The ASRT has announced the recipients of its distinguished author awards, recognizing the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s scientific journals in 2024. 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 Kerry O. Dunn, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M). Her article, “Exploring the Definition of Clinical Radiography Leadership,” was published in the January/February 2024 issue of Radiologic Technology.

Dr. Dunn is the radiography senior lecturer for Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Her research interests focus on clinical leadership and mentoring.

The study’s goal was to develop a model of clinical leadership that encompasses the specialized technical skills and leadership behaviors exhibited by clinical radiography leaders. The study concluded that by defining the clinical expertise, technical skills and commonly practiced leadership behaviors that clinical radiography leaders encompass, other health care professionals will recognize the unique contribution that the radiologic science profession provides.

In addition, this year the Radiation Therapist Distinguished Author Award in Honor of Harold Silverman goes to Alex Ashley, B.P.S., R.T.(R)(T), Mark Roytman, B.S., R.T.(T), Vishruta Dumane, Ph.D., DABR, Keith Edwards, A.A.S., R.T.(T), Karyn Goodman, M.D., and Samantha Skubish, M.S., R.T.(R)(T), for their article, “High-Dose Gating Protocol for Deaf Patients in Radiation Oncology,” which was published in the fall 2024 issue of Radiation Therapist.

Ashley is the quality improvement coordinator for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital and serves as vice president of the Radiation Therapy Association of New York State. Roytman is the lead radiation therapist for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Dumane is the medical physicist and associate professor of radiation oncology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and clinical associate professor for the School of Health Professions at Stony Brook University in New York. Edwards served as assistant chief radiation therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital and currently is radiation oncology administrator at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Dr. Goodman is a professor and the vice chair for research in the department of radiation oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also is associate director for clinical research for The Tisch Cancer Institute and coleader of the Center of Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer at Mount Sinai. Skubish is the chief technical director for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Health System. She serves as vice chair of the ASRT Practice Standards Council, chair of the Radiation Therapy Association of New York State and leads the national advanced practice radiation therapy working group.

This case study discusses a 37-year-old man who presented with stage IV (cT3N1M1a) sigmoid colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver. The patient underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy using real-time, fiducial-based, triggered-imaging guidance and amplitude-based respiratory gating at exhalation. In addition to the cancer diagnosis, the patient was deaf and had a substantial medical and surgical history for other comorbidities. The multidisciplinary team must work to ensure that deaf patients are not excluded from gating treatment protocols typically achieved through verbal coaching. With appropriate visual setup, sign language interpretation and coaching through translation, culturally competent care can be provided successfully and seamlessly.

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 20 at the 2025 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists will award Life Member status to Daniel L. Gonzales, M.S.R.S., R.T.(R), FASRT, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, during the ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in Reno, Nevada, on June 20.

Established in 1938, Life Members are active ASRT members who have maintained continuous membership for at least 30 years and have participated in a wide range of activities that demonstrate sustained superior performance in support of the ASRT and the radiologic science profession. Candidates who receive the honor are selected by at least a three-quarters vote of the ASRT Board of Directors.

Daniel L. Gonzales, M.S.R.S., R.T.(R), FASRT, became a member of the ASRT in 1987 and the New Mexico Society of Radiologic Technologists in 1986. Throughout his nearly 40 years as an ASRT member, he has held numerous national volunteer roles and most recently served as ASRT chair of the Board in 2023 and president in 2022. Prior to those roles he was ASRT president-elect, vice president, treasurer and vice speaker of the House and was ASRT Board liaison for the ASRT Foundation Board of Trustees. He was chair and member for the Commission on Professional Practices, chair of the Committee on Nominations, a six-year member of the Ambassadors for R.T. Advocacy, as well as a member of the Task Force on Professional Development Skills Assessment and the Committee on Fellows. Gonzales was chapter delegate for the ASRT Management Chapter for three one-year terms, then served as its vice chair and delegate. He is a graduate of the ASRT Leadership Academy and served as a mentor to the Student to Leadership Development Program for three consecutive years. In 2011, Gonzales was elevated to ASRT Fellow — an honorary designation that represents a commitment to the profession at the district, state, regional, national and international levels. He was recently elected to serve as chief sergeant for the Sergeant-At-Arms Committee.

Concurrently, Gonzales was active at the state level in the NMSRT serving as Chair of the Board in 2010 and 2013 and as president and president-elect for five one-year terms. He also performed the duties of legislative contact, executive secretary and delegate. In addition, he was chairman of the Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Advisory Council for the state of New Mexico and served as president, and chair of the Political Action Committee board of directors.

