The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has named Jennifer Thompson, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(QM), of Tennessee, as the winner of the 2024 ASRT individual Award for Advocacy and the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists as the affiliate award winner.

Based on nominations submitted by ASRT members, the ASRT Award for Advocacy recognizes and acknowledges achievements in various advocacy efforts, including overall growth and development of individual and affiliate grass-roots involvement. The ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy selects the award winners, and the awards are presented on behalf of the ASRT Board of Directors. The 2024 Award for Advocacy recognizes efforts that took place between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023.

Jennifer Thompson, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(QM), is the radiography program director and associate professor at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Tennessee Society of Radiologic Technologists and has held roles including president, senior board member, vice president and secretary for the past 13 years. Dr. Thompson has advocated tirelessly to establish licensure standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in Tennessee and amped up efforts last year when her state considered a bill that would eliminate most licensure requirements. Grass-roots communications efforts through presentations, podcasts, letters, social media posts and testifying at state hearings, proved successful by getting affiliates and other imaging professionals from other states involved. Despite the state passing the bill, she continues to promote the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession including advocating for minimum education standards.

In addition to her legislative work, Dr. Thompson was selected as one of four individuals nationwide to receive the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ Gold Standard award in 2023. She was elected to serve as secretary on the ASRT Board of Directors for 2024-2025.

During the Connecticut General Assembly’s 2023 legislative session, the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists responded to Senate Bill 1228, a measure that addressed the state’s health care workforce shortages. The CSRT’s goal was to tackle the shortage of radiologic technologists, nuclear medicine technologists and respiratory care technologists, as well as develop plans to create a magnet school focused on health care professions. In March, the CSRT provided verbal testimony to the Connecticut Committee on Public Health and recruited directors from radiography programs to submit written testimony on the bill. Although this specific bill did not gain traction in the General Assembly, parts of the bill were put into Senate Bill 9. CSRT collaborated with the Connecticut Public Health Committee to include language in the new bill to establish a task force to address the shortage of radiologic technologists and respiratory care technologists. Both chambers of the legislature voted on the measure, which passed, creating Public Act 23-97. The CSRT educational committee is currently surveying educators to increase student and educator involvement. In addition, members of the CSRT legislative committee participated in a Connecticut legislative coffee hour calling and emailing numerous representatives and senators.

The ASRT Government Relations Department is off to a strong start in 2024. The team continues its efforts to elevate and protect the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to monitor legislative actions at the state and the federal level.

Information about the department’s work can be found on its blog located on the Advocacy Action Center webpage. The blog includes information about the launch of advocacy action campaigns to support legislative efforts in three states as well as successes in protecting and expanding licensure in New Hampshire, Michigan and Washington. Read about the department’s actions to oppose various issues of encroachment, inappropriate scope of practice expansion, remote imaging and deregulation through letter writing campaigns in seven states. ASRT also continues to collaborate with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and other partner radiologic science organizations to support advocacy efforts in numerous states.

The Advocacy Action Center is a resource for the radiologic technology community to learn about the legislative efforts in their states. It also provides technologists with the tools to contact state and federal officials.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions on the Commission and Committee on Bylaws.

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.

The ASRT House of Delegates has elected Shellie Pike, M.S.R.S., R.R.A., R.T.(R)(CT), as speaker of the House and Ashley Perkins, M.H.A., R.T.(R)(MR), as vice speaker of the House.

Pike serves as a registered radiologist assistant for Radiology Consultants of Iowa in Cedar Rapids.

Perkins is the clinical imaging specialist at Franciscan Health in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Shellie Pike, M.S.R.S., R.R.A., R.T.(R)(CT)

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

Pike and Perkins are members of the ASRT Board of Directors. They will manage the House of Delegates proceedings during the 2025 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has launched the BeRAD Professionalism Award to recognize health systems, imaging centers, hospitals, clinics and other facilities in which medical imaging technologists and radiation therapists demonstrate a culture of professionalism.

