Life Sciences

With more than 20 hospitals and medical institutions in Northeast Florida, there are plentiful career opportunities in patient care. Amber Gainer, RTR, CT, found her purpose providing patient-centered care as a radiologic technologist at Baptist Health.

“I take pictures all day long,” Gainer said. “There is nothing typical about my job. No two days are ever the same. I like that every day provides a new challenge and a new experience.”

Radiologic technologists perform X-rays and scans on all parts of a patient’s body for a variety of reasons. The images enable physicians to diagnose a disease, an acute condition or an injury. In addition to having the appropriate education in medical technologies, radiologic technologists are licensed and registered.

In 2013, Gainer took part in Tipping the Scale, a nationally recognized mentoring and advocacy program founded by Baptist Health and The Bridge of Northeast Florida. The program pairs Jacksonville high school students with Baptist Health team members who volunteer as mentors. The experience left a lasting impression on Gainer.

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything outside of health care,” Gainer said. “I was drawn to patient care and the sense of helping others.”

Gainer initially considered pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or pediatrics. She began her healthcare career working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). After two years, Gainer wanted to take her career in a different direction.

Finding the right career resulted after Gainer began searching for opportunities and exploring different career pathways that appealed to her interests. She took advantage of shadowing to explore different jobs and discovered her passion.

“I had a job shadowing experience in the X-ray department and I fell in love with it,” Gainer said. “I knew it was the career for me.”

Gainer attended Florida State College at Jacksonville and Keiser University, where she earned an associate’s degree in Radiologic Technology and a bachelor’s degree in Imaging Sciences. After graduation, she earned her certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and was eligible to be licensed by the State of Florida.

Gainer returned to Baptist Health in 2019. Radiologic technologists play an important role in patient care. Gainer communicates with patients as well as physicians, nurses and other hospital personnel. Her job requires adaptability and working with others as a team.

“I enjoy being part of a system that helps people get better,” Gainer said. “My goal is to make every patient smile and to make sure I do the best for that patient.”

Gainer continues to advance her career with on-the-job training. In addition to her certifications in X-ray and CT, she is expanding her radiology expertise to include MRI modalities. She encourages everyone interested to consider and explore the vast opportunities in health care.

“There are so many career opportunities in hospitals and health care - more than most people realize,” Gainer said. “If you find something that interests you, pursue it.”

Born and raised in Jacksonville, he attended St. Pius V Catholic School where he first became involved in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. The organization helps youth realize their dreams by providing a safe, fun experience through which they can reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Williams remained involved with the Boys and Girls Clubs while attending Arlington and Matthew W. Gilbert middle schools.

He went on to attend and graduate from Andrew Jackson High School and the Tipping the Scale program, a nationally recognized mentoring and advocacy program founded by Baptist Health and The Bridge Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. Since the program began in 1999, Tipping the Scale has touched the lives of approximately 2,000 teenagers.

“The Tipping the Scale program opened my eyes to many different opportunities,” Williams said.

The program connects students with mentors who teach them professional and technical skills. Tipping the Scale includes a job readiness program where students focus on employment skills, communication skills and achieving success in the workplace. During the school year, students receive academic encouragement and career advice from their mentors. Over the summer, they are exposed to the fast-paced world of health care as paid employees of Baptist Health.

“The Tipping the Scale program is a great way to gain experience and make meaningful connections,” Williams said. “The program also introduced me to the profession of human resources.”

Williams participated in the program all four years of high school and was offered a job as a HR Associate at Baptist Health after he graduated. He was promoted to his current role, specializing in recruitment, in 2024. Williams works as part of a team, developing plans to fill positions in a timely manner and effectively screening, interviewing and connecting candidates to hiring managers.

“My day is filled with meeting new people and scheduling as many appointments as possible,” Williams said. “The most rewarding part is seeing many happy people once they receive the news that they got the job.”

In addition to an understanding of healthcare recruitment, a HR Specialist at Baptist Health requires strong communication and customer service skills, the ability to work independently and as part of a team, strong attention to detail, and the ability to manage deadlines and priorities. For those interested in a career in HR, Williams encourages students to explore internships or mentoring programs like Tipping the Scale.

Williams’ love of learning continues on the job and beyond. Along with working full time, he is attending Florida State College of Jacksonville to pursue a bachelor’s degree in human resources.

“The more I know, the more I can help others,” Williams said.

It is never too late to go back to school. Stacey Nemeth found her dream career as a Radiologic Technologist at Keiser University. She works at Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute (JOI) and Baptist Health South.

Originally from Satellite Beach, Fla., Nemeth is well known in Jacksonville’s rugby community. She is the head coach of the Jacksonville Women’s Rugby Club and plays for the Jacksonville Axemen Rugby League team.

Nemeth came to Jacksonville to attend the University of North Florida, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in public health and a minor in health education. Following graduation, she worked in different areas of the health care field. After spending a decade working in medical offices and facilities, Nemeth enrolled in the Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology program at Keiser University.

“I enjoyed the work I was doing in health care, but it wasn’t as challenging as I wanted,” Nemeth said. “Radiology or imaging is the eyes of medicine. We are an integral part of the process of patient care.”

Keiser University’s Radiologic Technology program prepares students for entry-level diagnostic imaging careers by developing the skills needed to produce high-quality radiographic images. The program emphasizes patient care, medical terminology, radiation safety, image evaluation, and hands-on clinical experience, preparing graduates for direct patient care and the use of advanced imaging technology in real-world healthcare settings.

“Keiser’s programs are designed to teach you the essential skills and knowledge required for success in the workplace,” Nemeth said. “It’s a private university where you know your instructors and other students in the program.”

While attending Keiser, Nemeth joined Lambda NU, the national radiology honor society and served as a campus student ambassador for the program. She served as a liaison between students and teachers and met health care professionals in the radiology field. Nemeth was awarded outstanding clinical performance at her pinning ceremony.

After taking the national certification examination and earning her license to practice Radiologic Technology, Nemeth began working full time at JOI and PRN (flexible hours) at Baptist South. At JOI, Nemeth works directly with patients and collaborates with doctors in an outpatient orthopedic clinic setting. At Baptist South, she is a member of a diagnostic imaging team in a hospital setting that serves patients of all ages including children and infants. Both facilities were part of her clinical education experience at Keiser. Nemeth now serves as a preceptor, providing practical experience and training to students and future technologists.

“I’ve come full circle,” Nemeth said. “I like to support our students, work with them closely and see them flourish in this program.”

A Radiologic Technician must possess numerous skills including knowledge of good radiologic practices, excellent communication skills, computer proficiency and the ability to triage patient care issues.

“Radiology is a rewarding field that requires you to think outside of the box and use your critical thinking skills, Nemeth said. “With patient interaction and the processing of patient information, it requires dedication and passion to be successful.”