Chillicothean Melanie Reed has pretty well X-rayed her way around many parts of the United States in her 33 years in the radiology field.

But a recent honor surely shines as one of the highest moments in her career.

Reed recently was named interventional radiologic technologist of the year at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

After graduating from Illinois Valley Central High School in 1974, Reed attended the radiologic technology school at Moline Public Hospital in Moline.

She graduated in 1976, and began her career at Proctor Hospital in Peoria as a staff technologist.

From that beginning, she went into mammography and interventional radiology.

One of the highlights of her career was starting up and running Proctor’s mobile mammography van until she left Proctor Hospital in February 2001.

At that time, she started traveling the radiologic technology field, working her way from small places to the big cities.

Reed first worked at a little hospital in Cresco, Iowa, before heading out to Boston Medical Center Hospital in Boston.

She continued traveling, also working at Children’s Hospital in Boston and the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

After many trips back and forth, Reed finally headed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in December 2005, staying there permanently beginning July 2008 as an interventional radiologic technologist.

Every year during National Radiologic Technology month in November, peers and doctors nominate employees from each radiologic modality for the honor, finally selecting an employee to honor in each.

Modalities include such areas as CAT scan, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, mammography and interventional.

Northwestern is known nationwide for its enormous radiology department.

Prior to receiving this award, while at Proctor Hospital, Reed was named Proctor Employee Personified.

She is married to Randy Reed, also of Chillicothe, a 1971 IVC graduate.

Their children are Rachel Lutrell of Phoenix, Mike Reed of Plainfield, Rachael Reed of Austin, Texas, Christina Robison of Peoria and the late Brad Lutrell.

Currently, Reed is in the process of obtaining vascular intervention certification.

“It’s an honor to be acknowledged by your peers for all the many years I’ve dedicated to the profession,” said Reed.