archaeology because I was a farmer and I always thought that was going to be my career.
Question 3: What interested you to work in the medical field in the first place?
Answer: I have always been interested in anatomy. As a kid I saw these cartoon x-ray machines in magazines and I thought they looked really cool to work with. So while I grew up as a farmer and enjoyed myself, I did always see myself going into radiology especially in high school.
Question 4: Where else have you worked as a radiology technician?
Answer: Well after I graduated from college I knew I didn't want to live in the mid-west anymore, so I applied to jobs in all the mountain states. I went to Cascade, Idaho and worked for a little while. Then my friend from Colorado told me about a job offer for any x-ray techs in Durango. So then I moved here and started working at the old hospital in 1987 and I've been here ever since.
Question 5: What advice do you have for anyone that is interested in going into the medical field in general, or in specific becoming a radiology tech?
Answer: You have to be good with people and enjoy working with them. I've always liked helping people when they need it so that's something you need too. When you first start your job, you need a little sense of humor, enough to make the patient comfortable. And get prepared to see the good, the bad, and the ugly because it's not always pretty. You need compassion, but most of all empathy is most important because that is what makes you care and want to help these people. It makes you feel better about yourself too.