The American Society of Radiologic Technologists is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions on the House of Delegates Minutes Approval Committee, Sergeant-at-Arms Committee and the Registered Radiologist Assistant Curriculum Revision Workgroup.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for these openings are available through the links below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.

Radiologic technology education program directors reported the number of new students enrolled in programs varied by discipline compared to 2024, according to the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Enrollment Snapshot 2025.

Conducted annually since 2001, the survey highlights entering class enrollments for radiography, radiation therapy, nuclear medicine technology, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging programs recognized by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. In addition, the survey provides data on student capacity and program data that measures past trends, staffing, attrition and viability rates, and for the first time, faculty vacancy rates.

The 2025 survey results show that the number of enrolled radiography program students decreased slightly, with an estimated 19,547, down from 19,815 in 2024.

Student enrollment in ARRT-approved radiation therapy programs for 2025 is estimated at 1,397 students, down from 1,663 in 2024.

Nuclear medicine technology program enrollments show an increase, with an estimated 1,585 students enrolling in 2025, up from 1,403 in 2024.

Sonography programs had an estimated enrollment of 5,501 in 2025, a slight decrease from 5,511 in 2024. And magnetic resonance imaging programs enrolled an estimated 1,261 students, an increase from 1,004 in 2024.

This year’s survey also included faculty staffing data. Program directors reported an average of 3.9 budgeted faculty positions and 0.29 open positions, resulting in an overall estimated vacancy rate of 7.4%. As with the enrollment data, vacancy rates varied by discipline and institution type.

“These survey results show that education programs are continuing to try to meet the demand for technologists. At the same time, faculty vacancies can also pose a potential challenge to enrollments,” said Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), ASRT executive vice president of member engagement. “ASRT and the ASRT Foundation are taking action to address workforce shortages by raising awareness of the profession and offering scholarships and resources for R.T.s considering career growth as educators.”

ASRT sent the survey to 1,321 directors of ARRT-approved programs across the five primary disciplines. At the close of the survey, in early November 2025, a total of 304 responses had been received, with reported enrollments from 353 programs across the five primary disciplines, yielding an overall response rate of 26.7%. The sample size yields a ±4.5% margin of error at its widest for overall percentages at the 95% confidence level.

The ASRT has announced the recipients of its distinguished author awards, recognizing the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s scientific journals in 2025. Presented annually, the awards are chosen by members of each journal’s respective Editorial Review Board after a comprehensive review of all scholarly articles published in the journals during the previous calendar year.

The Radiologic Technology Distinguished Author Award in Honor of Jean I. Widger goes to Kevin R. Clark, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(QM), FASRT, FAEIRS. His article, “Comparative Analysis of LLMs’ Performance on a Practice Radiography Certification Exam,” was published in the May/June 2025 issue of Radiologic Technology.

Dr. Clark is an associate professor and the associate director for the School of Health Professions at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He also is founder and chief executive officer of CW Elite, LLC, a professional editing and consulting company. He currently serves as president for the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences and the Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists.

The goal of this study was to compare the performance of multiple large language models on a practice radiography certification exam. Findings from this study provide valuable insights into the performance of multiple LLMs in answering practice radiography certification exam questions. The study concluded that among the five LLMs compared in this study, ChatGPT (OpenAI) was the most accurate model. As interest in generative artificial intelligence continues to increase and new language applications become readily available, users should understand the limitations of LLMs and check responses for accuracy.

This year the Radiation Therapist Distinguished Author Award in Honor of Harold Silverman goes to Danielle McDonagh, D.H.Sc., R.T.(T); Clodagh Starrs, M.Sc., PgC; Samantha Skubish, M.S., R.T.(R)(T); Kavita Dharmarajan, M.D.; Hulya Kocyigit, Ph.D.; Márcio A. Diniz, Ph.D.; and Maria Dimopoulos, Ph.D., R.T.(T), for their article, “Effect of APRT Intervention on Inpatient Radiation Therapy Throughput,” which was published in the spring 2025 issue of Radiation Therapist.

