This is “The RAD Position” with ASRT CEO and
Executive Director Melissa Pergola, a podcast for medical imaging and
radiation therapy professionals.
Melissa Pergola: Hi there, and welcome back to “The RAD
Position” podcast. I’m your host, Melissa Pergola, and I have —
Ray Arambula: — her podcast partner, Ray Arambula.
Melissa Pergola: Ray with the skeleton behind him. So if
you’re not watching, you need to watch and not just listen. But tonight we are
thrilled to have our ASRT Treasurer Emily Cash. Hi, Emily.
Emily Cash: Hi.
Melissa Pergola: And our ASRT Secretary Amanda Grocott.
Amanda Grocott: Hello.
Melissa Pergola: Hello. Welcome to both of you.
Amanda Grocott: Thank you.
Emily Cash: Thank you so much.
Melissa Pergola: All right, so before we get started, I’m
going to do some intros. So first, ASRT Secretary Amanda Grocott is a
registered radiographer and computed tomography technologist with 15 years of
experience. She is currently the program director for Sanford Medical Center
Fargo School of Radiography in Fargo, North Dakota.
Over the years, Amanda has held leadership roles with the North Dakota Society
of Radiologic Technologists and represented the state as a delegate at the
ASRT House of Delegates. She has also contributed her expertise as a member of
the ASRT Committee on Bylaws and the ASRT Commission, including serving as
chair, and has previously been vice president of the North Dakota Medical
Imaging and Radiation Therapy Board. Wow.
Outside of work, Amanda and her husband are busy raising two boys, where they
love spending time outdoors and keeping up with all their kids’ sporting
activities. Welcome, Amanda.
Amanda Grocott: Thanks, Melissa. I’m so happy to be here.
Melissa Pergola: And I have to tell you, that is going to go
by really quickly, and then you’re going to be really sad that you don’t have
to run around behind those kids anymore.
Amanda Grocott: Exactly. I know.
Melissa Pergola: And that’s for Emily too.
Emily Cash: No doubt.
Melissa Pergola: So ASRT Treasurer Emily Cash is an
accomplished leader at Atrium Health, where she has been serving as an imaging
director on the Winston-Salem campus since 2018. In her role, Emily
participates in departmental operational and strategic planning to ensure
optimal imaging service performance, value and growth.
She has a profound passion for education, building pipelines — really
important — and strengthening relationships to ensure collaborative clinical
environments for trainees. Emily has played a crucial role in creating
pathways for both CT and IR [interventional radiography] apprenticeship
programs, student technologist opportunities and on-the-job training.
Emily continuously served on the board of directors for the North Carolina
Society of Radiologic Technologists for the last 15 years. Wow. I can’t — it
doesn’t seem like you’ve been graduated 15 years. [laughs]
Emily Cash: I know. It’s crazy.
Melissa Pergola: And most recently, she was elected and is
currently serving the role of treasurer for the ASRT. Emily is a true advocate
for the profession and works tirelessly to ensure that medical imaging
professionals are recognized for the incredible assets they are. Emily’s
contributions to Atrium Health and the field of medical imaging are
invaluable, demonstrating her commitment to excellence, education and
advocacy. Her work not only improves the operational aspects of imaging
services but also ensures the growth and recognition of medical imaging
professionals. And you also have some children that you chase around.
Emily Cash: I do, three of them — 10, 12 and 13. Little stair
steps.
Melissa Pergola: Oh my goodness. Wow. Yeah, you two, you’re
going to miss it.
Emily Cash: Oh, one day, I’m sure.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Emily Cash: No doubt.
Melissa Pergola: Well, welcome both of you. We’re just really
thrilled to be able to speak with you. So last year when we started this
series, the podcast, in Season 1 when we brought on the treasurer, the
secretary, the president, the president-elect, we talked about the position.
But we’ve already done that. So now we just want to talk to you.
Amanda Grocott: All right.
Emily Cash: Awesome.
Melissa Pergola: So I think Ray has some questions to start.
Ray Arambula: So this question is for Amanda. Amanda, can you
share a little bit about your career journey and what first inspired you to
enter the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession?
Amanda Grocott: Sure. So my career journey started, of
course, as a student. I attended radiography school in Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, at Sanford USD [University of South Dakota] Medical Center. And when I
entered the job force, it was not how it is today —
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Amanda Grocott: — and there were not very many jobs that were
open.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: And I chose to pursue education and computed
tomography to kind of build my professional profile. And I began working in
CT. I got my CT credential. And I worked many years on the night shift in CT.
