Her passion for working with children led Cynthia Mitchell to the radiology department at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. A radiology technician assistant, she's responsible for patient transport and customer service, working with radiology technicians to coordinate patient flow, and helping prepare patients and their parents for tests.

Mitchell's career path took several turns before she became an RTA. In the late 1980s, she was studying social work at Georgia State University when she left school to take care of her two nephews.

For nearly 17 years, she worked in human resources administration with a schedule that gave her time to raise the two boys. The job also prepared her for the work she does today at Children's.

With her nephews grown, Mitchell was ready for a change. She found the job at Children's through Vanessa Gray, a surgical technician at the hospital.

"[Vanessa's] been my mentor and friend. I really appreciate that she and the people at the hospital had faith in my abilities," Mitchell said.

Her experience working with people pays off in her job.

"I get to give one-on-one care to each patient and their families," said Mitchell, who began working at Children's two years ago, first working in the operating room. "Those children may be frightened — and their parents, too — so I help calm them. I'm the first person they see at the hospital after they've registered — about 97 percent of the time."

While Mitchell doesn't have a college degree related to health care, her experience in human resources and her caring personality serve her well in her job.

"I have care and concern for every person who walks through that door," she said.

In addition to working with patients and radiology technicians, Mitchell is a mentor and preceptor during orientation for new employees.

"In my other job, I did training and supervision, so my background naturally has become an important part of my job," she said.

Radiology technician assistants need to be detail-oriented and must be able to relate to people, Mitchell said. The typical starting pay is about $23,000.

"I've been so blessed to find my calling here," Mitchell said. "You can be anything you want to be if you're willing to be the best that you can be."