In 1978, Patricia (Pat) Romanchock started working part-time on weekends in the imaging department at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center. "I had prior experience as a radiology technologist, including a stint at Walter Reed during the Vietnam War, and had taken a break to stay at home with my two young sons. When they were old enough, I decided to ease back into the working world, and that's when my journey at the hospital began," she explains.
Pat was naturally a little apprehensive about returning to the field of radiology after so many years because technology had changed so much. "But everyone at MedStar Montgomery was so welcoming and helpful, it immediately felt like home."
It wasn't long before her supervisors noted her can-do attitude, and her career flourished. "I can't keep my mouth shut," Pat notes. "When I see something that can be improved or done differently, I speak up." She was eventually named director of Medical Imaging.
During her tenure, she was a frequent customer of the hospital's Gift Shop, which is run by the Women's Board, a group of volunteers who raise funds to support various hospital initiatives. "They encouraged me to get involved with their organization, but I was too busy to be a volunteer at that time," Pat says. "However, I did promise to get involved once I retired."
In 2017, Pat retired and fulfilled her promise to continue to support the hospital as a volunteer with the Women's Board. She now works at the gift shop two times a month, which enables her to stay in touch with her former friends and colleagues at the hospital.
Then in March of 2022, Pat became a patient of the hospital when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "I was fortunate that Dr. Mary Ritchie, my primary care physician, was so persistent about getting a mammogram because my cancer was found early," Pat says. She had surgery followed by radiation to destroy any remaining cancer cells. She will forever be grateful for the care she received.
"I saw a different side of the hospital as a patient. Dr. Jennifer Son, my surgeon, Dr. Luther Ampey, my radiation oncologist, and Dr. Nora Sudarsan, my medical oncologist, and their entire team guided me through each step of my treatment. I really appreciated all their shared knowledge and care. They were so calming and helpful. It was an outstanding care experience."
Pat's experience as a patient inspired her to make a generous philanthropic commitment to the Centennial Campaign, an initiative to renovate and expand the Oncology Pavilion at MedStar Montgomery. To further express her gratitude, Pat plans to expand her volunteer activities with the hospital as a member of the Philanthropy Committee.
"I have deep affection for the hospital and the many relationships I have formed there over the years." Pat says. "I decided to give back to thank God for my incredible journey as a caregiver and now as the one being cared for. I am truly blessed."