And I think that those night shifts are really what built a good foundation
for me — learning how to kind of lead when nobody else is there, because, you
know, there’s nobody there at night.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Amanda Grocott: You’re kind of making those decisions, and
you have to follow your policies and be a true advocate for your patient as
well. And I always knew I wanted to pursue education, because I had a
wonderful program director myself, and I wanted to lead by an example in the
same way she had led me. So pursuing my master’s degree came next.
But the basis of my entry into the field actually stemmed from an experience I
had as a patient. I had received care from an MRI [magnetic resonance imaging]
technologist when I was in high school that was exceptional. And I had been
going through kind of a difficult time in my life, and they made a profound
impact on me. It wasn’t something I realized in the moment, but it did plant a
seed. It definitely planted a seed.
And then a couple years after that, I was like, you know what? That was really
impactful and that made a difference. And I wanted to impact other people’s
lives in times when they were struggling. So that’s how that started out for
me.
Melissa Pergola: Well, how amazing that a medical imaging
professional inspired you.
Amanda Grocott: Yes, she did. Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: Wow. I’ll tell you, that speaks to the
importance of, we talk a lot about the pipelines and planting seeds and Dr.
Heather Moore’s initiatives, but what you just said is something so profound
because every day, medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals need to
realize that they can inspire the pipeline.
Amanda Grocott: Yes. Absolutely. And she brought her passion
to work that day. And if you can show up every day in that way that’s very
passionate, you can be impactful to others. And you just never know, you know,
what you might change in that person or the influence you might have on their
life, so, mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So Emily, what inspired you to enter
the field?
Emily Cash: I knew early on I wanted to go to UNC [the
University of North Carolina]. I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do, but
as I thought about, I knew I wanted to go into a medical field or, you know,
some sort of pathway. And I was like, this is the only school in North
Carolina that has a BS [Bachelor of Science] in radiologic science.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Emily Cash: And — talked with Joy Renner and several others,
and it was just like the stars aligned, and truly the best decision of my
life. What an incredible experience, not just from the education perspective,
but, like you said, planting those seeds, not just for my professional
journey, but what I learned there has taken me so much further in my personal
life. It’s just incredible.
Ray Arambula: It’s interesting to hear how role models and
mentors might have played a role in the diverse backgrounds that you both have
that led to your careers. But what would you say has been the most rewarding
part of your career so far?
Amanda Grocott: So, me as an educator, I feel like my most
rewarding part is that I get to invest in the future of our profession. My
students, our students, all the students — they are the future of our
profession. So to me, it’s very rewarding not only to be a part of their
journey, but to hopefully, again, plant those seeds for them to see the bigger
picture of, you know, what our profession stands for, the things we want to
accomplish in the future. And seeing them not only grow into a great
technologist, but like a true advocate for who we are and what we do, and
knowing that they kind of hold the key to the future and they need to be the
ones to build on the strong foundation that we have, and giving them that
encouragement and that empowerment to take those next steps. So for me, that’s
the most rewarding part, is kind of seeing them grow and flourish.
Melissa Pergola: That legacy.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah. Absolutely. Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: So the next question, and this is for Emily
— to start with, at least — what advice would you give to members who want to
get involved in advocacy, but they’re just really not sure where to start?
Emily Cash: Yeah. So I think there’s a few different ways.
One is just getting to know what the issue or what you’re digging into. I
think educating yourself is huge. And there’s so many resources, whether it’s
online, talking with folks within your state affiliates, talking with us as a
Board — I think all of us are super open and willing to have the conversations
— but understanding what you’re even advocating for, I think, is massive and
one huge step in the right direction.
And probably a mistake that I made early, early on, just because I didn’t
fully understand the issue behind it — like, I knew we needed licensure, but
why? So, like, being able to explain it when you go and meet with legislators
or even just talking out in the public, being educated on what you’re talking
about is huge.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Emily Cash: But I do think, no matter what, engaging with
your state society is a great first step. And don’t give up. Like, you may not
get the response you want right off the bat, but keep pushing and don’t give
up. If you are passionate about something, keep moving in the right direction
and just don’t let anything stop you.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: That’s great. And I would add a little bit if
I could. I think sometimes — well, I come from a state that does have
licensure, and we’re really grateful for that. But I always tell my students,
like, “You can’t stop.”
