When Junaid Raja reflects on his journey back to North Carolina, the word that comes up again and again is home. Now joining UNC Radiology as Associate Professor and Chief of the new Pediatric Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Division—the first of its kind in the state—Dr. Raja is bringing both cutting-edge expertise and a deeply personal sense of purpose to his role. Raised in Charlotte, Dr. Raja attended the “other school” in the Triangle, and although he went to Duke, he is very much a UNC team player. Dr. Raja’s path has taken him up and down the East Coast, including training at Yale University and several years in Birmingham honing his craft. But the pull of North Carolina—and the opportunity to build something entirely new—proved irresistible. “It’s time to come home,” he says, citing both proximity to family and the rare chance to help develop pediatric VIR services in a region where they have not previously existed. That opportunity is transformative. Through collaboration with the emerging North Carolina Children’s hospital alliance between UNC Health and Duke Health, Dr. Raja will lead efforts to establish a program that keeps children and families closer to home for highly specialized care—care that

If you’ve ever needed help coordinating schedules, arranging meetings, or solving an administrative challenge in Breast Imaging, Musculoskeletal Imaging (MSK), or Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics (MIT), chances are you’ve crossed paths with Nicole Clayton. As an Administrative Support Associate, Nicole is often the steady force behind the scenes, keeping things running smoothly. Whether she’s helping manage physician schedules, organizing interviews for new team members, or stepping in wherever needed, she approaches every task with the same energy and enthusiasm that defines her personality. “I never turn down a challenge,” Nicole said. “And I help everybody that I can.” Finding Her Way Nicole’s journey to UNC Radiology wasn’t a traditional one. For years, she worked in retail, building skills in customer service and leadership while supporting her family. Becoming a mother at 16 meant entering the workforce early, and she steadily worked her way up through positions at Walmart, managing departments and taking on increasing responsibilities. Eventually, however, she knew she wanted something different. “I was done with retail,” she said. “I wanted to be in an office setting.” With a kindergartener and a preschooler at home, Nicole made a bold decision in her 30s: she went back to school. In

If you’ve ever wondered who helps turn big research ideas into real patient impact, you’re probably thinking of someone like Kaila Brustkern. Kaila plays a hands-on role in radiology research, working directly with patients and study teams to move projects forward from concept to completion. Her days are anything but routine. One moment she is screening participants, the next she is walking someone through informed consent, answering questions, collecting data, or even stepping into procedures to support study needs. Behind the scenes, she also navigates IRB processes and manages data through systems like REDCap. “I enjoy getting to talk with the participants,” she says. “It makes every day interesting.” That connection is especially meaningful in studies focused on women’s health, including conditions like endometriosis. Kaila notes that many of these areas have historically been understudied, and patients are often grateful for the opportunity to contribute to research that could improve care for others. From Iowa to the Research Triangle Kaila’s path into clinical research was not exactly linear. Growing up and completing her undergraduate degree in Iowa, she initially explored a range of interests, from marine biology to design. It was not until she took a clinical research course that