Gonzales is the interim radiology director at Mercy Medical Center Merced Hospital in Merced, California. He is the former director of diagnostic imaging for Carlsbad Medical Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and director of radiology at Lincoln County Medical Center in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He has a master’s degree in radiologic administration from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan, and is a graduate of the Dona Ana Community College radiology program in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he has been a member of the advisory board since 1988. DACC named him the 2023 Doña Ana Community College Health Sciences Distinguished Alumni of the Year.

As stated by ASRT Life Member Linda K Holden, M.S., R.T.(R)(QM), FASRT, “It is my belief that Dan is not just an ASRT Life Member, he is an ASRT anchor member. He has been an anchor to so many of us who have leaned on, learned from and depended on him.”

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has named Diane Kosenko, R.T.(R)(CT)(CV), of Bristol, Connecticut, as the winner of the 2025 ASRT individual Award for Advocacy and the Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists as the affiliate award winner.

The ASRT Award for Advocacy recognizes and acknowledges achievements in advocacy efforts, including overall growth and development of individual and affiliate grass-roots involvement. ASRT members recommend award nominees, and the ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy selects the winners. The 2025 Award for Advocacy recognizes efforts that took place between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024.

Diane Kosenko, R.T.(R)(CT)(CV), has been an active advocate for more than 30 years. She has served as a computed tomography technologist at Radiology Associates of Hartford, in Connecticut, for 26 years, and throughout that time she has been active with the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists. Her roles include board chair, president, president-elect, vice president, treasurer, delegate, legislative contact and senior board member. She served as chair of the Ambassadors for R.T. Advocacy for five years and is a graduate of the ASRT Leadership Academy.

In 2024, when a House bill was introduced that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice fluoroscopy independently without proper radiation safety training and a credentialed professional present, Kosenko joined forces with other medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to oppose the bill. They testified at a public health hearing and encouraged technologists, educators and radiologists affected by this bill to submit testimony using the language she helped draft. She and her colleagues were successful in amending the bill to prohibit APRNs from independently performing fluoroscopy without proper supervision.

Kosenko has advocated that the CSRT hold a day at the capitol for students to learn about the legislative process. In addition, she has presented to CSRT members on how bills are passed, where to find their legislative contacts and what legislative committees most affect members. She also presented at the Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists annual conference on the topic of advocacy. Kosenko continues to encourage others in the profession to take an active role and has mentored members of the CSRT Board of Directors on how to advocate for the profession.

The Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists is highly engaged with its members, community and state elected officials. The MSRT has created a way for members to share ideas and collaborate with other affiliate and advocacy leaders through a web forum called 50 States, 50 Standards: A State-By-State Guide to Licensure. When two encroachment bills surfaced in Minnesota, the MSRT worked with sonographers and midwifery groups to hold discussions on advocacy issues. MSRT advocacy committee members met with Medi-Sota — a nonprofit health care consortium of 35 rural health care providers in Minnesota — to discuss licensure and the role of limited x-ray machine operators.

Community is a priority for MSRT, and its members participated in the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk and virtually in the ASRT Invisible Heroes 5k event to recognize the vital role medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals perform in health care. The MSRT also appeals to educators to allow their students to participate in conference open forums and lectures.

Additionally, the MSRT advocacy chair met with local state representatives and has obtained a bill sponsor as it prepares for a 2025 full licensure bid.

Learn more about the ASRT Award for Advocacy and see past winners here.

The public comment period for the 2026 version of the ASRT Registered Radiologist Assistant Curriculum is now open. Public comments on the existing Registered Radiologist Assistant Curriculum are needed before the revision workgroup meets.

Comments from the Registered Radiologist Assistant Community will be shared with the project workgroup. The workgroup will review the comments and determine if they should be incorporated into the curriculum. Please submit comments to [email protected] by May 16, 2025.

The workgroup’s goal is to have a final document available for consideration and to be adopted by spring 2026.

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

Hand-blown x-ray tubes dating back to 1897, a 1916 mechanical rectifier that delivered a high-voltage direct current to the x-ray tubes of the era and World War II medical imaging equipment are just a few of the historical artifacts on display at the ASRT Museum and Archives, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this month.

Located in the American Society of Radiologic Technologists office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the museum serves as a permanent location to display hundreds of collected and donated items that tell the story of the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and ASRT.