McDonagh is the program director for radiation therapy education at the Mount Sinai Center for Radiation Sciences Education at Stony Brook University in New York. Starrs is a therapeutic radiographer and advanced practice radiation therapist for radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. Skubish is the chief technical director of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Health System in New York. Dr. Dharmarajan is the associate professor of radiation oncology, geriatrics and palliative medicine, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Dr. Kocyigit is a biostatistician for the Department of Population Health Science and Policy, Institute for Health Care Delivery Science, Tisch Cancer Institute Biostatistics Shared Resource Facility at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Diniz works for the Department of Population Health Science and Policy; is an associate professor for the Institute for Health Care Delivery Science; and is codirector for the Tisch Cancer Institute Biostatistics Shared Resource Facility at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Dimopoulos is an assistant professor for Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of an advanced practice radiation therapist intervention on throughput challenges in a large academic radiation oncology department by analyzing and comparing inpatient throughput metrics before and after implementation. The study found that APRT intervention enhanced patient care processes and outcomes by reducing delays and improving treatment efficiency. Thus, incorporating APRT roles can address critical care delivery challenges in modern radiation oncology practice, especially for complex patient populations.

The Widger award is named after longtime Radiologic Technology editor Jean I. Widger. The Silverman award is named in honor of radiation therapist Harold Silverman, an advocate for accreditation of radiation therapy education programs.

The ASRT will honor the recipients at the Honors Evening on June 26 at the 2026 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting.

TJ Gardner,
B.Arch., B.S., R.T.(T)

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists named TJ Gardner, B.Arch., B.S., R.T.(T), of Gilbert, Arizona, as the 2025 Student to Leadership Development Program Alumni of the Year.

Selected in 2023 to participate in the SLDP three-year program, Gardner served as a licensed architect for 25 years involved in the design, planning and renovation of medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics. In 2020, he made a career transition to study radiation therapy. He graduated from the MD Anderson School of Health Professions in Houston, earning membership in the Lambda Nu and Alpha Eta honor societies.

As a radiation therapist at Ironwood Cancer and Research Center in Chandler, Arizona, he focuses on connecting with patients and leans on the knowledge that physical and psychological environments influence treatment quality, safety and staff well-being.

Gardner is an active volunteer nationally and locally. He served as a member for the Sergeant-at-Arms Committee for the 2024 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting and a 2025 ASRT Committee on Bylaws member. He was one of 50 recipients to receive the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists Education and Professional Growth Grant, administered by the ASRT Foundation in 2024. He is currently a professional mentor for two SLDP participants.

For the Arizona Society of Radiologic Technologists, Gardner is a member-at-large and serves on its advocacy committee. As chair of AZSRT Committee on Bylaws, he led the effort to bring its bylaws current with national standards and remains committed to working on its revitalization.

The ASRT House of Delegates has elected Ashley M. Smith, M.H.A., R.T.(R)(MR), as speaker of the House and Carmen George, M.S.R.S., R.T.(R), as vice speaker of the House.

Smith is the clinical imaging specialist at Franciscan Health in Indiana. George is the radiology regulatory coordinator for Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Louisiana.

Smith and George are members of the ASRT Board of Directors. They will manage the House of Delegates proceedings during the 2026 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting.

Ashley M. Smith, M.H.A., R.T.(R)(MR)

Carmen George, M.S.R.S., R.T.(R)

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has launched its Planting Seeds Tool Kit webpage, inviting ASRT members and affiliate societies to turn their passion for the profession into meaningful outreach. Whether the connection is with students from kindergarten through college, patients or the broader community, the webpage offers guidance, tools and resources to help plan and implement outreach events.

The kit, which is a presidential priority of former ASRT President and current Chair of the Board Heather Moore, Ph.D., R.T.(R), includes a Rad Resources section that provides tools to help members raise awareness of the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession, including tabletop presentations, Take a Closer Look booklets and ready-to-use slide presentations. Planning to present at a local career day, mentor students or partner with schools and community organizations? The tool kit has resources to connect to organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Special Olympics or HOSA: Future Health Professionals.

