Student Experience: LaToya Payton, B.S., RCIS, LMRT

“The best part of the program to me was the clinical rotations and all of the hands-on expertise that the preceptors shared with us at the hospitals. There’s just a wealth of information to learn in this career. It’s one thing to learn things in a classroom and another to know how to present your skills in the real world. 

“This job satisfies my need for an adrenaline rush. We get really sick people in here who can die at any time, and in a matter of minutes or hours, we may have saved their lives. That is absolutely the best part of the job. 

“To succeed in this line of work, you really need to be able to be flexible and adaptable to change. The world of medicine is always changing with new technologies and procedures; something new and better is always coming out. You’ll be required to learn more all of the time and to change with the business.” 

LaToya Payton is a registered cardiovascular invasive specialist (RCIS) and limited medical radiologic technologist (LMRT). She earned an associate degree in Invasive Cardiovascular Technology from El Centro as well as a bachelor’s degree in public health from Kaplan University, began teaching as an adjunct faculty member in the program in 2003 and assumed the position of program coordinator in Spring 2017. She was hired for her position at Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital before graduation after completing a clinical rotation.

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