More than 6,000 square feet of ASRT office space was transformed into a state-of-the-art museum. Today, it features interactive displays, touchscreen exhibits and historical movies that bring the history of the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession to life. The museum welcomed its first guests in June 2015.

ASRT Executive Director of the ASRT Museum and Archives Bill Brennan, M.A., R.T.(R)(CT), said, “We consider the ASRT to be a steward of the profession. This means that we not only do our best to guide and protect the future of radiologic technology but also honor and celebrate our past.”

“The ASRT Museum and Archives represents our commitment to preserving the history of our noble profession and the difference it has made to the lives of the patients we serve,” Brennan added.

Since its opening, thousands of students, radiologic technologists, patrons and community members have toured the museum. The ASRT Museum and Archives is open by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, email [email protected].

The future of radiation therapy practice lies in maximizing the potential of radiation therapists and leveraging their expertise to the level of advanced practice, according to an original report published in the American Society of Radiation Oncology journal, Practical Radiation Oncology.

Current radiation therapy workforce challenges, strategies to boost recruitment activities and recommendations to build the advanced practice radiation therapist career pathway are also highlighted in the original report, titled “The Current and Future State of Radiation Therapy Practice — An Analysis of the Professional Workforce Survey.”

The report’s authors developed the strategies and recommendations from the findings highlighted in the 2023 Professional Workforce Survey, prepared by the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The survey gathered data about the future practices of radiation therapists, while highlighting the evolving role of radiation therapists amid staffing constraints and advancements in radiation oncology technologies.

Understanding that additional work is necessary to develop a comprehensive plan for career pathways and professional advancements for radiation therapists, the authors recommended gathering additional research and developing resources to establish evidence-based models that leverage radiation therapists’ expertise to elevate them to advance practice roles.

The original report’s authors are Shaun Caldwell, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(T), John Culbertson, M.A., M.Ed., Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), Sheryl Green, MBBCh, Sandra Hayden, M.A., R.T.(T), Jason Paisley, M.S., DABR, Samantha Skubish, M.S., R.T.(R)(T) and Nora Uricchio, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(T).

Early registration for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists RAD Dash 5k is open. The run/walk is Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Bosque School. The event recognizes the vital role of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in health care and builds ties with communities across the country.

In addition to the in-person race, individuals and groups may register to participate virtually. This is a family-friendly event.

The RAD Dash 5k offers age group, overall and team awards. Early registration ends Sept. 13. Virtual participants who register by Sept. 13 will be mailed a packet with a T-shirt, bib and medal. Virtual participants who register after Sept. 13 will receive a RAD Dash 5K downloadable commemorative certificate of participation but will not be shipped a packet. To learn more visit the website.

Event Schedule:
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025

Event location:
Bosque School
4000 Bosque School Road NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87120

Event Registration:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NM/Albuquerque/RADDASH

Participation Options:
5k begins at 10 a.m.
Kids k begins at 11 a.m.
Virtual 5k. Register by Sept. 13 to receive a race packet. No refunds for virtual race registration.
ASRT Foundation donation option with or without participation.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has launched the second phase of its Be Seen public awareness campaign.

Be Seen is a comprehensive communications campaign that raises the profile of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals among the public, health care professions and elected officials.

Bolstered by more than 50 million impressions secured in the first phase through television, advertising, social media, earned media, website and paid advertising tactics, the second phase will build on those numbers.

Highlighting 12 individual practice areas in the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession is the primary strategy for the campaign’s second phase. ASRT is producing 30-second commercials for each practice area, which will broadcast on television streaming services, appear on social media platforms and play in hospitals and clinics throughout the United States.

The first commercial, which shines a spotlight on radiographers and their work capturing medical images that radiologists use to diagnose diseases and injuries, will start streaming on connected television in July. Be Seen magnetic resonance and radiologist assistant commercials are scheduled to be completed by the end of July and will start streaming in August and September.

GE HealthCare is supporting the Be Seen campaign through access to medical imaging equipment, cross-promotional opportunities and subject matter expertise. GE HealthCare’s facilities in Wisconsin served as the filming locations for the radiography, MR and RA commercials and will be used for future individual practice area commercials.

“The feedback we’ve received from ASRT members and the public about the Be Seen campaign has been incredibly positive,” said the Society's incoming president, Brandon A. Smith, M.B.A., M.S.R.S., R.T.(R)(VI), CIIP. “ASRT’s mission is to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to enhance the quality and safety of patient care. With strong support from GE HealthCare and other radiologic science organizations, the Be Seen campaign is an effective tool for our efforts to mobilize our mission.”

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)