This is “The RAD Position” with ASRT [American
Society of Radiologic Technologists] CEO and Executive Director Melissa
Pergola. A podcast for medical imaging and radiation
therapy professionals.
[music]
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Melissa Pergola: Hi, everyone, and welcome back to “The RAD
Position” podcast. I’m your host, Melissa Pergola, ASRT CEO, and I’m here with
—
Ray Arambula: Her podcast partner, Ray Arambula.
Melissa Pergola: We are so excited because this is season
two. We hope you’re listening and watching. Don’t forget that you can watch.
But there’s a lot going on that’s exciting today. We are here at the ASRT
Annual Governance and House of Delegates and Education Symposium. And we have
a treat. We are going to be talking to ASRT Chair of the Board Brandon Smith,
who, by the way, is also our incoming president. Welcome, Brandon.
Brandon Smith: Hey. Thank you for having me. This is
exciting.
Melissa Pergola: Now I’d like to tell you a little bit about
Brandon Smith. Brandon A. Smith is a native of southeast Texas and southwest
Louisiana. He is employed by GE HealthCare as a senior clinical analyst for
the global education services team. Brandon is an American Registry of
Radiologic Technologists registered technologist certified in radiography and
vascular interventional. He is also a certified imaging informatics
professional through the American Board of Imaging Informatics.
Brandon is currently serving as the chair of the ASRT Board of Directors. The
ASRT is the world’s oldest and largest medical imaging and radiation therapy
association, representing half a million professionals.
As a dedicated advocate, Brandon Smith maintains engagement and membership
with the professional societies of Texas and Louisiana, along with four other
state affiliates. That’s cool, Brandon. Brandon is also a life member of the
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and a member of PHA [Prince Hall Affiliated]
Masonic Order, Jurisdiction of Texas.
Smith emphasizes humanity in professional expertise and undeniable
transferable talents outside of procedure rooms. He champions being
unapologetically rad. Thank you for coming on tonight, Brandon.
Brandon Smith: No, thank y’all for having me. As I say, it’s
always exciting to be with y’all. I keep up with the podcast, of course, and
so I’m excited and kind of nervous.
Melissa Pergola: Nervous —
Brandon Smith: Because I don’t know what Ray has up his
sleeve.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, well, I’m nervous too, always, with Ray,
but —
Ray Arambula: Well, and I can’t remember a time where we’ve
had a Board chair returning as Board president.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: So that’s going to be interesting, and I’m sure
we’re going to learn more about that.
Brandon Smith: Yeah, yeah.
Melissa Pergola: How do you see your upcoming presidency
being different from your past presidency?
Brandon Smith: To go around the second time, you have to
realize you can’t serve leftovers. Your message has to be refreshed, even if
there’s continuity and integrity in it.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Brandon Smith: Presidencies have to be less about presidents
and their individual uniqueness and more about manifesting and bringing out
the power, what I call the initiative of you, reminding technologists and
therapists to be audacious, reminding them about the equity that they’ve
earned, reminding them about their unique and transferable skillset. And if a
president is being effective, people notice the president less and the
profession more.
Melissa Pergola: Hmm. That’s profound. Yeah. So along those
same lines, then, talking about presidents and presidents being seen or not
seen and sort of what they bring to the table, talk to me about presidential
initiatives, because it’s quite different this time. There’s another unique
thing that’s happening. What does that look like for you?
Brandon Smith: Let me start by saying this: today has already
been, almost starting off as an emotionally overwhelming day. I think the
keynote speaker and just talking about leadership and more so partnership and
what that looks like —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Brandon Smith: Behind what’s aired to the world —
Melissa Pergola: Yep.
Brandon Smith: And what a lot of members and professionals
don’t realize is every year, production hits restart with presidential
initiatives to make a president feel seen to be unique in that instance. And
this year we want to change that focus really to the profession and the
organization.
And so what things are we doing well? What things have we met expectations and
need to retire? And what things do we need to start? And so I think this gives
the ability to truly partner with this senior team, in order to not put new
tasks on, but to really evaluate what we’re doing well. Because what I want
all viewers to realize is we’re pivoting for our next century of success, and
that means that we need to reevaluate before we move forward.
