Humankindness at Work: Melinda Deliganis, CT Technologist

For Melinda Deliganis, a CT Technologist at St. Luke's Health-The Woodlands Hospital, humankindness is central  her 35-year career. From the moment she steps through the doors, her mission is clear:to help everyone she can. It’s an ethos that has not only defined her own journey but has also touched countless patients and colleagues throughout her remarkable tenure.

Melinda’s path to St. Luke's Health began in December of 1990, a journey sparked by a love for photography and the intricate beauty of images. After a brief time in accounting, she found her calling in X-ray, initially as the first night technologist in Kerrville. Just like her uncle, who served in allied health in Laredo, Melinda discovered a passion for caring for others.

Her journey brought her to Houston, following her sister, who herself was a long-serving employee at St. Luke’s Health's treasury department. Melinda joined the Texas Medical Center campus, where she witnessed a technological revolution firsthand. "From darkroom technology, to cassettes, to daylight processors, then digital technology," she recalls, marveling at a time when "they said no paper and no film, and we would develop two films at a time to run to the corresponding floors."

In 2003, as The Woodlands campus opened its doors, Melinda found her new professional home, a decision driven by a desire to be closer to her home. She's seen The Woodlands blossom to a thriving hub, a testament to growth that's too much to even quantify.

Three and a half decades is an extraordinary commitment, and for Melinda, the answer to what fuels her dedication is simple: "I never left because of the people. We were family." She’s experienced other facilities, but the grass, she discovered, isn’t always greener. The unwavering support of her directors and managers, the feeling that they will always stand by your side has been a constant. Her new goal? To proudly hit that 40-year mark.

Melinda’s unique blend of expertise and empathy shines brightest in her daily interactions. While she may shy away from public recognition, her actions speak volumes. For her, emitting humankindness is as simple as a big smile and the profound act of listening. 

"Patients are scared," she acknowledges, and a warm blanket, coupled with a genuine ear, can make all the difference. She even instills this philosophy in the Lone Star Community College students she meticulously trains, reminding them that treating every patient "the way you’d like to be treated, or as if they were your director’s family member," is paramount. Her rigorous training methods, which once earned her an instructor of the year honor, stem from a desire for her students to be the best.

One particular memory encapsulates Melinda's impact. She always wears an angel pin on her badge, a small comfort to herself. One day, a particularly nervous patient, facing a daunting procedure, received that very pin from Melinda. The patient later returned, beaming, to share that the procedure hadn’t hurt, attributing it to the "guardian angel that Melinda had provided." It’s these "small actions that make the biggest difference," she reflects.

Beyond the hospital walls, Melinda's passion for precision and detail, nurtured through her past life as a photographer specializing in weddings, events and nature, continues to thrive. Her camera is a constant companion on her extensive travels, from the awe-inspiring heights of Machu Picchu and the unique wildlife of the Galapagos Islands to the Northern Lights of Iceland. She’s even taken up painting, finding new avenues for her artistic eye.

When asked what brings her the most joy in her role, Melinda’s answer is characteristically selfless. She loves going to work and being busy. Without patients, she wouldn’t have a job. This profound appreciation for every individual who walks through the hospital doors underscores her success. Getting along with others, knowing her "stuff" and her equipment inside and out, and living by the common-sense wisdom that you can’t do everything by the book  are the cornerstones of her professional triumphs.

Melinda Deliganis is more than a CT technologist; she is a cornerstone of St. Luke's Health-The Woodlands, a living testament to the enduring power of humankindness. Her 35 years of service aren't just a number; they represent a career filled with unwavering dedication, genuine compassion and an unyielding commitment to making every patient feel seen, heard and cared for.

Her goal of reaching 40 years is not just a personal milestone, but a continued gift to the St. Luke’s Health family and the countless lives she touches, one patient, one smile and one act of kindness at a time.