Heather Magda’s path into radiation therapy was anything but linear. A self-proclaimed “professional student” in her early years, she remained undecided about her career until a conversation with a coworker introduced her to the field. That spark, combined with the deep personal loss of her mother to cancer when Heather was just 11, gave her a clear sense of purpose: to walk alongside patients during some of the most difficult chapters of their lives.

Now 16 years into her career, Heather continues to find deep fulfillment in providing compassionate, patient-centered care. In June 2026 she transferred from Southeast Radiation in Juneau to Peninsula Radiation Oncology in Soldotna, bringing her experience and warmth to the Kenai Peninsula community. She is especially grateful for the camaraderie among her colleagues and for the everyday moments that remind her why the work matters—such as a patient breaking into tears of gratitude after treatment.

One memory in particular has stayed with her: a patient who, despite facing his own challenges, learned of Heather’s ongoing battle with a clever ermine raiding her chicken coop and surprised her with a trap. Gestures like that one, she says, capture the mutual care and human connection that can form in the treatment setting.

Heather’s work is ultimately about both giving and receiving. Through steady expertise, genuine empathy, and a quiet determination to make a difference, she continues to support patients and their families—one relationship, one treatment, and one moment of kindness at a time.