Beyond the Title

I've spent more than two decades inside the walls of imaging departments. From the moment I positioned my first patient as an RT student to today, where I sit across the table with executives designing programs and retention strategies, my journey has been anything but straightforward. I got here by leading while constantly feeling like I was still proving that I belonged.

Embracing Challenges

I've lived my professional life through dyslexia, ADHD, and imposter syndrome. This combination can make even the most accomplished career feel like borrowed success. Reading takes me longer, writing requires more effort, and I often second-guess my worth, even as my work speaks for itself. Yet, in these quiet battles, I find something unexpected: clarity of purpose. Dyslexia has taught me how to process information differently. I see patterns, workflows, hardships, and solutions that others might overlook. Imposter syndrome, as painful as it can be, has kept me humble enough to keep learning, listening, and earning trust the hard way—through consistency, not titles.

A Journey Through the Profession

I've cleaned hospital floors, hung barium bags, positioned trauma patients, and run call shifts that never seemed to end. I've walked through every layer of this profession—from being a student technologist to aspiring RA to a clinical leader. I've witnessed the profession evolve, stall, and rebuild. I've watched brilliant radiologists, administrators, and APPs work side by side—and at times, against each other—trying to define what "team" means.

What kept me grounded through it all was the belief that leadership is built, not granted. You earn it in the trenches long before you sit at the table. You gain trust not through the title you have, but by showing up for the people who depend on you every single day.

Building Systems for Success

Today, as I help build and lead teams across multiple systems, my motivation has not changed. I still see myself as the student who had to study harder, who took longer to write, and who fought to be taken seriously. Now, I use those lived experiences to build systems that provide others with the support they need—clarity, fairness, and respect.

This blog series, "Beyond the Title," will explore the messy, beautiful, and often unspoken realities of leadership and growth. We'll discuss everything from battling self-doubt to navigating professional politics to designing teams that actually work. It's not about perfection; it's about authenticity, lessons learned the hard way, and redefining what success looks like when you've spent your life proving you belong in the room.

The Impact of Authentic Leadership

Because if there's one thing I've learned, it’s this: You don't have to fit the mold to make an impact. You just have to stay in the fight long enough to build your own mold.

In the world of radiology, where efficiency and staff satisfaction are paramount, the role of a leader becomes even more critical. I strive to be that go-to partner for radiology departments, helping them boost efficiency and achieve measurable financial and operational improvements.

As we navigate this complex landscape together, I invite you to join me on this journey. Let's redefine what it means to lead in radiology, embracing our unique challenges and celebrating our victories along the way.

• Marcelene Forbus RPA (CBRPA), RT (R)(ARRT)