Juan Torres, a 2018 graduate of Moraine Valley Community College, has been appointed the student liaison Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
Juan Torres, a 2018 graduate of Moraine Valley Community College, has been appointed the student liaison for Moraine Valley radiologic technology students conducting clinicals at his workplace, Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
“I am so happy to have this opportunity,” said Torres, who lives in Lyons and received his Associate in Applied Science and certificate in Radiologic Technology from Moraine Valley. “I’ve always thought of everyone at Moraine Valley as one big family, so this is a way to give back.” Torres will oversee Moraine Valley students while they are working at Lurie Children’s Hospital, input their grades and generally help with whatever is needed.
“I love my job,” Torres said. “I’m always happy to be at work, and now being the liaison makes it even better. They always say if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s how I feel about this job at Lurie’s.”
Torres has always wanted to go into a profession that interacts with and helps people. “Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a police officer, but God took me on this path, and it’s very special to be working with children. I’ve had parents compliment me about how good I am with their child, and they ask how many children I have. I don’t have any children of my own, but I think of all the children at Lurie’s as my kids,” he said.
One young child expressed his fear of having an X-ray taken. “I told him this machine gives you magical powers. Then I showed him how to push up on the arm, and when he did that, I pushed the button to make it move, but he thought he did it. He got a big smile. I like that I could help him through a challenging situation,” he said.
Reflecting on the skills learned and his education, Torres said he believes Moraine Valley prepared him well for his career in radiologic technology. “Actually, I think they overprepared me,” he said. “To have been offered four jobs when I finished is unbelievable.”
