Meet The Elected Officer Candidates

I’ve been a proud R.T. for 32 years! I’ve worked in radiography, magnetic resonance and computed tomography, but my career has focused mainly on education. I am currently the director of the radiologic technology program at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. I’ve been privileged to serve this amazing profession in a number of ways at both the state and national levels. I have served the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists, including multiple terms as state affiliate delegate, president-elect, president and board chair. Nationally, I’ve been honored to serve as an ASRT delegate for the Computed Tomography and Education chapters. I was a member, vice chair and chair of the Practice Standards Council, representing CT as my area of clinical specialty. I’ve chaired both the Committee on Bylaws and the Commission. I served two terms as House of Delegates vice speaker and am currently in my second term as speaker of the house.

Encroachment remains the top issue facing our profession and it is increasingly problematic. Our equipment continues to become more automated and, in theory, safer to operate. The science of medical radiation risk is also changing. My concern is that some may begin to view our services as so safe that anyone can perform them. The ASRT needs to lead efforts to ensure that our entire health care system recognizes and values the medical imaging and radiation therapy professional as the most crucial component of safe, high-quality imaging and therapeutic service. As I’ve been doing with the ASRT Patient Shielding Task Force, I want to help educate our health care peers and those we serve to understand that that no matter how automated or low risk our procedures may be, high-quality outcomes and patient safety depend on the fact that a skilled and credentialed imaging or therapy professional is at the controls of every system.

I deeply appreciate both the privilege and responsibility of serving on the ASRT Board of Directors. First and foremost, the ASRT Board works together to help move the Society and our profession forward, in accordance with our mission, vision and values. I have gained invaluable experience in the areas of governance and professional practice through my volunteer work with ASRT over the past decade. My goal is to bring this knowledge and experience into efforts that help to inform, engage and empower the nearly 350,000 medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals across this great country. As vice president, I will work alongside my Board colleagues to ensure that the organization and our profession are well represented and respected by our health care peers and the patients we serve. I am confident that my clinical expertise, dedication as an educator and demonstrated leadership ability have prepared me to help lead the ASRT and all who we represent.

I have been a radiologic technologist for more than 40 years, practicing in radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance. I served both the ASRT and the New York State Society of Radiologic Technologists in many capacities during that time. In 2019, I was elevated to Fellow of the ASRT, and in 2021, I was elevated to life member of my state affiliate. Those experiences prepared me to serve as ASRT vice speaker and then as speaker of the House. Presiding over the ASRT House of Delegates as speaker was a great privilege that gave me the opportunity to work with colleagues from across our country and in every area of practice within our profession. With your vote, it would be my great honor to put that experience to work for you on the ASRT Board of Directors as secretary.

One of the leading issues facing ASRT and our profession is encroachment upon our practice by unqualified individuals. As medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals, we know that our educational preparation and clinical experience unquestionably make us the most qualified personnel to perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures as described in the ASRT Practice Standards. Our work delivers the best quality of care and produces the best possible outcomes for our patients. As ASRT secretary, I will work to increase awareness of the high standards held by our profession and to vigorously oppose encroachment by less qualified individuals upon the work that we do best. I think that directing ASRT’s attention and resources to closely monitor pending legislative actions and challenges will be key to this effort.

The primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is to represent the interests of the ASRT membership and our profession to the public, our colleagues in health care, legislators and the various regulatory agencies that influence our practice. And most importantly, to our patients! My skills as an educator for more than 30 years and my work with the ASRT Practice Standards Council have well equipped me for these tasks. Leading R.T. advocacy efforts in my home state and advocating on Capitol Hill for passage of the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence (CARE) in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill have provided me with the valuable skills that will be needed for this job. The COVID-19 pandemic clearly demonstrated that we are indeed essential, frontline health care professionals and that our skills are vital to the communities that we serve. We must continuously strive to elevate our profession and to advocate for the recognition that we colleagues deserve.

As a radiation therapist for the last 20 years, I have been involved in medical imaging and radiation therapy profession in many aspects. Professionally, I have worked in the clinic as a therapist and then transitioned into the educational realm. My passion for the profession led me to teach. My love for the profession led me to become active as a volunteer. Throughout my career, I have served on various committees and councils. I also enjoy the opportunity to mentor others on the impact that volunteering has on our profession. One of my greatest volunteering experiences was chairing the ASRT Practice Standard Council. In that year, I learned about every discipline in our profession and about issues that affect everyone.

I think one of the top issues facing the radiologic science profession is external factors working against the profession. It is very important to have members on the ASRT Board of Directors who are continually working to combat those external factors, whether it be encroachment or state licensure issues. I think we address this by strengthening our profession as a whole. We need to promote our worth as irreplaceable health care professionals.

The prime role of the ASRT Board of Directors is to represent the members and make educated, informed decisions on issues that affect the profession. The Board should work to move the profession forward and help affiliates do the same. I have been in various committees and councils and have worked with all the disciplines in our profession, I think my ability to listen to all aspects and make informed decisions is a particularly important skill set to support a role on the ASRT Board.