Meet the Team Behind Your Mammogram

“It’s not your mother’s mammogram!”

That’s how Jennifer Schales, Mammography Coordinator at St. John’s Health, likes to describe the experience she and her team strive to create for patients.

Regular mammograms are one of the most important tools we have for early breast cancer detection. And while they’re often not something patients look forward to, the team at St. John’s Health believes they don’t need to be something patients dread, either.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we caught up with Schales and Director of Diagnostic Imaging Tiffany Logan to learn more about the people and philosophy behind mammography care at St. John’s Health.

In case you missed it, we recently shared a guide breaking down what to expect before, during, and after your mammogram appointment. Check out the guide here.

What types of breast imaging services are available at St. John’s Health?

Logan: We offer advanced 3D mammography, specialized imaging protocols for patients with breast implants, and individualized breast cancer risk assessment to help guide screening recommendations.

For women identified as having a higher lifetime risk of breast cancer, we work closely with patients and their providers to coordinate annual breast MRI in conjunction with annual mammography, offering a more comprehensive screening approach for those who may benefit from additional surveillance.

What questions or worries do you hear from your patients?

Logan: The most common concerns we hear are whether the exam will be painful, how long it will take, and what happens if something is found. Many patients are pleasantly surprised by how quick the exam is—most are completed in about 10 minutes.

We reassure patients that while compression can be uncomfortable for some women, it’s brief and our technologists work closely with each patient to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

Schales: During the appointment, the tech and the patient are a team and communication is key. We encourage all of our patients to ask any questions they might have at any point in their visit with us, and to be vocal about their level of comfort OR discomfort.

How does your team help patients feel comfortable and reduce anxiety?

Schales: We have a fabulous team of mammography technologists that really do care about every patient and their experience in our department and hospital! We do everything we can to make the patient as comfortable as they can be—even warming our gowns and blankets so they’re cozy!

Logan: Our mammography team understands that every patient walks through the door with a unique experience and level of comfort. We explain what we’re doing, answer questions, and move at a pace that helps patients feel at ease. Compassion, privacy, and clear communication are central to our approach.

Is there anything about mammography at St. John’s Health that patients might not know?

Logan: Many patients don’t realize the level of expertise and review that goes into every examination. In addition to highly trained mammography technologists, our breast imaging studies are interpreted by radiologists who specialize in breast imaging.

We are proud to be both an American College of Radiology (ACR) Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and an ACR-accredited mammography facility. These distinctions reflect our commitment to the highest standards of quality, safety, and patient care.

What else do you want patients to know about your approach to care?

Schales: I genuinely enjoy my job as a mammographer. It makes my heart happy to take care of patients and turn an exam that so many dread into a better experience for existing patients, while setting that standard for new patients.

It’s not an exam every woman might look forward to, but it doesn’t have to be one they dread. There are so many cancers we can’t screen for. Breast cancer is one we can!

Ready to schedule your mammogram? Contact St. John's Health Diagnostic Imaging at 307-739-7531.