Melissa Pergola: Right. And I appreciate that about you as a
Board member. I think you fully understand the talent of the ASRT team, but
also the significant amount of time and dedication that they put into not only
presidential initiatives, but everything that we do to advance and elevate the
profession.
And again, I said I do, I really appreciate that about you because you
understand there’s only so much bandwidth in the day. And so I appreciate the
fact that you just want to champion the great things that are happening.
Because there are many things that you will champion as president that are
extremely significant, but will continue to champion those and then maybe also
look at how do we stop, start and continue, right? How do we move into the
next century?
Brandon Smith: And it’s more about — this year’s more about
presidential insight. And so presidential insight is more so behind the
scenes. It’s like, what have you seen? What have you noticed? This year I get
to meaningfully turn more attention to incoming president Marissa Mangrum as
president-elect and really focus on helping her find her voice. “What does
being president look like for you as a radiation therapist? What does that
look like specifically as a radiation therapist serving medical imaging and
radiation therapy?” Because more often, just because of our population and
distribution, more often than not, most presidents are R.T. primary.
Melissa Pergola: Right.
Brandon Smith: And that’s very unique, and we want to focus
on that and celebrate that, to really look at the uniqueness as a whole and
contribute it to the team. And so that starts a trajectory to where she as a
president can truly focus and be a mentor to her president-elect, because it
kind of happened for her. And hopefully there’s a chain effect.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Now, Brandon, you definitely have a signature
statement.
Brandon Smith: [chuckles]
Ray Arambula: Can you elaborate more on what it means to
#BeRad or other “rad” statements that you use?
Brandon Smith: Oh, man. So I use it a lot, that incorporation
of “rad” or “be rad” or “stay rad,” in order to keep it on their minds. And so
because it’s something so unusual, it helps to facilitate a conversation that
ordinarily, that’s not lingo you would use. And so then we can open up from a
personal standpoint to talk to people about our profession.
And it shows pride. It becomes so informal and regular till people start to
identify that with you. And so instead of you trying to teach them about kVp
[kilovoltage peak], mAs [milliampere-seconds] or prepping for procedural
education, they get to know who the professional is as a person and associate
that profession and you as a contributor to their care as well as a part of
their community.
Melissa Pergola: Right. “Be rad” is an opportunity to engage
others, for others to recognize themselves, recognize the other disciplines
within our profession. So what other strategies do you have to promote
engagement? Because I think — correct me if I’m wrong — that that’s something
that’s very important to you, is that we all engage and engage about who we
are and celebrate each other. So what are other ways that we can do that?
Brandon Smith: You can’t really differentiate in between your
clock-in time and your personal clock-out time. But when you really can sit
down and you can explain to people that the mother who’s home for the holidays
because she had early detection breast cancer from the mammographer — a very
personal thing for me, and I use this example all the time, is when my
grandfather, you know, when he was going through radiation therapy treatments,
we couldn’t go in the room. And so he developed a very significant friendship
with the radiation therapist at a time where he didn’t know what tomorrow
would look like.
Ray Arambula: Well, you’ve talked about just what, I guess, a
rad day kind of looks like, whether that’s through work profession or outside
of that. But how do you recognize or encourage those rad moments?
Brandon Smith: When you’re delivering direct patient care,
you represent something in that person’s journey. And so a rad day — you might
not be the person who’s being celebrated. And so you have to understand that
as a professional, you’re the benefactor, not necessarily the beneficiary at
that time.
And it’s the same thing with membership and professional association. It’s not
about what the benefits are. You’re coming here to contribute. And when you
come here with that understanding, you find that satisfaction changes, because
“I found an avenue to contribute. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a return on
investment in that gratifying way.”
Melissa Pergola: So I want to switch gears just for a second
and ask you to describe how you celebrate others, because I know that is so
important to you.
