As part of our Committed to You brand campaign, we’re sharing stories from your healthcare teammates about how they demonstrate their commitment to our patients every day. Mammography Coordinator Shelly Hass is Committed to Early Detection.
“As a Mammography Coordinator, I am most committed to ensuring that our communities have access to the latest advancements in mammography technology — like 3D mammography — while providing the most comforting care to our patients so they continue to screen yearly.
“My decision to pursue radiology and become a mammography technologist came early, when I was a junior in high school. After fracturing my pelvis, I had to stay in the hospital, where I got to know the Radiology Team quite well during my X-rays. Having no definitive college plans, I felt inspired to follow in their footsteps, and they encouraged me to investigate a Radiology Technologist Program.
"Not soon after my decision to pursue radiology, both my mom and my aunt were diagnosed with breast cancer. While my mother survived, we lost my aunt. Watching the women in my family fight breast cancer is what drives my passion for breast health. Yes, getting a mammogram can be uncomfortable... but the exam takes less than 10 minutes, and it saves lives. A mammogram is the only test shown to reduce breast cancer deaths. That’s because mammograms can detect cancer early (before it’s felt) when it’s most treatable.
“I joined Munson as a Mammography Coordinator three years ago to lean on my many years of experience in a way that would help improve processes and increase efficiencies in breast health care in Northern Michigan. While I still perform mammograms a few days a week, my current role enables me to lead a compassionate team and to support all Munson breast health leaders. One of my proudest moments is helping to initiate our self-referred program, which allows patients to schedule their mammogram without a prior referral. This makes it easier for busy women to schedule this critical screening each year even if they don’t have a primary care provider.”
To learn more about the Committed to You campaign, visit our community webpage.