Nancy Yang started her career as a radiation therapist at ARO a number of years ago, and following a period of working at Waikato Hospital, has returned to the place she considers home. Not only was Nancy delighted to be back, the team at ARO were equally pleased to have her return. Over the last few years as a Planning Deputy Team Leader, Nancy’s manager, Rochelle Granshaw, recognised the potential Nancy demonstrated through her work, and offered her the opportunity to participate in a Foundational Leadership Course.

Nancy eagerly embraced this, recognising it as a crucial step in her professional growth and her ability to contribute more effectively to the team. The course was an intensive workshop based programme, which included people from a number of industries, and focussed on understanding people more fully to help them excel in their work. Nancy enjoyed the approach of the course and the way it widened her view of leadership. She says “appreciating and acknowledging the various ways our team contributes to the department is such an important method to show our respect for each other.”

With her recent promotion to Planning Supervisor, Nancy reflects on why she enjoys the opportunity to lead others. She says from when she began her career as a radiation therapist, she valued the patient interaction and felt passionate about delivering the best possible care to each person. However, over time she realised her strengths lay in her planning skills to create the radiation therapy treatments. Although this shift reduced her direct patient interaction, Nancy found fulfilment in the knowledge that planning played a vital role in ensuring each patient received the highest quality care. Nancy believes behind-the-scenes work of the planning team was just as impactful in the patient journey, allowing her to contribute to patients in a different, yet equally important way. Following the course, Nancy feels she can use her people skills to help train, lead and encourage other radiation therapists to be the best they can be, allowing her to fulfill her wish to be people-facing in her role - but with a new focus of helping others, so that together they can provide the best care for their patients.

The wider team at ARO also appreciates Nancy’s dedication to her work and the passion and drive she has to do the best for each patient that steps through the door.