“Pretty rad!”
That’s how one teenager describes radiologic technology in a new campaign that teaches kids about the world of medical imaging and radiation therapy.
Radcademy is an initiative that uses contemporary media techniques and real-life situations to engage young people and their imaginations. Created by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, Radcademy features a website and accompanying videos that are specifically designed for boys and girls aged 12 to 16.
The campaign’s website component calls to mind the colorful graphics of mobile apps while using bite-sized pieces of information called RADfacts. Content on the site is written in such a way that kids can easily learn about the fascinating scientific foundations of x-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine and other radiologic procedures.
“Radcademy is a unique initiative as it provides teenagers with fundamental information about the science behind medical imaging and radiation therapy, and also offers radiologic technologists a series of tools they can use for educational purposes,” said ASRT CEO Sal Martino, Ed.D., R.T.(R), FASRT, CAE. “What’s exciting is radiologic technologists are already telling us they want to use Radcademy for career days, school presentations and to show their friends and families what they do for a living.”
The video section on the website includes four videos that highlight various medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures and also explain the science behind the technology. While the kids in the Radcademy videos are portrayed by actors, the subject matter experts in the videos are all real-life radiologic technologists, radiation therapists and radiologic science educators. Moreover, the videos are scientifically accurate, but uncomplicated so young audiences can easily understand the topics.
To connect with teens, the videos also present the information using authentic, one-on-one interactions with working radiologic technologists and lively back-and-forth sessions with radiologic science educators. One teenager leads the viewer on a hospital field trip to find out how x-rays work, while another visits an oncology center looking for answers about how radiation therapy helped his grandmother beat cancer.
“Radcademy is a way to share with a new generation the pride we feel as professional radiologic technologists,” said Dr. Martino. “Every day medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals use this powerful technology to create often life-saving diagnostic images for physicians and to treat cancer and other diseases. It’s crucial that we educate the public about the important work radiologic technologists perform, and Radcademy is another resource to help us achieve that goal.”