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: You know, we need to still show up. And we
need to go to capital days. And we need to make a presence and build those
relationships when you don’t need something, so people know who you are, and
have that connection when you do. And it might be daunting for some people to
contact a senator or representative, but there’s other things you can do.
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: Right? Like, you can educate the public. Do
you tell people who we are and what we do?
Melissa Pergola: Right. Every day, yes.
Emily Cash: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: Do you talk about what we do? Be proud and be
loud and share our message so people know who we are. And I think that those
are some little things. And, of course, being involved in your affiliate is
huge. And I promise they have a job for you.
Emily Cash: Absolutely.
Amanda Grocott: I promise they won’t turn you away. [laughs]
Emily Cash: And even so, even if you’re not with the
affiliate, look on the ASRT’s website with the Be Seen campaign. You can read
and live and display that in your everyday life. And, you know, it just
becomes a natural part of your conversation. And that is advocating in and of
itself.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: It is. It is. And we all have social media.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right. That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: Are you hitting share?
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: Are you putting that message out there? Like,
“Hey, this is who I am, and we matter.”
Ray Arambula: What would you say to someone who worries their
voice doesn’t matter in the legislative work?
Emily Cash: I think every voice matters. And even if you’re
on a differing side of where another person stands, like, your voice always
matters. And that’s one thing that you can’t give up. And I would say to
anybody, no matter what issue you’re arguing, I mean, you have to be
authentically yourself, and know when appropriate to step up and, you know,
sit back, but also don’t squelch what you’re passionate about.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. You can’t give up.
And you have to understand that, you know, there’s a lot of things going on
and maybe right now might not be the time. But you don’t give up, and you
continue to push forward your message. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And I think one of the things I love
that you talked about is when we talk about advocacy, people usually feel like
it has to be a grand gesture.
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: Right? I mean, “I have state licensure. I
don’t need to go —” No. I love the fact that you said we should all be
advocating for ourselves every day. How many patients or even just the general
public do you touch —
Amanda Grocott: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: — that need to learn about who we are and
what we do? And just by teaching about who we are and what we do, you’re
planting those seeds for advocacy.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: So do either of you have an example of an
advocacy or legislative effort that you were involved in that really made an
impact?
Emily Cash: Yeah, so I’ve got a few, but I think the one that
I’m just most particularly proud of is we do career fairs all the time and
participate wherever we can, whether it’s through work or NCSRT, you name it.
But for the longest time, the nursing world had been putting on career fairs
year after year with the early college —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Emily Cash: — and getting folks involved. Well, finally,
after years and years of asking, we didn’t even have to seek them out. They
came to us last year.
Melissa Pergola: Wow.
Emily Cash: We were able to set up a booth, and I actually
got notification a couple months ago saying one of those students has put
their application in for the radiography program at a local community college.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. Yes!
Emily Cash: Like you said, planting those seeds, and just
letting them know we’re out there, you know, it’s half the battle.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Emily Cash: But also being recognized by the nursing world is
just massive.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right. That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: That’s huge.
Melissa Pergola: We’re being seen.
Amanda Grocott: That’s a big win. That’s awesome.
Melissa Pergola: So another question. What advice would you
give to members who want to get involved in advocacy but really aren’t sure
where to start?
Amanda Grocott: I think for me, it would be reaching out to
your local affiliate.
Emily Cash: Yeah, agreed.
Amanda Grocott: I think that’s the best place to start. Find
out who your affiliate board members are, reaching out to them and offering
your volunteerism, offering, like, “Hey, I’m here to help. I might not know
what to do, but I’m willing to help.” Like I said before, they won’t turn you
away.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Amanda Grocott: Affiliates love their volunteers.
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: They will find you something to do if you
want to be there. And you do belong there. You belong there.
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: So that would be my first step is to reach
out to your local affiliates, because they’re the ones that are connected.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: So volunteering has been a hallmark of ASRT’s
success. What role has volunteering played in your professional life?
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, so for me, volunteering for me started
out with my local affiliate, of course. But I will say that when I really
started investing my time as a volunteer, it gave me a different sense of
professional pride. And I’ve always been proud to be a medical imaging and
radiation therapy professional.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Amanda Grocott: But I think that volunteering with my local
affiliate and then of course the ASRT with other committees, it really kind of
lit that fire in me. And sometimes we kind of feel our fire, our flame start
to go down a little bit. It happens to me. It happens to all of us. But when
you start to lose your fire, you need to notice that. And that’s when you
reach out to people who are like-minded and who you can feed off of, and I
found that by volunteering through my local affiliate. And that really helped
me to kind of reignite my fire and realize, you know, this profession needs us
as volunteers, and it helped me to give back. And, again, then it led to more
opportunities with the ASRT.
