After nearly forty years with the UW Department of Radiology, Medical Program Assistant Holly Jackson will retire in April. Since she joined, the department has undergone tremendous expansion and technical innovation.
Jackson shares highlights and insights from her career below. Plus, colleagues share messages about their time with her.
Interview with Holly Jackson
How long have you been with the department?
I actually started working for the UW in July of 1982 in Neurophysiology for about five years. I worked for PhDs who were doing auditory research. I worked on many grants and research articles. I started working in Radiology in April of 1988. At that time, the Interventional Radiology section was very small with three faculty and one fellow.
What are some of your fondest memories?
Some of the best memories working in Interventional Radiology were how close we became, much like family. I stayed in touch with many of the faculty and fellows that moved on or retired over the years. I also have fond memories working on both the John Juhl Professorship Fund with Dr. Sackett and the Andrew B. Crummy Professorship Fund with Dr. McDermott. I was able to attend some society meetings around the country and arrange dinners to promote and celebrate them. I also have fond memories of Dr. Juhl when he still came to teach residents during the summer months. He would always come into my office and tell me a story or a joke. He would also invite me to attend annual lunches with some of the other administrative staff. I loved having an office near all my faculty back then as I felt more part of the group and atmosphere.
Radiology is a field that evolves quickly – what are some of the most interesting changes from when you started to now?
When I first started in Interventional Radiology, we had one procedure room and one multipurpose room in the D4/3 module which also included the X-ray file room where all the hard copy films were kept. At that time, they were still reading “films” on the lightboards. The first MRI scanner was also in that module. So much has happened since I started. We didn’t have email or the internet at that time. I typed everything back then on electronic typewriters until we got our first “word processors”. We still transcribed letters, journal articles, etc. from dictaphone tapes. A lot has changed!
What are you most looking forward to in your retirement?
Probably to spend more time with my husband Dan and family. Just having an open schedule will be nice where I’m not required to be someplace everyday. I’m hoping to do some traveling to see friends and family that live out of state as well.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I have truly loved working in Radiology for almost 40 years. So many memories and so many friendships over the years. I believe I’m leaving the section in good hands though with Dawn and Taylor as the new admins. Special thank you to Dr. John McDermott for being a great mentor and friend all these years!
Messages from Holly’s Colleagues
John McDermott, MD; Former Faculty
Holly was the quintessential executive secretary-insightful, caring, compassionate and complete. She was a 0.70 FTE who often managed 2-3 divisions at once as well as mentoring new secretary hires.
Camille Endres, Chief Administrative Officer
For nearly four decades, Holly has been a steady source of dedication, wisdom, and heart within our department. Her commitment has shaped our work, strengthened our community, and inspired all who’ve had the privilege of working alongside her. We celebrate her remarkable career and wish her a retirement filled with joy, adventure, and well‑earned rest
Erica Knavel Koepsel, MD; Interventional Radiology Section Chief
Holly’s dedication, hard work and steady presence have made an incredible impact on our section and the entire department. We are fortunate to have worked alongside her. She has been the person who keeps everything running smoothly, often behind the scenes, with grace, reliability, and a commitment that has never gone unnoticed. We are grateful for the countless ways she’s supported our entire team throughout the years.
Orhan Ozkan, MD; Former Interventional Radiology Section Chief
It is very difficult to explain Holly’s importance to the IR section and do justice to her contribution to every aspect of it. She is one of those people who make it look so easy that one might miss how much skill, organization and diligence it actually takes to do the job she has been doing for decades. I have witnessed many times the surprise people showed when they learned that what they assumed to be a job done by several people was done by Holly single handedly, yet she was not even working full-time. She has been quietly and wisely bringing order into the chaotic world of interventional radiology. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to have worked with her. Holly has been a remarkable coworker. I hope she gets to enjoy every minute of her very well-deserved retirement.
Ashley Hinrichs, Administrative Supervisor
I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with and learned from Holly over the years. With more than 35 years of dedicated service, she brings an extraordinary depth of departmental and institutional knowledge. She has always been generous in sharing her expertise with the team, and her kindness is truly unmatched. We wish Holly a joyful and well-deserved retirement—she will be greatly missed!
Tyler Gause, Administrative Supervisor
I have always thought of Holly as a bit of a DOR anthropologist. Person, place, or practice, Holly adds a deep layer of context to any topic, which has been invaluable to me and my understanding of the department. I count myself fortunate and honored to have spent the last six years working with her!