For many women, the words mammogram, breast imaging, and breast health carry an undercurrent of anxiety. The sterile exam rooms, the long and uncomfortable wait time, and the delay in receiving test results can make a vulnerable experience even more intimidating. However, Amanda Lackey, MD, husband Logan Lackey, MD, MBA, and the team at Breast Imaging of the Ozarks are working to change that narrative, one patient experience at a time.
Amanda’s path to a career in breast imaging was shaped through early experiences of watching her father help women as a radiologist in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, Amanda recalls that she noticed a steady stream of thank-you cards and handwritten notes received by her father - many from women who were expressing their gratitude for detecting their breast cancer early.
Without a clear specialty in mind, Amanda pursued a degree in health sciences, later discovering a passion for radiology, one that reminded her of her father's work. It soon became clear that a her focus would be towards bringing the same life-changing experiences to women as her father through a career in breast imaging.
After returning to school, graduating, and completing her residency, Amanda and Logan, her classmate turned husband, both knew that they wanted to walk with women along their health journeys in a personal and impactful way.
Though their paths into medicine differed, Amanda and Logan’s commitment and timing closely mirrored one another. Logan, born and raised in Arkansas, had grown up knowing that he wanted to be a physician. He earned his MBA from the University of Arkansas, studied abroad, and ultimately entered medical school at the same time as Amanda. Both felt the pull towards the niche part of women’s health, and both committed to the opportunity to serve women together.
From 2016 to 2021, the couple provided excellent medical care in the Ozarks but began to feel limited beyond their clinical skills. Aspects of the patient experience that they longed to enhance, such as scheduling constraints, crowded waiting rooms, and rushed appointments, all left them feeling that they wanted to offer more.
That realization became the foundation for Breast Imaging of the Ozarks.
Amanda began to notice that Springfield had limited options for breast imaging, with even fewer facilities that prioritized the patient experience as much as they did the clinical care. When the opportunity arose, the Lackeys decided to step out on their own with the vision of creating a place that felt less like a hospital and more like a sanctuary for women.
Today, that vision is evident the moment patients arrive. The center is calm - soft music plays and essential oils are diffused. Instead of thin, uncomfortable gowns, each patient receives a plush, spa-like robe, and the entire appointment is rooted in the art of gentleness. All of this, Amanda explains, helps women want to come back year after year without dread, which helps them catch things or detect abnormalities early.
One of the Lackey’s most impactful differences is their commitment to same-day results. Instead of waiting days for a letter or a phone call, every patient speaks directly with a radiologist before leaving. Results are reviewed immediately after the imaging, questions are answered in real time, and if further imaging is needed, it often happens during the same visit. The reduction in anxiety and delayed appointments is profound, and the ability of the Lackeys and their team to move quickly can be lifesaving.
Amanda and Logan also take great pride in their commitment to utilizing high-quality and technologically advanced diagnostic tools and procedures that are not widely available in the region. Combined with the highly trained and experienced staff of the center, Breast Imaging of the Ozarks is becoming a practice that is synonymous with trust in the community.
Outside of their work, the Lackeys remain grounded in family including their seven children. From spending time together as a family to staying fit and active, wellness remains a central part of their lives. While Logan prefers golf and jiu-jitsu, the occasional day at the spa is what helps Amanda release the emotional and mental weight of running a business and advocating for women’s health in the community.
Looking ahead, the couple hopes that they will be able to continue to grow and expand their practice while remaining rooted in a gentle, highly individualized experience for each patient. Plans include adding another mammography unit and expanded services, all while continuing to set the standard for what an otherwise anxiety-ridden experience for women can look like.
As they continue serving Springfield, Amanda and Logan are proving that professional precision in medicine and a gentle, compassionate approach to women’s health can and should coexist. Because for them, care delivered with intentionality and personal connection is how medicine is best practiced.
The center is calm - soft music plays and essential oils are diffused. Instead of thin, uncomfortable gowns, each patient receives a plush, spa-like robe, and the entire appointment is rooted in the art of gentleness.