When Anika de Vos joined SCP Radiology, she was appointed as a medical receptionist. Today she is a mammographer at the practice’s Louis Leipoldt branch. This is her story.

With a medical secretarial diploma to her name, and some experience at a different medical practice, Anika joined the Panorama branch’s reception team in 2010. Then, after moving to the typing team and feeling that she still wasn’t headed in the right direction, she applied to study diagnostic radiography and embarked on a new journey. It was only possible with substantial moral support from former Operations Manager Lettie Greeff and current Paarl 2IC Le-Shane Heugh.

But first, maths

It took nine months of mathematics studies at Northlink College to get her ready for acceptance at CPUT. “I was unsuccessful the first time I applied. They said I needed mathematics,” she recalls. “I’m definitely not a maths person and I only had it as a school subject up to Standard 8 (Grade 10). I signed up for evening lessons to complete N4, N5 and N6 mathematics and was the only woman in a men-only class of engineering students.”

Of course it wasn’t snag free and when a principle or problem was too difficult to solve at first, she enlisted the help of current Practice Manager Jako Calitz, who just happened to have a BCom Mathematics degree to his name.

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The road to becoming a mammographer

Fast forward past a second (successful) application, four years of study and practical training at SCP’s Louis Leipoldt branch (and two hours of typing after hours to keep food on the table), a community service year in Elsies River and a permanent appointment in 2019, and Anika is a happy member of the Louis Leipoldt radiographers’ team today.

She has obtained her mammography qualification in 2020 and finished training in CT earlier this year.

“Of course some days at work are better than others, like it would be for anyone. But all in all I am happy I made the switch. I was 29 when I went back to full-time study, and a grandma among my classmates, but it just goes to show that it can be done.”

This article is part of a series of short staff profiles by SCP Radiology to highlight radiography as a career. Read more about Radiography Careers in our News section.