So if you’re feeling like “I might need a little bit more here,” I think that
volunteering is a great way to feed that professional fire inside of you and
bring your passion back.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, yeah. Passion breeds passion, right?
Amanda Grocott: It does.
Melissa Pergola: You’re around other people who are excited
and —
Amanda Grocott: Yes, it does. Yes. Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: So next question: What would you say to a
member who is hesitant about volunteering because they feel too busy or unsure
of their skills?
Emily Cash: I think if you wait, you’re never going to be
ready.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that’s true.
Emily Cash: Like, if you wait for that perfect time, it’s
just — you’re always going to be waiting. There’s always something else. But
in the same regard, if it’s something you’re passionate about, it’s easy. I
mean, our daily lives are super chaotic inherently. It just is what it is.
Work, life, you name it — there’s everything.
But at the same time, when you love what you do and know the value and the
work and effort that’s being put into it, and seeing the output, it’s so worth
it. And like you said earlier, I mean, it really just fuels —
Amanda Grocott: It does, yeah. And we’re all busy. Like,
every single one of us is busy, but don’t ever think that you’re too busy to
contribute, and know that you have a worth to contribute.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right.
Emily Cash: And it doesn’t have to be grandiose. I mean, even
just these small things make a huge difference.
Amanda Grocott: They do. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: And I would say — I usually say mother’s
guilt, but in honor of Ray, I’ll say parent guilt is real.
Amanda Grocott: Yes.
Emily Cash: One hundred percent.
Melissa Pergola: Right? And you still have young children.
And I will tell you, I know there were a lot of times that it felt sad to be
away, to be doing those things. But I can tell you that they see you —
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: They do.
Melissa Pergola: — and they are going to be inspired [chokes
up] — they’re going to be inspired by you and be proud of you. And they’re
going to be better for it too.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate that.
Emily Cash: Yeah, thank you.
Amanda Grocott: Thank you for that. Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: What do you see as the biggest
responsibilities of a leader in our profession today?
Amanda Grocott: I think that a leader today in our profession
is, we have to be looking to the future.
Melissa Pergola: Mm. Oh yes. Yes.
Amanda Grocott: We have to be building our future. And we do
have a wonderful, strong foundation here, but how can we strategically build
ourselves as a profession? Because things are not the same they were —
Melissa Pergola: No, they’re not. [laughs]
Amanda Grocott: — five years ago, two years ago, even. So I
think as a leader in today’s profession, you need to be looking towards the
future. We need to get ahead and stay ahead of the new trends, embrace the new
technology and not be afraid of it, but find out a way that we can make sure
it fits into our culture and who we are and what we do.
Melissa Pergola: Right.
Emily Cash: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: So I think that that’s our biggest role as
leaders today.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah.
Emily Cash: Yeah. I completely agree with that, Amanda. And I
think, just to give a second piece of that, our society right now is in such a
place where there’s a lack of trust, I think. And what I appreciate about you
is your ability to be so transparent with the members, your staff, the Board,
and I just so appreciate that. And to me, being on this Board and the level of
integrity and honesty and transparency is huge and part of why I continue to
give —
Amanda Grocott: Yes.
Emily Cash: — all that I do and keep advocating for what
we’re pushing for. And I think that’s huge to continue to build that trust
from our members and everything else.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: Absolutely. And the public that we serve.
Emily Cash: Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. Yeah, that trust is so important,
right? And communication and being transparent and explaining as we have to
make hard decisions, as the future comes to light and our profession is
changing. It’s really important to explain why —
Emily Cash: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: — we’re making the decisions we’re making,
right? And I often say, you know, we can’t stick our head in the sand —
Amanda Grocott: No.
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Melissa Pergola: — because they’ll go right over us and
someone else will take, they’ll take our profession. We need to keep our house
our house.
Amanda Grocott: We do.
Melissa Pergola: Right? But it comes with difficult decisions
and being futurists.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. No one’s going to
stand up for our worth.
Melissa Pergola: No.
