Melissa Pergola Of American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) On The Morning Routines and Habits Of Highly Successful People

An Interview With Jake Frankel

Having a strong sense of purpose is a trait that has been with me since I was child. That powerful sense of purpose is one of the reasons the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession is so important to me. Providing patients with top-notch patient care and helping them through some of the most difficult periods of their lives is a purpose that means a lot to me. Also, I’ve held many positions during my 34-year career, and they’ve all been tied to the radiologic sciences, so my purpose is to be part of this profession.

Beginnings are a Genesis. That means that not only are they a start, but they are also the origin of all that follows. This means that the way we start something, the way we start our day, for example, creates a trajectory for all that follows. How do highly successful leaders start their day in a way that creates a positive trajectory for a successful, effective, productive, and efficient day? How do you create habits that make these routines permanent? How do you get inspired to develop the discipline necessary for such a lifestyle? In this new series, called Morning Routines and Habits Of Highly Successful People, we are talking to successful leaders who can share the morning routines and habits that have helped them to achieve success.

As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Melissa B. Pergola.

Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, CAE, is the chief executive officer and executive director for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) and the CEO of the ASRT Foundation. Dr. Pergola is a registered radiologic technologist with an extensive career in clinical practice, radiologic science education, hospital operations, and leadership roles. She has worked as a diagnostic radiographer, radiology hospital administrator, professor in both the community college and university settings, and served as a competency management development specialist and global HR leadership specialist for Siemens Healthineers.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dive into the main focus of our interview, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood backstory?

I was born in Long Island, New York, and am the third of four children. My father was a police officer, and my mother was a medical transcriptionist. We moved to North Carolina when I was nine years old. As a child, my favorite thing to do was to read books, but I also loved singing and performing in theater productions. That love of singing and theater took me back to Manhattan from 10–13 years old where I toured with a children’s repertoire company. My dream was to become a Broadway actor. However, after a few years, we decided to move back to North Carolina where I finished high school. Four days after I graduated, I started my radiography career at the Wilkes General Hospital School of Radiologic Technology in North Wilkesboro, N.C.

What or who inspired you to pursue your career?

I happily fell into this career. When I was in high school, the head of the Wilkes General Hospital radiography program visited my chemistry class to highlight the medical imaging field and the various career paths it offered. She passed out a flier with some information, and I brought it home without much thought. My parents saw a program with no tuition or room and board charges, and a stipend was available for students! Well, they jumped on it. Four days after graduation, my parents dropped me off at the campus. At that time, I didn’t think I would be a radiologic technologist, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.

Was there a particular person who you feel gave you the most help or encouragement to be who you are today? Can you share a story about that?

My parents encouraged me throughout my life and shaped who I am today. They were always my biggest supporters and champions. They helped me realize at a young age that I could be whatever I wanted to be. I’ll be forever grateful for my parents.

Can you share the funniest or most interesting mistake that occurred to you in the course of your career? What lesson or take away did you learn from that?

I would have to say that the funniest mistake I made came very early in my radiography career. In my hospital-based program, there were only seven students in my class and we would test for three hours every Friday afternoon. It was the spring of my senior year and I asked our program director if we could have the afternoon off as it was a beautiful day. She said no. So, during lunch, I proceeded to convince three of my classmates to skip class and go to the local dam and hangout. It was a great afternoon until we found out that the program director was considering kicking us all out of the program! Thankfully, she did not, and I, along with my classmates, were able to graduate and start our careers. This could have had negative consequences, but the story is funny now. I had someone tell me that was the beginning of my leadership career — where I successfully challenged the process and created and inspired a shared vision!

Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

1. Having a strong sense of purpose is a trait that has been with me since I was child. That powerful sense of purpose is one of the reasons the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession is so important to me. Providing patients with top-notch patient care and helping them through some of the most difficult periods of their lives is a purpose that means a lot to me. Also, I’ve held many positions during my 34-year career, and they’ve all been tied to the radiologic sciences, so my purpose is to be part of this profession.
2. Being a leader and providing a pathway for others to be successful is another trait I value. I’m internally driven to help the people around me be successful. We all need people to help us and no leader has the skills to do everything on their own. Effective leaders surround themselves with people who compliment their talents and skills. As such, serving as a mentor or guide for individuals to help them become successful is a top priority for me.
3. A desire to actively listen is another trait that has helped me. This goes back to when I worked as a radiographer and communicated with patients every day. Listening helped me build strong bonds with my patients and resulted in me becoming a better radiographer. Ever since, I’ve made active listening part of my life both personally and professionally. I believe that it is a trait that is essential for effective leadership.

Do you have a book in your life that impacted you and inspired you to be an effective leader? Can you share a story?

