Our May
Staff Spotlight features Ebony Jordan. Ebony Jordan is the lead Mammography Technician
here at The Loretto Hospital. She has been a member of the team since
2012. Ebony started as an X-ray technician, but when the opportunity to
go back to school for mammography presented itself, she took full advantage.
She was fortunate to train under a mammography technician that became
her mentor. Through it all, Ebony found her calling and a career she loves.
Her motivation comes from effecting change in a patient’s life.
“I love it when they come in afraid and have heard all of the mammogram
horror stories, but by the time I’m done, they’re like, oh
that wasn’t bad at all!” That means they won’t be so
hesitant when they get that reminder letter from me in the mail. They
will call and schedule their next mammogram. That’s what drives
me, knowing that I turned a hard no, into an okay fine and sometimes even
a YES!”
Growing up in Roger’s Park on the North Side, Ebony graduated from
Lane Tech High School. She initially went to college at SIU Carbondale,
but found it was not a good fit and decided to move back home. She began
working as a Unit Receptionist at St. Francis Hospital in Evanston and
discovered she enjoyed working in health care. St. Francis has an x-ray
technician program that allowed Ebony to take class during the day and
work at night. In 2005, Ebony graduated from the St. Francis School of
Radiology.
When asked which accomplishments make her most proud, Ebony cites her two
sons. “Being a mom has been such a challenge and comes with a lot
of pressure. Being able to raise them and provide for them makes me so
proud of myself. To talk to them and hear my oldest son use big words
that I don’t even use on a regular basis, seeing them so happy with
not a care in the world just makes me feel like I did something right,
but also motivates me to keep doing whatever it is that I’m doing.”
Ebony likes The Loretto Hospital because it’s a small community hospital
that allows for regular interaction with patients. “A patient may
have a mammogram today and then you will see them in the parking lot tomorrow
on their way to the lab, and we just walk and talk into the building together.
If they can’t remember my name, they will definitely say, “Hi
Mammogram Lady! That kind of love only happens at community hospitals
like The Loretto Hospital.”