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, ASRT CEO Melissa Pergola, and I'm here with —
Ray Arambula: — her podcast partner, Ray Arambula.
Melissa Pergola: And today we have Melissa Culp, executive vice president of member engagement. And the theme of this episode is “membership and you.”
Melissa Culp: Thanks for having me. Happy to be here.
Melissa Pergola: So, Melissa, I'm going to start out by giving our listeners and viewers a little introduction about you.
So, Melissa Culp is a staff member: executive vice president of member engagement at ASRT. Before joining ASRT, Melissa held leadership roles in the private sector and global health nonprofits, served 10 years as a faculty member at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine with appointments in the departments of allied health sciences and radiology, and worked clinically as an MR [magnetic resonance] technologist at Duke Health. She volunteered as secretary for
the NCSRT, the North Carolina Society of Radiologic Technologists. She was on their board of directors in 2009 to 2012, and she was an affiliate delegate in 2015 to 2016. In her current role, Melissa strives to ensure that ASRT benefits, resources
and offerings support career growth and development by creating a professional community where members matter.
Welcome, Melissa.
Melissa Culp: Thank you. Thanks for having me.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So, we are thrilled to be having a conversation with you today, and I want to start by talking a little bit about our mission. So, how does ASRT work with members to deliver on our mission and vision?
Melissa Culp: That's a great question. So, as we know, ASRT's mission is to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and enhance quality, safe patient care.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: And so, we really work with our members very actively, particularly to raise awareness and to advocate for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. So, our Government Relations team is constantly monitoring
bills at the federal and state level and activities and things that are emerging —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: — and in that constant monitoring, also supports our affiliates to advocate in their local areas and in the states, too. So, ASRT really supports that level of advocacy. Constantly advocating for our roles to,
like, make sure we're respected and protected professionally.
Also, currently, ASRT is really breaking new ground in raising awareness of the profession. So we have the Be Seen campaign, which was an initiative of the ASRT Board of Directors, and that started with the one commercial and has evolved into, like,
a video for every discipline.
And we're really getting out there to be seen by the public, so the public knows who medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are and, honestly, other health care professionals.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: Like, we need to be known within health systems, by our colleagues, by our peers, so we're seen as peers and really seen as important for what we do every day.
Finally, ASRT really advocates in the landscape. So, we work with other organizations, like the American College of Radiology, ASTRO, which is the American Society for Radiation Oncology, all of these peer organizations, developing relationships and
having open, collaborative communication, partnership, just very open discussions to really think about advancing the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions, and thinking about, like, patient-centered care, thinking about how we can
work together collaboratively to advance patient care.
So, ASRT is really there for us.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So, you talked about ASRT, but I want to talk a little bit about our members. So, how do ASRT members and volunteers shape the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession?
Melissa Culp: Yeah, that's a great question. So, honestly, Melissa, I've been a member of ASRT since I entered the profession in 2006.
Melissa Pergola: Woot woot!
Melissa Culp: I know!
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: And until I worked as a staff member, I did not fully understand the scale to which ASRT volunteer members shaped the profession. So, if we think about something like our governance volunteers, who help with the Practice
Standards [for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy] —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: — they truly set, like, “This is what Melissa Culp could do clinically at her MR scanner with her patient,” which is then constrained by state law and institutional policy. But those volunteers establish
“This is what I can do.” And so, they're truly with me in that moment when I'm with my patient, when I'm holding the hand of that person who has claustrophobia. Our volunteers are with me and shape the profession.
And as I taught — you think about our curriculum work group volunteers who come on and review the curricula that are used in educational programs. So, when I taught at UNC Chapel Hill, as you mentioned, I pulled that curriculum and I followed
it and I made sure I was teaching everything that was in it.
So, those volunteers who sit on those work groups were with me in my classroom, with me with my students. So, truly the volunteer members of ASRT really shape what the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession get to do.
