A Carroll, Iowa-based hospital has named a former radiologic technologist as its first-ever head of cancer services director.

St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced this month that Lori Pietig will take over the new role this summer after more than 16 years with the provider. She launched her career back in 2004 as a rad tech and ascended to director of radiology in 2013, where she’s stayed since.

As head of cancer services, she’ll be tasked with overseeing operations at the St. Anthony Regional Cancer Center. That will include working with referring physicians, unifying the radiation and medical oncology departments that now work separately, and expanding services in the region.

Pietig is a native of the community of Carroll where the hospital operates and said that she chose the field of radiology because of a passion for patient care and interest in the technology side of the specialty. St. Anthony is slated to open the aforementioned 21,000-square-foot new cancer center in December 2020, offering services that include radiation therapy, medical oncology, chemotherapy, and surgical oncology.

“It is a tremendous honor to be the first in this role,” Pietig said in a statement issued by the hospital earlier this month. “It’s so important for our patients to have the opportunity to receive cancer treatment close to home; we can give them the opportunity to live their best life, without wasting precious time traveling,” she added later.