Spearheaded by former ASRT President and current Chair of the Board Brandon A. Smith, M.B.A., M.S.R.S., R.T.(R)(VI), CIIP, the BeRAD program aligns with ASRT’s mission to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care. “This initiative will elevate our brand by setting the standard for appreciation and access equity that we have certainly earned over more than a century of service,” said Smith.

Applications will be accepted through Sept. 30, 2024, and are available on the website. Health organizations and imaging centers are encouraged to apply. Applicants will receive feedback by Feb. 15, 2025, and award winners will be announced in April 2025. Awardees will be invited to send a representative to the Honors Evening ceremony at the 2025 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in Reno, Nevada. Two awards will be given in the inaugural cycle. Organizations that earn the award will receive a customized plaque to commemorate the honor and a one-year group membership to the ASRT for up to 25 staff.

The newly designed website also features resources for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. The website’s resources include a self-reflection tool and educator and manager tools to build and enhance their career journey. “We took the bold initiative to measurably define professionalism beyond anecdotes,” added Smith.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions for the Professional Mentor Program.

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.

Core tactics to address the current medical imaging and radiation therapy workforce shortage and build career pathways include raising awareness of the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession, articulating career pathways, creating a pipeline with education programs, building a career advancement ladder, expanding opportunities for student education and training, and sharing frameworks and tools to improve workplace satisfaction. That’s according to a new white paper from the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.

Spearheaded by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, the white paper is the culmination of the committee’s work. The committee included representatives from 18 radiologic science organizations who met in February 2024 to address two principal topics: the current medical imaging and radiation therapy workforce shortage and developing career pathways for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.

“The consensus committee included professionals from a wide variety of radiologic science organizations and practice areas, which was incredibly helpful in outlining the recommendations in the white paper that that can be used to address professional areas of concern,” said ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, CAE.

The combination of an aging population needing more health care, fewer students, increasing numbers of professionals leaving due to retirement, burnout and seeking opportunities elsewhere has led to a workforce shortage that exceeds levels documented in more than 20 years. This shortage could affect the quality of patient care as it has left the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession with unprecedented numbers of job openings and overburdening staff.

“The white paper serves as a repository of ideas to address the workforce shortage, strengthen the profession and build career pathways for professionals,” said ARRT CEO Liana Watson, D.M., R.T.(R)(M)(S)(BS), RDMS, RVT, FASRT, CAE.

According to JRCERT CEO Leslie Winter, M.S., R.T.(R), the recommendations in the white paper provide a roadmap to take action and address issues. She added that it is vital for all areas of the profession to work together to develop and launch the initiatives.

“Implementing the tactics outlined in the white paper will require the ongoing commitment and combined talents of our professional societies, accrediting organizations, certifying bodies, equipment vendors, health care organizations, educational institutions, and every member of our professional community,” said Winter.

“Work has already begun on several of the recommendations,” said Dr. Pergola. “The level of buy-in from the supporting organizations has been truly inspiring.”

The ASRT Government Relations and Public Policy Department clarifies public policy terms in its latest blog post located on the Advocacy Action Center webpage.

Meredith Check, manager of Government Relations and Public Policy, explains how the laws and policies that govern medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals at the state level are categorized into three main areas: licensure, standards and equipment regulations. Defining these terms serves to help those that advocate for the profession in their states.

The Advocacy Action Center is a resource for the radiologic technology community to learn about the legislative efforts in their states. It also provides technologists with the tools to contact state and federal officials.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists supports Senate Bill 1281 Licensing of Medical Imaging Professionals legislation in Pennsylvania. The bill would require all individuals who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures in Pennsylvania to be licensed. By requiring these professionals to obtain licensure through the Board of Medicine, Pennsylvania is taking a critical step to ensure Pennsylvanians receive safe, high-quality care.

Supporters, members and residents of Pennsylvania are asked to show their support by sending lawmakers a message through the Advocacy Action Center website, which will guide users on how to contact lawmakers.

The Advocacy Action Center is a resource for the radiologic technology community to learn about the legislative efforts in their states. It also provides technologists with the tools to contact state and federal officials.

This bill is supported by the ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists, Philadelphia Society of Radiologic Technologists and other partner organizations.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in a volunteer position for the Committee on Fellows.

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.