Commuting to Lawrence is all in a day's work

Kenny Rounkles knows a thing or two about traveling for work. Living in Gardner, Kansas, a small town just southwest of the Kansas City metro, doesn’t provide many opportunities for an MRI technologist to work close to home.

Kenny Rounkles

A western Kansas native, Kenny earned his radiology degree from Fort Hays State University. He began his career in imaging at Salina Regional Health Center and then shifted gears to work at HaysMed, then part of the University of Kansas Health System. When he decided to move to Gardner, Kenny began working overnight on the weekend at a health system in downtown Kansas City, which meant a 30-minute commute to and from work.  

“There just isn’t an opportunity for me to work in Gardner. Commuting is part of my daily routine and fortunately, I don’t mind to drive,” he said.

Kenny and his wife married in 2021 and welcomed the addition of a baby girl to their growing family. That meant that he was ready to find a position where he could work the day shift and spend more time with his family. LMH Health provided the perfect opportunity.

“The drive is about the same and I get to work the shift I was looking for at a community hospital,” he said. “You get to see everyone you work with every day. Having been at both small and large facilities, working at LMH Health allows you to really get into the flow.”

Coming full circle

Kayla Jobbins grew up in a small town north of Lawrence and as a child, LMH made quite the impression.

“I was a patient at LMH and my aunt worked here,” she explained. “I remember coming in and thinking that someday I couldn’t wait to work here too.”

Kayla Jobbins

Kayla earned a bachelor’s degree in medical diagnostic imaging from Fort Hays State University, where she coincidentally was in the same radiology class as Kenny. After graduation, she moved to Lee’s Summit and then to Olathe and worked in the Kansas City area for the next two years. She began her third year as a CT tech at LMH Health in January 2023.

“Making the choice to accept the job and commute was easy when I felt that I’d be able to give back and take care of the community I grew up in.”

Kayla enjoys the commute to and from work. It provides her with a mental break and the opportunity to catch up on the latest podcast or finish an audiobook.

“LMH is worth the commute to get out of the hustle and bustle of a bigger city and the opportunity to enjoy a community where you’re able to make a more personal connection with patients,” she said.

Why LMH Health?

Though there are many places that Kenny could work, he said that being at LMH Health provides a sense of comfort and comradery.

“People are always ready to help when you need it. Everyone has your back,” he said.

Kayla firmly agrees. One of LMH Health’s tenets is being patient first and she feels that employees are also part of the equation.

“Working for LMH, I’ve experienced a wonderful company culture that provides a flexible work-to-home life balance,” she explained. “I enjoy the teamwork that we have from department to department, as other co-workers are always helping to achieve better patient-first care.”