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: We have to. Yes. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: So we’re talking a little bit about types of
leadership and leaders and what you should do to be a leader. How do you
balance being a servant leader to members while also guiding strategy at the
Board level?
Emily Cash: I love that one.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Amanda Grocott: That’s good.
Emily Cash: You know, I think for me, just being present and
being there, meeting you on your level, having those conversations, and then
also being able to take that back to help the strategic plan and help to
formulate how we want to move forward. And then if for some reason it’s not
what you expected or whatever, that feedback loop to make sure you follow up:
“Well, this is why. And here’s where we were. We did discuss it. But this is
why maybe we didn’t move in that direction.”
And it may not be immediate, but I do think that feedback loop is huge. But I
think just building those relationships, going out to the affiliate societies
and keeping engaged throughout the year is massive.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, absolutely. I agree. And I think too,
like you said, the communication piece, making yourself available for
conversations when you go meet your affiliates and having the conversations.
And knowing that you can come approach us. That’s why we’re here.
Emily Cash: Right. Absolutely.
Amanda Grocott: We want to talk to you.
Ray Arambula: So what excites you most about the future of
ASRT and the profession?
Amanda Grocott: I just think we’re going places.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. [laughs]
Emily Cash: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: I just think that, you know, everyone’s going
to know who we are. I think we’re going to be known. We’re going to be a
household name.
Emily Cash: Right.
Amanda Grocott: People will know what a medical imaging
professional is —
Melissa Pergola: Right. Right.
Amanda Grocott: — and radiation therapy professional. They
will know. They will know who we are. They won’t mistake us for a nurse.
Emily Cash: Yes.
Amanda Grocott: They’re going to know.
Emily Cash: Absolutely. And even just the conversations that
we’re having at different levels than we would’ve had even five, six years
ago, it’s insane. And the commercials coming out — we were talking about this
earlier. I mean, we’ve all seen the commercials on different streaming
services, and that’s incredible. Being able to share across different social
media areas — it’s awesome. But I agree.
Amanda Grocott: Having a seat at those tables where we belong
and we have belonged.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right. That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: It’s so exciting.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And like you had mentioned, Emily,
where you all got invited —
Emily Cash: Right.
Melissa Pergola: It’s a different time.
Emily Cash: It is!
Melissa Pergola: Like, we know we’re gaining the respect,
because there are even tables we didn’t even know we should be at, and we’re
being invited to them.
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Melissa Pergola: And that is cool.
Amanda Grocott: It’s very cool.
Emily Cash: Absolutely.
Amanda Grocott: And it echoes all the hard work of everybody.
Melissa Pergola: So as we wrap up, I have a question for both
of you. If you could leave listeners with one piece of advice about leadership
or professional growth, what would it be?
Emily Cash: I think stay curious and keep learning.
Melissa Pergola: I love that.
Amanda Grocott: I love that. That’s great. I think, like,
don’t ever think you’re too good to do the little jobs too.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, I like that too.
Amanda Grocott: You know, like, it’s not someone else’s job
to take out the trash.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right.
Amanda Grocott: You know, and that can be at any level.
Emily Cash: Absolutely.
Amanda Grocott: You can’t lead behind a desk, and get out
there, and don’t forget where you started either.
Emily Cash: That’s right. I love that.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right. That’s so true. Great advice.
Not surprised from our two newest members to the Board.
Amanda Grocott and Emily Cash: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: We are so excited to have you. And it has
been so fun having you on.
Emily Cash: Thank you so much. This has been so fun.
Amanda Grocott: It has been. I’ve always wanted to be on a
podcast. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: All right, so we are going to transition now to
our game to help us to get to know our new Board members a little better.
We’re going to play a quick game of Two Truths and a Lie.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, this is not a bad one. Two Truths and a
Lie.
Amanda Grocott: OK.
Emily Cash: Oh, this’ll be fun.
Melissa Pergola: I actually like this game.
Amanda Grocott: OK, we can handle that. We can handle that.
Melissa Pergola: That’s not so bad, Ray. You’re not bad for
once.
Ray Arambula: It’ll be interesting.
Amanda Grocott and Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: So each person will share three statements
about themselves.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: Two are true, and one is not. So the rest of us
will try to spot the lie.
Melissa Pergola: OK, so Amanda’s going first.
Amanda Grocott: OK.
Emily Cash: Oh boy.
Amanda Grocott: OK. I can play the saxophone.
Emily Cash: No way.
