Savannah resident Olivia Ortiz graduated with a Bachelor of Science in radiologic sciences from Georgia Southern University in May. Ortiz said her path toward this degree began when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, an experience that shaped both her personal and academic journey.
Ortiz described how she and her family quickly became caregivers during her mother’s treatment, with each member taking shifts to provide support. “There would be days when we wouldn’t see each other,” Ortiz said. “There was this uncertainty of what was going to happen and how this would all play out.” Despite the challenges, she recalled the importance of having her mother present at milestones such as high school graduation.
Reflecting on those years, Ortiz said witnessing the collaboration among medical professionals inspired her career choice. “It was really important to have that perspective,” she explained. “The way the radiation therapist, the mammographer, the doctor, the radiologist worked to provide care… When I saw that, I knew exactly where I wanted to be.” She joined Georgia Southern’s radiologic sciences program with a focus on diagnostic imaging and mammography.
Ortiz acknowledged that balancing clinical hours and studying for board exams required dedication. “It’s a lot of time to commit,” she said. “I’m in clinic for 40-plus hours a week, and that’s without studying or preparing to sit for board exams.” She credited finding supportive peers as crucial during stressful times: “You have to find your people that you want to study with… because things become really stressful, really fast.”
With her studies completed and board certification preparation underway, Ortiz noted continued encouragement from her mother—now several years in remission—who checked in daily about school progress and well-being.
Ortiz has accepted a position as a mammographer at Telfair Cancer Pavilion at Candler Hospital in Savannah. Looking ahead, she hopes to bring compassion learned through personal experience into patient care: “My mother’s experience with cancer showed me that experiences like these are about more than treatment,” Ortiz explained. “I can tell when patients are nervous or scared. I want them to know they’re safe with me and that I’m going to take care of them. Just like I did with my mother.”
