New York’s Staten Island. One Staten Island radiology technologist is using social media to shift the perception of healthcare in a world where complicated jargon and mystery are commonplace.
Diego Diaz, 33, is working to increase access to radiography while encouraging aspiring medical professionals to enter the sector, which is in dire need of staff. He is accomplishing this with over 75K followers and over 100 million views on TikTok.
When Willowbrook resident Diaz began working in hospitals, he quickly realized that there was a serious problem: the public didn’t fully understand what radiology technologists did. Diaz had previously worked at Staten Island University Hospital before leaving to work as a travel technologist to help fill hospital vacancies.
Despite its crucial role in patient diagnosis and treatment, the significance of medical imaging, from MRIs to X-rays, was frequently underestimated. The specialty was made even more urgent by the growing professional shortage in the healthcare sector at the time, particularly in radiology.
In an effort to change things, Diaz resorted to TikTok, a social media site that is well-known for its brief but frequently entertaining and instructive films.
Diaz told SILive.com, “I wanted to answer common questions, give people a behind-the-scenes look at medical imaging, and spark curiosity about careers in healthcare, especially radiology.”
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The concept was straightforward: perhaps more individuals would think about radiography as a career option if they saw how important and fulfilling it can be.
What began as a side project soon became a powerful platform as the TikTok account gained popularity. Diaz has kept the material accessible and simple to comprehend while covering everything from the operation of MRI machines to dispelling common misconceptions about radiology.
“I want people to see that radiology is about the people who are committed to helping patients, not just about machines and scans,” he said. It has been incredible to hear from people who say my videos encouraged them to think about a future in healthcare, particularly radiology.
His influence has not gone ignored, and the response has been tremendous. One of the most satisfying parts of the process, according to Diaz, has been the influx of comments from students and future healthcare professionals on the videos.
Following his appearance in Newsweek, Diaz received recognition from the Center for Allied Health Education for the positive impact his narrative has had on others, highlighting the value of sharing enthusiasm and expertise in the digital age.
Diego Diaz, 33, is working to increase access to radiography while encouraging aspiring medical professionals to enter the sector, which is in dire need of staff.Diaz, Diego
WORK AND ONLINE PRESENCE BALANCE
Diaz’s influence doesn’t end there. He has utilized the opportunity to raise awareness of the mental health issues that healthcare workers confront in addition to promoting radiography careers.
Diaz works to increase awareness of the value of mental health, particularly in high-stress industries like healthcare, through a partnership with the mental health-supporting company Comfort. Diaz’s wish to support underserved communities is ideally aligned with Comfrt’s reputation for making charitable contributions to a variety of causes.
It has been difficult to manage an online presence while juggling the demanding responsibilities of working as a radiology tech, but Diaz is motivated by the conviction that making connections with people—whether in a medical setting or on social media—can have a real impact.
My objective is always the same, whether I’m responding to inquiries on social media or helping a patient with an MRI: to make healthcare more approachable, personable, and clear, he added.
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