And to build on that, I think research shapes our profession, too. So, we have our journals, where we do peer-reviewed research. And research is so important for shaping the profession, having an evidence-based approach to the profession, making sure
we're collecting data so we know what best practice is as technology evolves.
So, I was reading a book recently called A Short History of Medicine. And so, it mentioned John Snow. So, John Snow was this guy in London, and there was a cholera outbreak, and John Snow kind of evaluated it by, like, “It's from this water
pump.” And so, he documented it and published it, and it took after his lifetime for people to see, like, yes, he was right. And germ theory evolved.
But if he hadn't published it, if he hadn't, like, written it down and put it out there — like, that is truly how you change medical practice, and change —
Melissa Pergola: Right.
Melissa Culp: — and make sure we're using data-informed practices. So, our volunteers and, like, the people who do research, when you spend all those hours doing that, it truly impacts our profession and how we show up with
our patients in the moment, so.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So, the theme of this episode is “membership and you,” and I'm already starting to hear some things, right? It's not just being a member. It's the difference that you can make as a volunteer. And
I want our current volunteers to hear that, because what you said, I think, is a brilliant way to speak to the heart of those who are our current volunteers. I'm not sure if we've ever said it in that way — the important role that they play
and the difference that they make.
But I also want others to hear it's a reason to join and become a volunteer, right? And there's lots of things you can do. You can do research, you can speak, you can volunteer with the curriculum, with the Practice Standards.
So, I think “membership and you” — maybe another theme is, but “you being involved,” right?
Ray Arambula: Kind of going back to the ASRT member and their career — you know, careers aren't so linear anymore. There's leadership, there's academia, there's so many different paths. But how does ASRT support members in their
career growth and developing their careers?
Melissa Culp: That's a great question. So — and I like how you framed that, Ray, that there's different paths. It's not linear. There's different opportunities that we can have. So, we have Roadmaps, which help our members see
different pathways, so either that being a postprimary credential or going into education or management. Those Roadmaps are available for members, and they kind of have different steps and things to think about and mentorship and ways to move
forward on different pathways.
We also, for students — so, like, when we start out, a career truly goes like student [motions hands] through — right?
Melissa Pergola: [chuckles] Yes.
Melissa Culp: It could go many different ways. So, for our students we have SEAL [Student Exam Assessment Library] exams, which are practice exams that they can take as they're preparing for their registry and their certification
exams. We also have a lot of opportunities — Melissa, you mentioned presenting, right?
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: So, as you're kind of growing in your career and want to share, we have calls for abstracts and support for members to come and to present at conferences and start the journey into writing, start the journey into publications.
So, we have a great support for Write for ASRT.
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Melissa Culp: And then as you're in your career, we do have continuing education for all disciplines, and we have full CQR [Continuing Qualifications Requirements] coverage —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — for all the disciplines, and structured education. So, a lot of opportunities through, like, continuing education, entering into publications, conferences, SEAL exams, and then the community that we have through
all of that, of mentorship and colleagues —
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: — to sponsor you, mentor you and support you on your journey, so.
Ray Arambula: And so, it's not really just entry level. It's not — there's so many different paths, like we talked about. But, you know, there's that career growth combined with your workplace demands. How does ASRT help in
saving our members time so that they can just, you know, have a regular life and make time for life in general?
Melissa Culp: Yeah. So, work-life balance is so important. And what medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals do is very important. And we have to show up for our patients.
Melissa Pergola: Yep.
Melissa Culp: Like, you have to show up and be present, bring your best self. So, in order to do that, we really — ASRT really wants to support our members in work-life balance and having that space to really be present with
their family, to be present with your friends. Like, you work so hard. You want to be present when you're having dinner. You want to be able to play with your kids. You want to have game night with your friends. Like, you need space to do all
of that without having to worry about the details. And I would say our Member Services colleagues are top-notch.
Melissa Pergola: They are.
Melissa Culp: They are real humans. They know so much about CE for every different state. Like, you can be a member in California that's a mammographer that has state licensing that has your certification that has MQSA [Mammography
Quality Standards Act].