Brandon Smith: Oh, it’s simple things. But just to say, “Oh,
man, I really like the lapel” or “I saw that you got your credential” or “I
saw that you posted on LinkedIn.” So anybody that — and I know people probably
have a headache with me on LinkedIn, because that’s where I live.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Brandon Smith: But it’s really allowed me to, like, check in
with the profession and be like, “Oh, I see you” — and it’s a celebration. And
so when you really start seeing people see each other in that way and making
these connections, or then they come to AGHOD [ASRT Annual Governance and
House of Delegates Meeting] or an affiliate meeting, it’s like, “Oh, I know
you from LinkedIn.” It’s like, “How y’all know each other?” “From LinkedIn.
They commented on my post.” And you start to see this professional hug happen,
where somebody just needed to know that it matters.
Ray Arambula: So you both talked about the profession and
then the close partnership that you have to support the profession. If you had
to narrow it down to two to three sentences, how would you describe ASRT to
both maybe some new members, nonmembers or just the wider audience in general?
Brandon Smith: Home is where the heart is. And you can’t
leave it unattended. And I mean home in every sense. This is where you come
and meet family, friends, colleagues, people you love, people that are
delightful, that you smile at and wave, but it’s yours. And so how you
decorate it, how you manicure it, how you serve it, maintenance — the home
will not take care of you if you don’t take care of the home.
Melissa Pergola: Well, thank you, Brandon.
Brandon Smith: I appreciate y’all.
Melissa Pergola: As always. I have to apologize.
Brandon Smith: Ah, it’s game time?
Melissa Pergola: It’s that time. It’s that time — Ray?
Brandon Smith: Yikes.
Ray Arambula: The title of this game is called This or That?
We’re going to start very easy, OK? We’ll start off with a few easy ones. So
I’m going to mention something, two things, and you’re going to respond. And
don’t think about it. Just go with your gut, all right?
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: Coffee or tea?
Brandon Smith: Tea.
Melissa Pergola: Coffee.
Ray Arambula: OK. And we’re evaluating the partnership here,
too, as well, so we’ll see how in sync you are. Early bird or night owl?
Brandon Smith: Early bird.
Melissa Pergola: Early bird.
Ray Arambula: I’m surprised. OK.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, I’m surprised, too. I thought you
would’ve said night owl.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I thought night owl.
Brandon Smith: When you’re up at all times, I mean. But I
prefer the more, like — I’m a much more patient person in the morning than I
am in the evening. [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Me too. Me too. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Office snacks: salty or sweet?
Melissa Pergola: Salty.
Brandon Smith: Sweet. Sweet. I don’t know, but I’ve been
abandoning carbs, so I guess I should probably say salty.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Well, and I would’ve said sweet, but I’m
trying to avoid sugar, too, so it’s like —
Brandon Smith: See? Logic is the same.
Ray Arambula: OK, let’s step it up a little bit.
Melissa Pergola: Uh-huh?
Ray Arambula: A little bit harder ones. Strategy retreat or
team happy hour?
Melissa Pergola: Strategy retreat.
Brandon Smith: Strategy retreat.
Ray Arambula: Mm, OK.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yeah.
Ray Arambula: Three-hour meeting or 100 unread emails?
Melissa Pergola: Three-hour meeting. [laughs]
Brandon Smith: Three-hour meeting. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: It sounds like you have a hundred unread
emails.
Melissa Pergola: I already have both. We have both of those
on a daily basis. [laughs]
Brandon Smith: It’s like, hey, three hours is fine. It goes
by. [laughs] Those emails will give me anxiety. I’m like, “Oh!”
Ray Arambula: Yeah, OK. One extra hour in your day or one
less meeting in your week?
Brandon Smith: Oh, that’s hard.
Ray Arambula: I imagine both of you have —
Melissa Pergola: No, but, it’s one less meeting in a week,
but an extra hour every day, which is seven more hours, right?
Brandon Smith: Hundred percent. I was on the same — give me
the hour. I agree.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. See, we’re thinking strategically. Got
to be the hour.
Brandon Smith: I agree. Give me the hour.
Ray Arambula: But you could have that one tough meeting in
that one week that you could eliminate.
Brandon Smith: I’m good with tough meetings.
Melissa Pergola: No, it’s OK.
Brandon Smith: That’s kind of what keeps your teeth sharp.