Amanda Grocott: I’m on a competitive curling team. Remember
where I live. I have traveled through five or more states via a train.
Emily Cash: I think that’s true.
Melissa Pergola: So I will — I’m going to tell you why I
think the lie is the lie. You added an interjection in your second one where
you said, “Remember where I live.”
Amanda Grocott: Oh.
Melissa Pergola: So I’m going to say that’s the lie. You’re
not on a professional curling team.
Amanda Grocott: Mm.
Melissa Pergola: OK, Emily, what do you think?
Emily Cash: I think her lie is about the saxophone.
Ray Arambula: I’m going to go with you, Melissa. I think she
had a little bit of a pause there.
Melissa Pergola: See, he agreed. Yeah, you agree with me.
Amanda Grocott: He agrees with you? Because I paused?
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Amanda Grocott: You’re correct. But my husband is on a
curling team.
Amanda Grocott, Melissa Pergola, and Emily Cash: [laughs]
Emily Cash: That’s awesome.
Melissa Pergola: There’s a little bit of curling.
Amanda Grocott: I know, I know.
Emily Cash: For sure.
Amanda Grocott: Aw, dang. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: OK, we’re going to have Melissa go next and
tell her two truths and a lie.
Melissa Pergola: So the first one is I was held up at
gunpoint when I worked at a Hallmark in high school. The second one is I
actually shared the stage at the Roxy in New York City with Alfonso Ribeiro.
Remember Alfonso Ribeiro, from — [dances]. Yeah. And my third one is that I
worked with the Ministry of Health in Malawi to initiate a baccalaureate
degree in radiologic science. [laughs] I’m just laughing. OK.
Emily Cash: I’m going with number two being a lie.
Melissa Pergola: Which is Alfonso Ribeiro.
Emily Cash: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: OK. From “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Remember
him? He dances. [dances]
Emily Cash: Oh, that makes more sense now. [dances]
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. OK.
Emily Cash: The Carlton, right?
Melissa Pergola: Carlton, yes.
Amanda Grocott: I’m going to go the first one.
Melissa Pergola: The first one?
Amanda Grocott: Yeah. The gunpoint.
Melissa Pergola: OK. Held up at gunpoint. All right, Ray,
what do you think?
Ray Arambula: I’m going with the third one. That just sounded
long-winded. I think you just —
Melissa Pergola: Malawi.
Ray Arambula: — you were ad-libbing the whole time.
Melissa Pergola: OK. Well, my lie was that I was held up at
gunpoint. But my sister was.
Amanda Grocott: See, there’s a little truth. Yes. [laughs]
Emily Cash: I knew there had to have been some truth in
there.
Amanda Grocott: Yes. Yep.
Melissa Pergola: But I did share the stage at the Roxy with
Alfonso Ribeiro.
Amanda Grocott: Oh wow.
Melissa Pergola: He was the Tap Dance Kid at the time.
Emily Cash: OK.
Melissa Pergola: And I was traveling with a children’s
repertory company in Manhattan.
Emily Cash: That’s so cool.
Melissa Pergola: So yeah. And I did go to Malawi with
RAD-AID, which, if you’ve never done a RAD-AID trip —
Emily Cash: I thought I had heard about that.
Melissa Pergola: Probably one of the most significant
experiences of my life.
Amanda Grocott: Wow.
Melissa Pergola: But yeah, so that’s mine.
Amanda Grocott: Well, that’s fun.
Ray Arambula: Well, Emily is next.
Emily Cash: I have never been to Disney World. I am
incredibly superstitious. And I cheered my freshman year at UNC.
Ray Arambula: I’m going to go with number two.
Melissa Pergola: I’m going to go with that one too.
Amanda Grocott: I’m going to do number one.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, see, we all think you were a
cheerleader.
Amanda Grocott: I know you were — I think you were in high
school.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Amanda Grocott: Well, I think you were in high school. Just
because you just, you’re just so cheery.
Amanda Grocott, Melissa Pergola, and Emily Cash: [laughs]
Emily Cash: So I’ve never been to Disney. That’s my lie. You
were correct.
Amanda Grocott: Oh!
Emily Cash: Yeah. So my husband has worn off on me like
crazy, like the whole baseball superstition, and got to wear the same socks if
you won the day before.
Amanda Grocott and Melissa Pergola: Oh!
Emily Cash: That have built me in. Like, it
works.
Melissa Pergola: Well, I’m not going to lie, I’ve worn my
Panthers jersey, the same one, every game and not washed it.
