A group of graduates of Southwestern Community College’s Radiology program have not only become registered radiologists, they have gone on to share their knowledge and experience by becoming clinical instructors for the program.

A group of Southwestern Community College volunteer clinical instructors who work as radiologic technologists at WestCare in Sylva include, left to right: Gloria Robinson, RT(R); Darlene Crisp, RT(R)(M); Joe Lewis, (RT(R); Crystal Stamey, RT(R); Michelle Brown, (RT(R)(CT); and Heather Thompson, RT(R). (click on photo to enlarge)

Amy Mills RT(R)(M), clinical instructor for Fannin Regional Hospital.

Marty Poirer RT(R), Danny Pyatt RT(R)(CT), Angel Medical Center Clinical Instructor, Lori Smith, RT(R)RDMS, Director of Radiography at Angel Medical Center, Sara Seagle RT(R)(M), Clinical Instructor Westcare Health, Darlene Crisp RT(R)(M) Clinical Instructor WestCare Health, Michelle Brown RT(R)(CT), Clinical Instructor WestCare Health, Julie Mathis RT(R), Clinical Instructor Angel Medical Center.

Paul Brown RT(R)(QM)(CT), Director of Radiography and Clinical Instructor for Murphy Medical Center. Vicky Ledford RT(R)(M), clinical instructor Murphy Medical Center, and Keith Parker RT(R) clinical instructor for Murphy Medical Center.

"Clinical instructors are designated technologist’s who voluntarily work with and train our students at the clinical sites. Without their support and that of the hospitals where they are employed, our program would not be able to complete the training students need in the necessary skills to become technologists,” said Meg Rollins, SCC radiology program director. "Our clinical instructors are a highly valued group; and as we celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week this week, we want to recognize their great service to the program.”

According to Rollins, in addition to performing their normal work tasks, the clinical instructors also teach, explain, mentor and evaluate SCC radiology students with no monetary reward.

"Clinical instructors are special people who provide on-the-job help by augmenting the classroom education of future generations of technologists,” Rollins said. “Most are graduates of SCC and feel a sense of responsibility to pass on the high standards of care and technical skill expected in the field. Their volunteer work comes with responsibilities toward the students and they approach the job as a rewarding challenge. These clinical instructors shape and influence the lives of many students and we are grateful to them for their hard work and dedication to our program and profession.”

Radiology, or X-ray imaging, has come a long way today in terms of its use. In the early days before it was discovered that x-rays were potentially harmful, circuses used x-rays for entertainment in guessing the contents of women’s purses. Department stores and fairs offered "bone portraits”. A manufacturing company even produced lead underwear for modest women and men. England passed a law against opera glasses with x-ray vision. Some wealthy persons purchased x-ray units for their homes to entertain guests by imaging their skeletons with the fluoroscope.

Of course X-ray is no longer used for entertainment, but for diagnostic information secured through the expertise of a registered radiologist using great care and safety procedures.

A radiologic technologist completes an accredited program of study ranging in length from two to four years. Programs are offered at community colleges, four year universities and, in some cases, in hospitals. Once the program has been completed, students take a national exam through the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). This national exam grants the student the right to bear the initials RT(R). This signifies that the technologist is nationally registered in radiography. Several other exams for licensure are offered that carry different initials such as RT (CT) for computed tomography. Each modality a person is registered in carries a different set of initials that identify the technologist’s registries and areas of expertise.

At SCC, the radiography curriculum prepares graduates to be a radiographer, a skilled health care professional who uses radiation to produce images of the human body. Course work includes clinical rotations to area health care facilities, radiographic exposure, image processing, radiographic procedures, physics, pathology, patient care and management, radiation protection, quality assurance, anatomy and physiology, and radiobiology.

Graduates are eligible to apply to take the ARRT and may be employed in hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, medical laboratories, government agencies, and industries.

According to Rollins, radiography can be a stepping stone to other fields of radiogaphy including: computed tomography (CT), sonography (US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine (N), and mammography (M).

"Additional education is required for some, while on the job training is acceptable for others,” she said. "Registries in each specialty are offered for technologists.”

To learn more about the radiography program at SCC, contact Rollins at 800.447.4091 or 586.4091, ext. 320, or visit www.southwesterncc.edu.

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