To get involved and help guide the path forward, visit ASRT.org/PlantingSeeds to learn more.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions for the Ambassadors for R.T. Advocacy program.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for this opening are available through the link below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns. To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists 2025 Officers of the Board and chapter delegate annual election and a special election for the vacant president-elect position opens Feb. 11 and concludes on March 4. Eligible members can view the sample ballot and read the national officer and the chapter delegate candidate profiles at the links below. Eligible voting members are encouraged to vote online at ASRT’s secure voting website.

The annual ballot contains officer and chapter delegate candidates. The special election ballot includes candidates for the current ASRT president-elect vacancy. The winner of the special election will assume president-elect duties for the remainder of the 2024-2025 Board term and will assume the role of president in June 2025 for the 2025-2026 term.

The ASRT Board will be officially installed during the Installation of Officers event held during the ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in June.

For more information about the ASRT election process, see the election page. You also may contact ASRT Member Services at 800-444-2778 or [email protected].

Data in recent staffing surveys from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists show that vacancy rates for all medical imaging disciplines are above the rates reported in 2020, according to the 2025 ASRT Radiologic Sciences Staffing and Workplace Survey. Vacancy rates represent the number of unfilled positions that are actively being recruited.

Survey results show that five imaging disciplines saw modest vacancy rate declines since the last survey in 2023; however, vacancy rates remain at or near all-time highs. The highest vacancy rate for any discipline in the current survey was computed tomography, which reached an all-time high of 19.4%, an increase from 17.7% in 2023.

The survey data aligns with increased vacancy rates in health care settings throughout the country. Survey results from the American Hospital Association, National Nurses United, Hospital and Healthcare Association of Pennsylvania and many others point to spikes in vacancy rates during the past several years.

ASRT’s 2025 radiologic sciences staffing survey identified the following vacancy rate changes from 2023 to 2025:

• Radiography decreased from 18.1% to 15.6%
• Computed tomography increased from 17.7% to 19.4%.
• Cardiovascular interventional technology decreased from 18.6% to 17.4%.
• Sonography decreased from 16.7% to 12.4%.
• Magnetic resonance imaging increased from 16.2% to 17.4%.
• Mammography decreased from 13.6% to 11.4%.
• Nuclear medicine decreased from 14.5% to 12.6%.
• Bone densitometry increased from 6.9% to 16.3% accounting for the largest vacancy rate increase from the prior survey.

The increases follow similar trends reported in the ASRT 2024 Radiation Therapy Staffing and Workplace Survey conducted in June 2024. The vacancy rate for radiation therapy was 13.6%, up nearly three percentage points from 2022, and roughly four times the percentage rate in 2018. Although the vacancy rate for medical dosimetry decreased in 2024 to 9.6% from its all-time high of 11.4% in 2022, it remains more than three times the percentage rate in 2018.

In addition to discipline specific vacancy rates, the 2025 Radiologic Sciences Staffing and Workplace survey outlines changes in full time equivalent staff, vacancy rates by U.S. regions and facility demographics. For example, the majority of survey respondents, 52%, work at hospitals, another 16% work at imaging centers, and 7.8% work in physician offices. Other types of facilities where respondents work include large and small clinics, government/veteran affairs hospitals, rural critical access hospitals and education, among others.

“In February 2024, ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology hosted a Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy with representatives from 18 other radiologic science organizations, which discussed solutions to address workforce shortages. To that end, ASRT is taking a multipronged approach to increase recruitment and retention into the profession, including raising awareness via the Be Seen campaign, promoting the profession to middle and high school students and elevating the profession with the ASRT BeRAD Professionalism Award,” said Executive Vice President of Member Engagement Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR).

ASRT emailed the biennial survey in March 2025 to 18,419 radiology department managers across the United States. At the survey's close in May 2025, 475 respondents submitted completed questionnaires, resulting in an overall response rate of 2.6% and a margin of error of ±4.4% at the 95% confidence level.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions on the Radiation Therapist Editorial Review Board and the Radiologic Technology Editorial Review Board.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for these openings are available through the link below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.