Behind every decision to pursue mammography is a reason. For Cesley Campos, it is the chance to help women feel supported while keeping screenings available at her small hospital. For Tinley Steedman, it is the connection she feels with patients and the sense of purpose she found during her clinical training.
The AHEC Foundation is proud to introduce Cesley and Tinley as the GROW! Mammography Fellowship recipients for the October 2026 cohort. Both bring a commitment to learning, compassionate care, and serving the women in their communities.
Cesley: Helping Patients Feel Supported—and Keeping Care Available
Cesley’s interest in mammography began in radiologic technology school. Observing breast imaging during clinical rotations helped her recognize the role she wanted to play: an advocate who could provide thoughtful care and help ease patients’ fears. 
After two years working as a radiologic technologist, that goal remains close to her heart. She knows patients may arrive feeling uncomfortable or worried, and she wants to create an experience built on education, reassurance, and trust.
“I want to build trust with my patients, create a positive experience, and ensure they feel supported throughout the screening process,” Cesley wrote in her fellowship application.
Her motivation also comes from a practical challenge. The small hospital where she works has only one mammography technologist. When that colleague is away, the mammography schedule must close, creating delays and inconvenience for patients.
Cesley hopes to help change that. By pursuing mammography training and working toward registration, she aims to provide coverage so women can receive screenings without unnecessary interruptions. The fellowship offers a path toward a longstanding career goal with a direct purpose in her community.
Tinley: Finding Purpose in Every Patient Connection
For Tinley, a clinical experience at Rapides Regional Medical Center became the beginning of a career she loves. During her final six months of radiology school, she spent time in mammography. After graduation, she continued training in the same department during her first two months of employment. 
Those experiences confirmed her desire to build a career in breast imaging.
Tinley enjoys the technical challenges of mammography, including learning how breast tissue changes and how images compare over time. But the relationships with patients have made the deepest impression on her.
She describes caring for women arriving for their first mammogram, survivors returning for follow-up imaging, and patients attending annual screenings. Each brings a different story. Through their conversations, patients have shared advice and life lessons that stay with her after their appointments end.
“I have learned that the small conversations we share during the exam are just as meaningful as the images themselves,” Tinley wrote.
As she continues her education, Tinley wants to combine technical skill with patience and compassion. Her goal is for every patient to feel welcomed, respected, and heard.
Supporting the People Who Will Care for Our Communities
Cesley and Tinley bring different experiences to the October cohort, but they share a clear purpose: to become skilled mammography professionals who care deeply about the people they serve.
Through the GROW! Mammography Fellowship, the AHEC Foundation supports technologists as they pursue mammography education and training. For these recipients, that opportunity is a step toward both professional growth and the care they hope to provide in their communities.
Please join us in congratulating Cesley and Tinley as they begin their October 2026 fellowship journey. We look forward to celebrating their progress and the contributions they will make to women’s health.
