Howard Rankins, BS, RT(R), Imaging & Diagnostics Educator

"My ultimate goal was to work five years as a radiographer in Saginaw and then move to Washington, D.C. because my parents owned a home there. But things changed.

I have been with this organization—initially as a St. Luke's employee and then a Covenant HealthCare employee—for 48 years now. Why? Because I enjoy what I’m doing.

After so many years, I continue to have the same zeal as the first day I started. I have always seen our Imaging & Diagnostics staff as family and not as co-workers. This has been such a blessing to me and my family and is one of the major reasons why I am still working today.

I started my career here in the late 70s after graduating from the Delta College Radiology Technology program. As an African American, when I first started, I faced adversity in patient care settings and worked extremely hard to prove that I belonged in the medical profession. It comes with the territory, and I understood that. But the staff was always very supportive and reassuring. I still have strong bonds with many of the people I formed relationships with at St. Luke’s. They gave me my career start.

I was blessed to work for talented individuals with remarkable leadership skills and savvy—some of whom played an integral role in the teambuilding process between the St. Luke’s and Saginaw General during the merger.

The old St. Luke's was a family from top to bottom—from leadership all the way down. I was very comfortable there. These people were good to me. I was well established, had a role, and worked with wonderful people. They taught me everything I knew about radiology.

When the merger came in 1998, there was some fear and anxiety not knowing what to expect. I was concerned about merging another culture with St. Luke's. I think both sides were concerned about job security and how they would fit into the new environment.

Our leaders did a wonderful job merging both hospitals together as one. The focus turned from fear and anxiety to fulfilling a joint mission with the shared values of Covenant HealthCare.

Great things are accomplished when you bring people together. Over time, we became a unified family consisting of all races, genders, and ethnicities. We all learned from each other, gaining respect and acceptance of one another, resulting in greater productivity and customer satisfaction."

Pictured: Photo Collage

Pictured: Howard Rankins, BS, RT(R), Imaging & Diagnostics Educator

"I loved being a radiographer. But about five years in, I just wanted a little bit more. When I was a student at Delta College, I was kind of fascinated by the instructors and how much knowledge they had. I said to myself, you know, 'I can do this.' I wanted to really test myself. So, I went back to school and the rest is history.

I worked third shift as a radiographer and went to school during the day—driving to the University of Michigan-Flint to get my bachelor's degree in Healthcare Education. That was tough, very tough, working all night and taking classes during the day.

For a time, I taught as an adjunct professor at Delta and then as a clinical instructor preparing future Covenant HealthCare radiographers. Those roles have strengthened me and made me an advocate for my profession. I work with students a lot. What I try to do is mold them for the next generation. I have to study more, build my knowledge, and remain abreast of all the latest trends and changes in technology.

Back when I began at St. Luke's, things were quite basic in Imaging & Diagnostics. Through the evolution of technology, I have witnessed the stages of CT, MRI, and now digital radiology, with Covenant continuously growing and expanding to be a forerunner. Every 5-10 years there has been some kind of change in equipment and technology. Professionals in my field must adapt to the changes.

For all the years, the greatest joy I get is when a student comes back to me and says they appreciate what I’ve done and how I’ve helped them in their careers. So, of all the things I've done, the most important thing for me is to see the fruits of my work.

I enjoy walking through the department here at Covenant and witnessing former students who have been developed and are now functioning as director, managers, coordinators, and radiographers.

I came here young, in the seventies, as an African American, not sure how people were going to accept me. I've built long-lasting relationships that have helped me become the person I am today. The merger brought two groups together to fulfill our goals as one united front.

Where we are now… where we're going… I'm happy I'm here to watch it all unfold. "

—Howard Rankins, BS, RT(R), Covenant HealthCare Imaging & Diagnostics Educator
(Former Radiographer, St. Luke's Hospital)

Pictured: (L-R) Howard Rankins and Students Samantha Albaugh and Lena Shepherd

Pictured: Covenant Imaging and Diagnostics Team