UCLA Journal of Radiation Oncology SUMMER 2024 - Flipbook - Page 49
UCLA RADIATION ONCOLOGY JOURNAL
you feel the most excited and alive, and then
pursue it with everything you have.” ☐
she says. “I knew I liked science, and I didn’t
know any nurses. I took a personality job
quiz at the career center, and everything
pointed to nursing. I discovered Iowa had a
great nursing program, and I switched from
pre-med and enrolled the next semester.”
Contributed by: Denise Heady
Denise Heady is a science communications and media relations
manager at UCLA Health. She covers the clinical cancer program
along with basic and clinical translational research for the UCLA
Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Kafka-Peterson now has found her niche
teaching others.
Along with her duties in her department,
Kafka-Peterson is working on multiple
events for the ABS, IGCS, and several
nonprofits globally that all have an interest
in brachytherapy nursing education. As a
member of ABS’s global council, she is also
helping lead an African access initiative to
educate nurses throughout Africa on how to
care for brachytherapy patients.
“Over the years, I’ve developed a lot of
training, but being able to do it globally
is an honor,” she says. “You do it to help
the greater group of nurses, and I’ve gone
from really enjoying my job to tapping
into something much greater, which has
been very fulfilling. I thank UCLA and
my leadership team for their ongoing
encouragement and support.”
She also consults with hospitals throughout
the U.S. to help them train their staff on
brachytherapy and to help physicians and
leaders maximize team efficiency and
clinical flow.
Her advice to new nurses: Start broad, work
on critical skills, and as you gain more
experience, zero in on what makes you
excited.
“You don’t have to stay in one field,” KafkaPeterson advises. “You can find what makes
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