Getting to know melissa tkacsik
Melissa Tkacsik (front center) with her team. Clockwise: Elicha Rainey (imaging control assistant), Christie Smith (supervisor, mammography), Nickello Campbell (mammography technologist), Mary Ann McDonough (mammography technologist), and Deanna Green (nurse clinician).
By Sam Marie Engle
Melissa Tkacsik joined Emory Radiology around the same time COVID did. Her job: radiology service manager for Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM). Twelve years of experience in medical imaging and health care management plus eight years of active duty in the United States Air Force plus a Master of Healthcare Administration with an emphasis on strategy and innovation well-prepared her to hit the ground running. You wouldn’t know from her confident and friendly demeanor that anything was a struggle.
“It was extremely difficult to be in a new role with a new system and navigating all the changes COVID suddenly forced upon us,” she says. “Throw in being a single mom with two teen boys navigating distance learning and it was the perfect storm!”
A natural problem-solver who loves learning, Melissa steered through the tempest. Eighteen months later, she enjoys managing five cost centers at Midtown: breast imaging, vascular imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and PET.
“I am still learning new things every day,” she says. “I try to start the day by checking in with my supervisors to get a sense of what they might need from me that day so I can allocate my time accordingly. Every day plays out differently, but I like to prioritize tasks so nothing slips through the cracks.”
Planning has been essential for the enterprise-wide transition to the Epic Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. “I’ve already been through an Epic transition where I previously worked and have used the EMR extensively so I understand the value of all the work we’ve been doing to prepare. I’ve been encouraging my team to embrace the process and really take ownership of the preparations because the more we plan, the more successful the transition. Epic is going to really streamline workflows for our team and that’s exciting.”
Melissa credits the Air Force for what she does today. “I knew from an early age that whatever career I embarked on, it would involve helping people in some way. My recruiter recommended exploring the medical field and then the Air Force decided my specific path would be radiologic technologist. I trained in CT and x-ray back when we had to do everything old school: nothing was digital. I’ve loved learning new ways of doing things as technology advances. There’s always something new to learn and I love that.”
She also credits the Air Force for who she is today: someone who lives service excellence. “The core values of the Air Force—integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do—have really shaped my life as an employee, as a leader, as a parent . . .and just generally as a human. We’re trained to apply those values to every aspect of our life, so it’s true: you can take the girl out of the Air Force, but you can’t take the Air Force out of the girl.”
Melissa jumped at the chance to work at Emory because she loves the academic side of imaging. “No matter how many years you have in the field, it’s never too late to learn something new. For me, mentoring is the most rewarding aspect of management. It’s amazing what a little guidance and/or empowerment can do to someone’s engagement level. I really enjoy seeing people learn and grow and watching their confidence blossom.”
A native of Chicago, Melissa now considers Georgia her home. “My children have grown up here, and I met the love of my life here. I can’t imagine doing life anywhere else.
Melissa Tkacsik joined Emory Radiology around the same time COVID did. Her job: radiology service manager for Emory University Hospital Midtown (EUHM). Twelve years of experience in medical imaging and health care management plus eight years of active duty in the United States Air Force plus a Master of Healthcare Administration with an emphasis on strategy and innovation well-prepared her to hit the ground running. You wouldn’t know from her confident and friendly demeanor that anything was a struggle.
“It was extremely difficult to be in a new role with a new system and navigating all the changes COVID suddenly forced upon us,” she says. “Throw in being a single mom with two teen boys navigating distance learning and it was the perfect storm!”
A natural problem-solver who loves learning, Melissa steered through the tempest. Eighteen months later, she enjoys managing five cost centers at Midtown: breast imaging, vascular imaging, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and PET.
“I am still learning new things every day,” she says. “I try to start the day by checking in with my supervisors to get a sense of what they might need from me that day so I can allocate my time accordingly. Every day plays out differently, but I like to prioritize tasks so nothing slips through the cracks.”
Planning has been essential for the enterprise-wide transition to the Epic Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. “I’ve already been through an Epic transition where I previously worked and have used the EMR extensively so I understand the value of all the work we’ve been doing to prepare. I’ve been encouraging my team to embrace the process and really take ownership of the preparations because the more we plan, the more successful the transition. Epic is going to really streamline workflows for our team and that’s exciting.”
Melissa credits the Air Force for what she does today. “I knew from an early age that whatever career I embarked on, it would involve helping people in some way. My recruiter recommended exploring the medical field and then the Air Force decided my specific path would be radiologic technologist. I trained in CT and x-ray back when we had to do everything old school: nothing was digital. I’ve loved learning new ways of doing things as technology advances. There’s always something new to learn and I love that.”
She also credits the Air Force for who she is today: someone who lives service excellence. “The core values of the Air Force—integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do—have really shaped my life as an employee, as a leader, as a parent . . .and just generally as a human. We’re trained to apply those values to every aspect of our life, so it’s true: you can take the girl out of the Air Force, but you can’t take the Air Force out of the girl.”
Melissa jumped at the chance to work at Emory because she loves the academic side of imaging. “No matter how many years you have in the field, it’s never too late to learn something new. For me, mentoring is the most rewarding aspect of management. It’s amazing what a little guidance and/or empowerment can do to someone’s engagement level. I really enjoy seeing people learn and grow and watching their confidence blossom.”
A native of Chicago, Melissa now considers Georgia her home. “My children have grown up here, and I met the love of my life here. I can’t imagine doing life anywhere else.
Melissa (right) and her family on a recent trip to Disney World, Orlando, FL
There’s another reason she loves it here: proximity to Orlando, FL. Melissa calls it her “Disney problem.”
“My kitchen and office are Disney. I have costumes in my closet. We made seven trips last year and, yes, we’re annual passholders.” She laughs, unapologetic. “Disney World is my happy place. It started with my dad, who loved amusement parks. Now, as an adult, it’s like going back to childhood while having special moments with your own kids. It reminds me that not everything is hard work. There has to be joy, too.”
Emory Radiology is glad Melissa found her work-related happy place just a little north of the Magic Kingdom.
“My kitchen and office are Disney. I have costumes in my closet. We made seven trips last year and, yes, we’re annual passholders.” She laughs, unapologetic. “Disney World is my happy place. It started with my dad, who loved amusement parks. Now, as an adult, it’s like going back to childhood while having special moments with your own kids. It reminds me that not everything is hard work. There has to be joy, too.”
Emory Radiology is glad Melissa found her work-related happy place just a little north of the Magic Kingdom.