The Leadership Challenge changed my life. Often, we’re promoted because we’re good at the job we’re currently in. This phenomenon is called the “Peter Principle.” I learned this early in my career when I was asked to become a supervisor just a couple of years out of radiography school. I was asked because I cared about my patients, was technically competent, and had some skills that were perceived to apply to management. However, I learned very quickly that no one was going to provide me with the education and skills to become an effective leader. So, I started doing some research on my own and found The Leadership Challenge. The book provides an evidence-based approach to becoming a leader, which meshed well with my love of data. In addition, I’ve used the principles in the book to teach leadership at the university level, in hospital settings, and to my staff members and mentees. That book showed me firsthand that by applying and following specific practices, we can all shape and develop leaders.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

The “Be Seen” campaign is ASRT’s focus right now, and it’s incredibly exciting. The campaign will spread the word about medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals through a variety of tactics. The goal is educating the public, other health care professionals, and elected officials about medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. Check out asrt.org/BeSeen to learn more about the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and the crucial role our professionals play in diagnosis, intervention, and treatment.

Can you help explain to our readers why it is important to have a consistent morning routine?

I can’t stress this enough, but it’s vital to have a morning routine. You must take time to center yourself, especially in high-stress jobs. Quite often, in a position like the CEO of a national professional organization, there’s very little time throughout the day to take a break and ground myself. As such, I encourage people to start the day with exercises like breathing and meditation, as it sets the stage for a productive day.

Can you please share your optimal morning routine that can create a positive trajectory for a successful, effective, productive, and efficient day. If you can, please share some stories or examples.

I usually get up two hours before I leave the house. I start my morning by using the app Headspace. Headspace includes breathing exercises, motivational videos, and meditation practices.

I made it a priority to purchase Headspace for the entire ASRT staff and our Board of Directors. Many staff members have adopted the tool as part of their morning routine, and I’ve heard positive feedback from quite a few people. A senior staff member messaged me one day to let me know he felt a bit off. He realized that for the first time in a long time he hadn’t started his day with his Headspace routine. This is a great example of the power of following a consistent morning routine.

After meditating, I spend at least 20 minutes on an elliptical machine followed by a shower and a healthy breakfast. I also have my first cup of coffee during breakfast, which sometimes is the first of many throughout the day. I am not sure how healthy that is, but it is my only vice!

What is the best way to develop good habits? Conversely, how can one stop bad habits?

This is a great question, as I’m a firm believer that having a support system can help you develop good habits and curb bad ones. For example, in addition to providing Headspace to all ASRT staff, we also purchased the family plan, so family members could use the app. You can be each other’s champions, which can be a great motivator.

Where did you get your motivation from? What do you use to motivate you now?

From an early age, I’ve had an internal drive to be successful. It goes back to my parents’ support. That support rubbed off on me to be supportive of my family, friends, and staff as they reach for their own goals. I’m motivated to show my children and my grandchild that they can be whatever they want to be. Also, I’m motivated to help friends and staff succeed. I’m lucky enough that my career is my purpose, and that’s a great motivator alone.

What other resources would you suggest to our readers?

Exercise and movement are tremendously important for long-term physical and mental health. I can’t stress enough the importance of movement, whether it’s an elliptical, a bike, walking, etc. Also, we must find balance in our lives. It can be hard, but carving out time for yourself pays dividends. Whether it’s focusing on a hobby, taking a vacation or spending time with your friends and family, doing things for yourself helps you become a better person and a better leader. I saw a quote recently while scrolling through social media and it really hit home: We travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us.

If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be?

It’s important for the public to understand the significant role medical imaging and radiation therapy plays in health care. Medical imaging is a key tool used to screen for cancers and other diseases. Procedures like computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography (x-ray), mammography, and others have been instrumental in saving millions of lives. Even more, the medical imaging professionals who manage the procedures, create the images, and assist with interventions and treatments are on the front lines of helping people. In addition, radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists play a major role in treating patients with cancer and other diseases. As such, educating the public about the vital role of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals and inspiring the public to seek out preventative imaging care when recommended by a physician can prolong lives. As I mentioned earlier, the ASRT’s “Be Seen” campaign is one of our first steps in educating the public about medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals and their role in health care. We’re confident that it will reach a lot of people and have a positive effect on the public.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US, whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?

During my first week in my radiography program 34 years ago, I accompanied a senior student to assist with a medical imaging procedure. As she communicated with the patient, who was visibly nervous, I could see the patient become more comfortable. When I spoke with the patient, I remember feeling like we made a connection, and that I was helping him simply by being there for him. It was a life-changing moment for me. If I could have breakfast or lunch with that first patient, I’d express to him that he inspired me and solidified my career choice. That simple interaction launched me into my purpose.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

ASRT’s website: ASRT.org
ASRT’s “Be Seen” campaign website: ASRT.org/BeSeen

My LinkedIn profile: Melissa Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, CAE

Thank you for these really excellent insights, and we greatly appreciate the time you spent with this. We wish you continued success.