Like, I’m good with the tough meeting. Give me the hour, though.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: OK, these are more fun ones.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Brandon Smith: Here we go. I know it’s coming.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Group karaoke or board game night?
Melissa Pergola: Group karaoke.
Brandon Smith: Oh, game night.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Brandon Smith: Game night.
Ray Arambula: I was surprised you said that.
Melissa Pergola: I’m competitive, but I don’t like board
games very much.
Brandon Smith: I love them. Like, I would love to sit around
—
Melissa Pergola: Yahtzee, that’s it.
Brandon Smith: Like, group board game, play Monopoly —
Melissa Pergola: Like what kind? Oh, Monopoly.
Brandon Smith: And watch people just lose. Oh, I’m that
cousin and that sibling. It’s like, well, just pay me a — just give me all
your properties. You can keep a dollar.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Brandon Smith: And then I’ll see when the next time you hit
my property if I’ll let you stay in the game.
Melissa Pergola: All right, maybe I’ll change my answer.
Ray Arambula: OK. Staycation or vacation?
Melissa Pergola: Oh my God, staycation.
Brandon Smith: Staycation.
Ray Arambula: I figured that — [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Do you know how much we travel? No hotel. No
airplane. No, thank you.
Ray Arambula: Right.
Brandon Smith: When you don’t have visitors or nobody’s home
—
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that’s beautiful.
Brandon Smith: If you’re in there, and you’re just, like,
“Hello.” [imitates echoing]
Ray Arambula: OK, last one.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: Where are we likely to find you: on the dance
floor or the photo booth?
Melissa Pergola: Photo booth for me.
Brandon Smith: It depends. I would probably prefer to be on a
dance floor, but I usually get grabbed, like, “Come take a picture.” So my
choice: dance floor. My obligation: photo booth.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: OK. People want a picture with you. I can see
that.
Brandon Smith: I don’t know why. I don’t know why.
Ray Arambula: So you both gave really good answers.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, gee, thanks.
Ray Arambula: Therefore you both deserve a prize —
Melissa Pergola: [gasps] We do.
Ray Arambula: And so straight from In-N-Out —
Melissa Pergola and Brandon Smith: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: I have got you your own In-N-Out hats —
Melissa Pergola: Yes!
Ray Arambula: To wear for the entire conference.
Melissa Pergola: OK, so, for our listeners and viewers, this
is an ongoing debate between Ray and Brandon: Whataburger or In-N-Out.
Brandon Smith: I mean, this is really not a conversation.
Melissa Pergola: And so this is actually not a prize for
Brandon.
Brandon Smith: Yeah, it’s not. But I’m going to wear it
because I think Ray is awesome. Just know that I am thinking rad for you.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: Well, thank you for playing along.
Brandon Smith: No problem.
Ray Arambula: You both are troopers.
Brandon Smith: Well, thank you.
Melissa Pergola: Hey, Ray?
Ray Arambula: Hey, Melissa.
Melissa Pergola: You know what time it is?
Ray Arambula: Is it time for We See You segment?
Melissa Pergola: It’s time for We See You segment.
Jennifer Beese: Hi, I’m Jennifer Beese, and I’m an assistant
professor for the radiography program at Lewis University. My question for you
is this: What advice would you give to students and new technologists on
cultivating a strong sense of professional identity and pride early in their
careers? Thanks.
Melissa Pergola: Wow.
Ray Arambula: Good question.
Melissa Pergola: Great question. I think because we have the
honor of having Brandon Smith here, what are your thoughts?
Brandon Smith: Never forget what you invested. I think
sometimes graduating can be so climactic and then you get into a workforce
that people perceive the wrong way, because that workforce has been working
hard for so long. And show up in a way that makes you proud of the investment
you made.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Brandon Smith: But you remember what it took to get here. It
wasn’t easy. Nobody pulled you off of the street and just said, “Hey, show me
your femur.” Which, that’s kind of weird, right?
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Brandon Smith: But that’s important to know. Know what you
invested to become, so you have the obligation to shine your light and to
ignite others.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. Two things come to mind for me. I think
the first one is you should own your role.
