Getting to know leslie sims
by Mohsina Yusuf
Leslie Sims is a radiologic technologist at Emory University Hospital Tower. She began her career at Emory as a “weekend warrior” for six years before moving to the Tower when it was completed four years ago. April 2021 will mark her 10th year at Emory.
Leslie started out as a marine biology major at Georgia College and State University where she quickly realized sitting in a classroom felt unfulfilling for her and decided to pursue a different major. She went on to receive a degree in radiologic technology from Griffin Technical College, and she hasn’t looked back since.
“I wanted to help people,” explains Leslie. “I wanted to make a difference and bring happiness and support to those in need. It’s really a gift to yourself and your soul to be able to give to others, especially in a time of need. I feel like we do that every day at Emory.”
Leslie joined Emory Radiology when her colleague, Rachel, was a radiology tech at Emory University Hospital. She and Rachel first met at Eagles Landing Family Practice, where Rachel worked and Leslie landed her first x-ray job as a student. After graduation, Leslie worked for a few years at a surgery center. Leslie knew she wanted to work at Emory or Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, so she reached out to Rachel, who had moved to Emory and who put in a good word for Leslie. The rest is history.
A typical day for Leslie consists of checking, cleaning, and disinfecting all of the equipment in the x-ray department. She makes sure all supplies are readily available before starting her exams for the day. Her imaging work usually begins in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Tower. Almost every ICU patient gets x-ray imaging, which allows Leslie the opportunity to get to know the patients—something she enjoys about her role at the Tower. Establishing that rapport is important for providing excellent patient care in the ICU because Leslie might see the same patient every morning for weeks at a time.
When she’s not providing services in the ICU, Leslie spends time with her portable and coasts through the halls of the Tower. She even decorates it for the most recent holiday: “I like to say I’m spreading sunshine and smiles with a side of radiation.”
Leslie loves learning about different diseases and problems affecting the patients who visit Emory. Because of the broad patient population, she’s had the opportunity to see some of the most rare and critical cases in all of Georgia—possibly even the Southeast. She views this as an opportunity to be encouraging and be a light to a patient’s day.
“I know I would want someone to make me smile if I were in a scary hospital bed,” she says.
Leslie finds working in the Tower to be especially rewarding because she’s able to make meaningful connections with patients during their lengthy stays. It’s also allowed her to have a great relationship with all the Tower staff because they all work together. “Every little piece and person plays a part in the excellent care we give."
Leslie credits her customer service skills as something that contributes to her effectiveness. She worked in a variety of places through high school and college, and most of them involved the public. From waiting tables, to working at retail stores, to serving guests at big-name hotel groups like the Ritz-Carlton, Leslie has honed the skills needed to provide excellent customer service. She also finds that coming from a large, tight-knit family full of different personalities helped her learn at an early age how she should act and treat people with respect.
When she isn’t working, Leslie loves to spend time outdoors. She enjoys photography, hiking, kayaking, and beachcombing for shark teeth and treasure hunting. She even gets her entire family involved. They often plan adventures in yards, state parks, or somewhere new and far away where Leslie can share her love of nature and science with her family.
Leslie also enjoys do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. She even has created her own line of shea butter lotion. “Anything crafty or DIY and I’m all over it! It gets my inner sunshine shining through big time.”
Leslie spreads her joy and love of life to all those around her, from her colleagues at Emory to her family, near and far. She can truly be defined as a “people person.”
Leslie loves Emory because of the people who come to Emory for care and the people who provide that care. She loves her colleagues and the fact that they all come to work, day after day, through the good times and the bad, because they want to help, and they do so with smiles you can see even through their protective masks.
“I stay at Emory because I know people come to us when it’s their last chance. I’ve seen miracles happen here. I would tell you so many stories that lift me up on a bad day, but there’s HIPPA.”
Leslie started out as a marine biology major at Georgia College and State University where she quickly realized sitting in a classroom felt unfulfilling for her and decided to pursue a different major. She went on to receive a degree in radiologic technology from Griffin Technical College, and she hasn’t looked back since.
“I wanted to help people,” explains Leslie. “I wanted to make a difference and bring happiness and support to those in need. It’s really a gift to yourself and your soul to be able to give to others, especially in a time of need. I feel like we do that every day at Emory.”
Leslie joined Emory Radiology when her colleague, Rachel, was a radiology tech at Emory University Hospital. She and Rachel first met at Eagles Landing Family Practice, where Rachel worked and Leslie landed her first x-ray job as a student. After graduation, Leslie worked for a few years at a surgery center. Leslie knew she wanted to work at Emory or Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, so she reached out to Rachel, who had moved to Emory and who put in a good word for Leslie. The rest is history.
A typical day for Leslie consists of checking, cleaning, and disinfecting all of the equipment in the x-ray department. She makes sure all supplies are readily available before starting her exams for the day. Her imaging work usually begins in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Tower. Almost every ICU patient gets x-ray imaging, which allows Leslie the opportunity to get to know the patients—something she enjoys about her role at the Tower. Establishing that rapport is important for providing excellent patient care in the ICU because Leslie might see the same patient every morning for weeks at a time.
When she’s not providing services in the ICU, Leslie spends time with her portable and coasts through the halls of the Tower. She even decorates it for the most recent holiday: “I like to say I’m spreading sunshine and smiles with a side of radiation.”
Leslie loves learning about different diseases and problems affecting the patients who visit Emory. Because of the broad patient population, she’s had the opportunity to see some of the most rare and critical cases in all of Georgia—possibly even the Southeast. She views this as an opportunity to be encouraging and be a light to a patient’s day.
“I know I would want someone to make me smile if I were in a scary hospital bed,” she says.
Leslie finds working in the Tower to be especially rewarding because she’s able to make meaningful connections with patients during their lengthy stays. It’s also allowed her to have a great relationship with all the Tower staff because they all work together. “Every little piece and person plays a part in the excellent care we give."
Leslie credits her customer service skills as something that contributes to her effectiveness. She worked in a variety of places through high school and college, and most of them involved the public. From waiting tables, to working at retail stores, to serving guests at big-name hotel groups like the Ritz-Carlton, Leslie has honed the skills needed to provide excellent customer service. She also finds that coming from a large, tight-knit family full of different personalities helped her learn at an early age how she should act and treat people with respect.
When she isn’t working, Leslie loves to spend time outdoors. She enjoys photography, hiking, kayaking, and beachcombing for shark teeth and treasure hunting. She even gets her entire family involved. They often plan adventures in yards, state parks, or somewhere new and far away where Leslie can share her love of nature and science with her family.
Leslie also enjoys do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. She even has created her own line of shea butter lotion. “Anything crafty or DIY and I’m all over it! It gets my inner sunshine shining through big time.”
Leslie spreads her joy and love of life to all those around her, from her colleagues at Emory to her family, near and far. She can truly be defined as a “people person.”
Leslie loves Emory because of the people who come to Emory for care and the people who provide that care. She loves her colleagues and the fact that they all come to work, day after day, through the good times and the bad, because they want to help, and they do so with smiles you can see even through their protective masks.
“I stay at Emory because I know people come to us when it’s their last chance. I’ve seen miracles happen here. I would tell you so many stories that lift me up on a bad day, but there’s HIPPA.”