Emily Cash: Yeah! Right? You do what works!
Amanda Grocott: There are things that — yeah.
Melissa Pergola: When our season ends and we were terrible,
then I wash it. So, maybe I’m superstitious too. I never thought about it.
Amanda Grocott: Yeah, mm-hmm. We do our rally caps. I get it.
Emily Cash: For sure.
Ray Arambula: Thank you for sharing, and thank you for
letting us learn a little bit more about you.
Amanda Grocott: Thank you, Ray.
Emily Cash: Yes, thank you.
Female Voice: We’ll be right back after this short message.
ASRT Ad: Advance your career with ASRT’s structured education
bundles — convenient, online and ARRT [American Registry of Radiologic
Technologists] approved. Get the 16 continuing education credits you need to
earn a new credential. Prepare to excel at
asrt.org/StructuredEducation.
Melissa Pergola: All right, so now that we got done with
Ray’s game, we’re going to move on to another thing that we always do on “The
RAD Position,” and that is our We See You segment.
Ray Arambula: “Good afternoon. My name is Kit Holmes. I am a
supervisory radiation health physicist for the Department of Defense and also
a radiology educator teaching nuclear physics and health physics for Pitt
Community College. I have a master’s in radiation physics from Oregon State
University and a bachelor in radiological sciences from the University of
South Alabama. My question is: How can students utilize their degree in
radiology in other avenues?”
Melissa Pergola: Oh, interesting.
Emily Cash: Gosh, I love that.
Melissa Pergola: Since we have the two of you here, how about
we have you answer?
Amanda Grocott: That’s a great question.
Emily Cash: Gosh, there’s so many opportunities of whether
you go the IT [information technology] pathway through PACS [picture archiving
and communication system, now known as medical image management and processing
system, or MIMPS] or some sort of 3D printing. Gosh, there’s so many different
things.
Amanda Grocott: I think, like, vendors and apps are huge. I’m
so grateful we have gotten our apps people to be imaging professionals, you
know?
Emily Cash: Yes.
Amanda Grocott: I think there’s endless opportunities. The
beautiful thing too about our profession is so many of those avenues, you
don’t have to uproot your life and go back to school.
Emily Cash: That’s right.
Melissa Pergola: Right.
Amanda Grocott: You don’t have to do that, which is a
beautiful thing. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah, lots of things that you can do.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I think a degree is really a launchpad.
So, you know, there’s so many avenues: leadership, research, working with
maybe even imaging equipment manufacturers could be an avenue as well.
Melissa Pergola: All right. So now it is time for updates.
And what we always say around here is don’t put yourself in a bad position —
Ray Arambula: — stay up to date with “The RAD Position.”
Melissa Pergola: OK, so our update today is get ready for
National Radiologic Technology Week®, November 2nd through 8th. This year’s
theme, “The Kaleidoscope of Radiologic Technology,” celebrates the multitude
of medical imaging and radiation therapy practice areas and medical procedures
in a single vision. Siemens Healthineers has joined the festivities as the
official sponsor. Plan your party and shop for official products at
asrt.org/NRTW. Such an important time.
Amanda Grocott: Oh yes. Be sure you celebrate. It’s a big
deal. Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Emily Cash: Absolutely. It’s my favorite week of the year at
work. I mean, we go out, we see everybody, we party. It’s just awesome.
Amanda Grocott: Same.
Emily Cash: Celebrate you and what you do.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right.
Ray Arambula: Well, that was a really great episode. And it’s
an inspiring conversation. I think hearing both journeys and their challenges
and their advice, I think it just really, you know, underscores just how much
we care about the profession and what we can look forward to in the future.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, it does. And I think speaking to the
two of you, I think the future is bright, and it is so exciting to have you on
the Board. It’s easy to see how professional, how caring and what amazing
leaders you are. So thank you so much.
Amanda Grocott: Well, thank you. Thank you for this
opportunity.
Emily Cash: Absolutely. Thank you so much.
Ray Arambula: All right. And we can’t wait to see you all
next time, so don’t forget to write in at
[email protected]. Or you can
fill out the form at
asrt.org/RADPosition.
Melissa Pergola: That’s right, and don’t forget to subscribe
and follow us so that you get an update every time there’s a new episode.
Ray Arambula: And to all our medical imaging and radiation
therapy professionals, be seen —
Melissa Pergola: — and stay rad.