Brandon Smith: Mm. Mm.
Ray Arambula: You should — I think you should recognize that
you play a vital role in health care. The information that you provide goes to
the diagnosis and treatment. That’s an important role.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: And I think there’s — you should take pride in
what you do. And then the second thing that comes to mind is just staying
curious, you know? Be someone who wants to join professional organizations
like the ASRT.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Or networking. Never stop learning. I think
that’s a valuable thing, too, that we can all do.
Brandon Smith: People don’t understand the power of
curiosity. And I’m glad you say that, like, y’all tap into that, just the
attribute of curiosity.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. And I think the only other thing that I
would add to that, because I was also thinking along the same lines of
surround yourself with people who do have the same passion. And so you’re
working together as a community, whether that’s your affiliate society,
joining ASRT.
We have over a hundred students here at the conference for our Student to
Development Leadership Program [Student to Leadership Development Program],
and I was sitting with some of them last night, and one of them said, you
know, “How can I think about getting involved? What should I think about as I
graduate?” And I said to them, “You know, you are also interviewing employers.
They’re not just interviewing you.”
Brandon Smith: Facts.
Melissa Pergola: Look for employers where they value their
technologists and therapists. Tell them you want to be involved and that you
want to do great things, and see if they’re going to support you. So find a
home where you can continue to feel valued and create value for the
profession.
Brandon Smith: Yeah. Totally agree.
Melissa Pergola: Well, what a great episode.
Brandon Smith: I hope it was decent. It was all the same
conversations we always have.
Melissa Pergola: And we’re excited as a team to work with you
for another two years. And we just look forward to the great things that are
going to happen. All right. Onward and upward.
Brandon Smith: Onward and upward. So thank y’all for having
me.
Ray Arambula: Thank you.
Female Voice: We’ll be right back after this short message.
[music]
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Melissa Pergola: Don’t put yourself in a bad position.
Ray Arambula: Stay up to date with “The RAD Position.”
Melissa Pergola: Applications are now open for the 2025, 2026
BeRAD Professionalism Award. BeRAD recognizes health systems, imaging centers,
hospitals, clinics and other facilities in which medical imaging and radiation
therapy personnel demonstrate a culture of professionalism. Launched in 2024,
the BeRAD Award supports ASRT’s mission to advance and elevate the medical
imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety
of patient care.
BeRAD Award winners receive resources to promote their accomplishment and are
recognized at the honors evening at the ASRT Annual Governance and House of
Delegates Meeting. Applications close on September 30th, so submit your
application today.
Ray Arambula: What a great interview.
Melissa Pergola: It was. Should I wear this for you?
Ray Arambula: I think you should.
Melissa Pergola: [puts on In-N-Out hat] OK. There. Here.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] That was a great interview.
Ray Arambula: I mean, if you wore that the whole conference —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] Oh, you want me to go back out to
the conference and wear this? OK.
Ray Arambula: [puts on In-N-Out hat] No, I’m just saying if
you want more friends —
Melissa Pergola: I think Brandon might not be too happy, but
speaking of Brandon, what a great episode.
Ray Arambula: That was a great episode, yeah. I love
Brandon’s authenticity.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Just the genuineness he brings. He very much
cares about the profession.
Melissa Pergola: He does.
Ray Arambula: And it definitely shows.
Melissa Pergola: He does. And, you know, a lot of people
don’t realize how much work this Board puts in. And him talking about family
and, you know, Brandon has often said, “When you’re in one place, you’re not
in another.” And I just, I’m so thankful for the Board of Directors and how
hard they work, right? For us, it’s our job. For them, they have a job and a
family and their volunteers. And it’s just so wonderful every time to hear
Brandon talk because he’s so inspiring and so focused on the legacy that will
be left for this profession.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. #BeRad.
Melissa Pergola: #BeRad. So don’t forget to write in —
[email protected] or fill out the
form at asrt.org/RadPosition.
Ray Arambula: And be sure to subscribe and share the podcast
with your colleagues and friends and family.
Melissa Pergola: And to all our medical imaging and radiation
therapy professionals, be seen —
Ray Arambula: And stay rad.
[music]