Isabella “Isa” Rojas’ journey to nuclear medicine has been anything but traditional.
Originally from Miami, she earned a degree in environmental science before spending years building and leading a women’s cycling team as a race director, a venture that earned her an In the Company of Women Award from Miami-Dade County for her grassroots leadership in women’s sports. When the COVID-19 pandemic shifted her path, she pursued emergency medical technician training and began working in the emergency department at AdventHealth Apopka, where exposure to different imaging specialties sparked her interest in nuclear medicine. That hands-on experience within a mission-driven health care system helped her see firsthand how advanced imaging plays a vital role in supporting whole-person care, leading her to AdventHealth University.
Now graduating in April, Isa will have completed AHU’s rigorous four-year Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Medicine Technology program with board eligibility in both nuclear medicine and computed tomography (CT). She said she is grateful for AdventHealth’s generous tuition assistance, which she used toward her degree. Isa gets to close out her academic journey with national recognition, leadership development, and a clear vision for her future in advanced clinical practice. Her academic excellence is reflected in multiple honors, including consistent placement on the Dean’s List and President’s List, the Mixon Endowment Scholarship, and membership in the National Society of Leadership and Success honor society.
Isa’s passion for nuclear medicine recently earned her a spot on the national stage. Her research poster, “The Predictive Power of F-18 FDG and Ga-68 Dotatate PET in Lu-177 Dotatate PRRT,” was accepted for presentation at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Mid-Winter Meeting in Orlando. There, she shared her work with physicians, technologists, pharmacists, and educators from across the country. Her academic research focused on the benefits of dual tracer imaging for patients with neuroendocrine tumors, an approach that helps physicians determine whether patients are appropriate candidates for targeted peptide receptor radionuclide therapy.
“Nuclear medicine allows us to see disease on a molecular level, not just an anatomical one,” Isa said. “As a technologist, we facilitate the diagnostic data that guides providers to determine the most effective treatment paths.”
AHU faculty recognized not only the strength of Isa’s work, but also her initiative. While the research poster was part of a senior assignment, Isa took the extra step of submitting it to a national professional meeting, a decision that set her apart.
“Isa is a very strong student who performs well both clinically and didactically,” said Liz Duncan, MSHS, CNMT, RT(CT), Chair of AdventHealth University’s Imaging Sciences program. “She took the initiative to submit her senior research poster to a national professional meeting, which speaks to her motivation, follow-through, and readiness to engage at the next level of the profession.”
That same drive led Isa to another major accomplishment, selection for the 2026 SNMMI Technologist Section Leadership Academy for students. The competitive three-day program brought together participants from across the United States for team-based leadership development focused on emotional intelligence, communication, and collaboration.
“I expected the Leadership Academy to focus on logistics and technical leadership,” Isa shared. “Instead, it challenged us to understand our own personal, emotional IQ levels and how that reflects in a team setting. I was able to meet and network with other academy attendees as well as some already in leadership positions from around the country. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best way, helping me grow as both a professional and a leader.”
Isa plans to continue her education by pursuing a Master of Science in Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate, the nuclear medicine equivalent of a physician assistant. She continues to work as an AdventHealth EMT on weekends and finds renewal through outdoor pursuits like rock climbing and mountain biking.
Reflecting on her all she has achieved, Isa said, “The crest of the mountain is always the hardest part right before it gets easy.”
