Victor Luciano, senior network support specialist—Department of Pathology
When did you start working at UTMB and in what capacity?
I started working at UTMB in the summer of 1974. I was in a high school radio and TV production class. The instructor recommended two of us to apply for a summer position for camera operator in the Medical Television department.
The studio was in the Basic Science building. I was interviewed by the chief engineer and assistant because the director was on vacation. Since I had an electronics background and production experience, the engineers saw an advantage in having someone with a technical background.
I started out as a Medical Television Specialist I. From operating a large broadcast TV camera in the studio, I was sent out to the operating room with a not-so-portable video camera. These were the days before Betamax and VHS cassettes. Eventually, I was installing equipment, troubleshooting the video players and operating the remote studio in the original Jennie Sealy.
During the studio downtime, I would set up the video players in different classrooms. There were no classroom services at that time.
I was offered a part-time job after school but declined. There was a lot more to learn. I did keep in touch with several of the staff over the years.
What positions have you held at UTMB since then?
So, in the late ‘80s, after several interesting jobs, I took the medical photography job offer in radiology. My first time was temporary full time. I was hired for a year to fill in for someone who had taken ill. After a year waiting period, I was offered a full-time position in radiology as a medical photographer. My job was to update the department from photographic slides to computer graphics.
As the transition began with computer graphics, I learned to use early 3D animation and early image capture cards. Since there was no IT department at UTMB at the time, I was on my own. This is where my background in electronics came in handy. After the Medical Photographer II position, I became a network specialist.
I moved around between desktop, server and hardware support. That eventually moved into removing viruses and working with the IT department with research computers. I started to work the animation and video into various projects.
My job has mainly been to solve whatever is needed at the time. From inventory, purchasing, marketing in the early days to introducing large-format poster printing to live streaming just before Hurricane Katrina hit.
After Hurricane Ike, radiology combined with bio-medical engineering and radiation oncology. Inventory became a large part of my job. The one time everyone was happy I made them fill out the asset loan form.
Later, it was anesthesiology, pathology, radiology and the ASGs. As time went on, I integrated into those departments assisting as much as possible.
I am with Pathology now but still assist anyone who requests help.
Pathology has revived the excitement of my early days at UTMB. I have been able to produce live conferences off campus and streamed live to other countries with Q&A in real time. Being on the ground floor of the diagnostic management team creation is one of the highlights of my time at UTMB.
What attracted you to UTMB in the first place?
Overall, it is the people. The people I met in 1974 and later became section directors, vice chairs, faculty and managers. One became a vice president. They were my mentors. The new friends I made over the years continued offering advice.
Why have you stayed at UTMB for 35 years?
It is an opportunity to learn. I had a co-worker once who said, “You come in and find things to do even if there is nothing to do. Why?”
I have an opportunity to learn on the job. We both benefit from it. A very good friend and physicist was working on 3D imaging from CT scans. He wanted to make a video. So, I worked on extracting the CT files and creating a video for a national conference he was presenting. ABC News was at the conference, saw the video and asked for a copy. The next day it was on the medical segment with Charlie Gibson—my first highlight of working at UTMB.
By applying skills acquired from other jobs before coming back, I have been able to accomplish more while keeping costs down. While that itself is not a big deal, it has always been a personal goal.
Most of all, UTMB has given me an opportunity to do things most jobs cannot. My skill set moves with me. I still take photos; I still do some desktop support and poster printing. But producing the conferences, setting up all the equipment and graphics used required every skill I have learned. And a few new ones thanks to my co-workers.
When I started back in the late ‘80s, computer graphics was in its infancy. We did have the same equipment used for early CGI movies like Jurassic Park, the Silicon Graphics O2. There were no classes to take. So learning was up to the user. It was the same with computer-generated slides. There was no PowerPoint. Other programs in DOS were used. UTMB did not have internet either. We had dial-up. Downloading a driver took hours.
The opportunities and innovation are here. Only you can make them for yourself.
What has been being a part of the UTMB family for so long meant to you personally?
I was once asked why do I assist other people and departments? First, it is a good way to meet other people. Second, it keeps my skills going. Third, it’s goodwill and a great way to find others with hidden talent. When I was in the cardiac cath lab as a patient being prepped a while back, one of the docs started to recognize me.
“I know you. You work here, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“I remember, you printed a poster for me when I was a resident! I was not even in your department!”
They took great care of me, as did the rest of cardiology, anesthesiology and pathology. That’s family. You do things for your family. It’s your co-workers. You cannot do a lot without them. Just talking to someone else can lead to helping solve a problem.
What would you say to someone starting out in a career at UTMB?
Look for ways to improve yourself. Take advantage of training, learning opportunities, take some initiative. Own your job, help make things better. You never know the impact you may have on a co-worker, department or patient. I mention friends a lot. Make them. It’s your connection to UTMB.
If you could send any message to Health System leadership, what would it be?
Ask the employees who have been here a long time why are they staying. What worked, what is not working? They know the culture and history of UTMB.
Any special stories or experiences about your time at UTMB you would like to share?
That would take a few pages. John Sealy Towers was a hole in the ground when I started. And Dr. Blocker was the president.
My first photography supervisor was a friend of Ansel Adams. They worked on a system for photographing angiographs. That was exciting to learn for a photographer.
The Texas Department of Health Services asked for help with a design problem. They sent the information and specifications to me. I sent back a print-ready file and asked, 'How did you know to contact me?'
“One of the members of our committee is a mammographer who works with you,” they responded. “He said you could figure this out. We could not find a printer in Austin to make it the way we needed it.”
I have a very nice plaque from the TDHS for helping with the Guidelines for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening. It was for the pocket guide used by residents.
A former resident became the chair of their department at another UT System. They brought their photo and graphics team to spend the day with me to learn how I did things. That was an honor.
One of my aunts worked at UTMB years ago. She was one of the original diehard UTMB employees. There was always an interesting story or someone she knew from work. In the ‘90s she would walk blocks from home just to have coffee in the café. Occasionally, I would join her for a cup.
“Why do you come here just for coffee,” I asked her.
“I miss the people.”
UTMB was her life. She was proud to be part of the laundry service. That’s dedication.
There are a lot of stories. They are all history now. Part of the fabric of UTMB.
Please share anything else you would like your UTMB Health family to know about you or your time here.
I would love to shout out to all of those who have been a part of my UTMB life. It would be a long list. If you do know me, you know I bring up people I have worked with in conversations from time to time. Remembering those who have retired or passed is important. They help shape your career.
I love the diversity and personalities of the people I work with. Without them, I would not be inspired to always try doing more.