From the Desk of Katie Regan, Sales & Marketing Executive
Radiation Oncology Found Me (And I’m Still Not Over It)
I didn’t go looking for radiation oncology. In fact, I’m pretty sure if you’d asked me ten years ago what a linear accelerator was, I would’ve guessed it had something to do with NASA. But like many good things in life—smart people who make space for you, people who talk with their hands, and the rare magic of finding a forgotten fry at the bottom of the bag—radiation oncology found me.
I’m not clinical. I don’t wear scrubs, I’ve never written a treatment plan, and I couldn’t draw a tumor volume if my life depended on it. My skill set lives squarely in the non-clinical world, where I’m 1,000 times more likely to recreate a workflow diagram for a presentation than operate a machine. And against all odds, this is where I’ve landed—and stayed.
Around the time I stumbled into this field, cancer had a starring role in my life. Both of my grandpas had it. So did my grandma. And my dad. It felt like cancer was everywhere. Since I’m from Wisconsin, cheesy is expected—and even encouraged—so, as cheesy as it sounds, it felt like fate.
And even though I wasn’t treating patients myself, I saw how much heart, humanity, and brilliance go into the care they receive—especially from the behind-the-scenes people: the physicists, the planners, the therapists, the IT folks, the admins keeping it all from imploding. It turns out radiation oncology is this incredible blend of science, empathy, precision, and collaboration. And I have not looked back.
Fast-forward a few years, and I’m knee-deep in this field, loving the mission, appreciating the complexity, and attending conferences where, yes, I finally learned what a linac actually does. (Spoiler alert: not NASA, at least not in a way that is directly relevant to my role in radiation oncology.)
Finding Quantek Systems
I met Gabe at a conference in Orlando. He told me about Quantek Systems and introduced me to RO Dynamics, Quantek’s workflow platform. I had one of those rare moments of professional clarity: I understood it. It made sense. Even to me—someone without a clinical background—the design, the flow, the purpose, and most importantly, the potential of the system.
And now? I’m honored to be part of it. I get to champion the work that makes clinicians’ lives a little easier. No, I’m not the one delivering treatment—I leave that to the professionals—but I’m part of a system that helps it all run smoother. And that matters to me. A lot.
So here I am, nine years into a field I didn’t expect, working for a company I deeply admire, and still occasionally having to explain that no, I’m not clinical—I’m just an art major who got very lost and really lucky.
Fate? Maybe. Cheesy? Always. Worth it? 100%.
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