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: And you can call, and they can help you sort that out. So, those are real people who are there to help you during any time in your career about any sort of question. So, those are colleagues who are there for you.
So, we also have track and transfer for our members. So when I’m —
Melissa Pergola: Yes. It’s huge.
Melissa Culp: Yeah, it is. When I'm doing my CE, ASRT keeps up with my CE record.
Melissa Pergola: Yep.
Melissa Culp: And then when I go to do my certification renewal, I pay my fees to the ARRT [American Registry of Radiologic Technologists], because that's my credentialing. My record tracks over there. I don't have to do anything.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: I log in. Oh, it's there.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: So, I don't have to keep track of that. It just does it for me. I don't have to spend time uploading certificates and uploading CE.
We also have things like the JobBank®, where you can get in touch with employers if you're looking for a different job. And recently, we've done more virtual career fairs.
Melissa Pergola: I love that, too.
Melissa Culp: So, from the comfort of your home, you can upload your resume and meet with different health systems and different imaging centers who are looking for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. So, we try to
do a lot to make life more convenient.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: Because you have to be there for your patient.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: We want you to have that time with your family, your friends, with your life to do the things that matter to you.
Ray Arambula: And I love that we have these kind of set-it-and-forget-it resources and automation.
Melissa Pergola: Mm. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Just so — because we recognize you're, you have a family. You have kids. You have a life outside of this. And that's important.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. You're a human being.
Ray Arambula: Exactly.
Melissa Pergola: Not just a medical professional, right?
Ray Arambula: Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Can I go back to track and transfer for a minute?
Melissa Culp: Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: So, you, the listeners — it was kind of in your intro, but you mentioned it again: You're actually a technologist. And when you said, “My record gets uploaded to ARRT,” you were talking about yourself
specifically, but we don't just track and transfer to the ARRT, right?
Melissa Culp: Right.
Melissa Pergola: But, correct me if I'm wrong — we also do for medical dosimetrists, right? So that's MDCB [Medical Dosimetrist Certification Board]. We also do for nuclear medicine technologists, so that's NMTCB [Nuclear Medicine
Technology Certification Board]. We also do for sonographers, so that's ARDMS [American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography]. We even track and transfer to the Florida Department of Health, right?
Melissa Culp: Yeah, that's right, Melissa.
Melissa Pergola: Did I forget anybody?
Melissa Culp: Mm-mm. No, that's everything.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: So, ARRT and then all of that. And we are continually looking for ways to expand that and to support our members in that track and transfer. So.
Melissa Pergola: So, I want to shift gears a little bit and talk about the future. So how does ASRT impact future innovation?
Melissa Culp: Now, that's a great question. So, ASRT — and the ASRT Foundation specifically. So, ASRT Foundation has a Corporate Roundtable. And ASRT Foundation, through that, in addition to ASRT, really worked to bring the
member voice into that space, into innovation, so that, you know, when we're working with our corporate partners through the ASRT Foundation Roundtable, we really bring the patient and that patient care experience to the forefront of innovation.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: So, for example, over the past few years, we've done several surveys about AI [artificial intelligence] in medical imaging and radiation therapy. And these are published online. So, if you were to look at ASRT research
[asrt.org/Research], we have a white paper there called the Consensus Committee White Paper, and in Appendix 3 of that, all of our AI research [chuckles] is compiled and published.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] I love that you — sorry. I love that you know that it's Appendix 3. Do you know the page?
Melissa Culp: No, but it is Appendix 3. [laughs] I know it's Appendix 3.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] I love that.
Melissa Culp: Yeah, so, all of that is online and published. And so, we understand from those data that, for example, like, educators would like to know more about AI and medical imaging and radiation therapy, so that their comfort
level in teaching it to students is higher.
So, from those data and in those discussions on the ASRT Foundation Corporate Roundtable, we now know, “Oh, well, we need to make some education for educators and for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals about AI.” And so,
we'll be doing that this year —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — making an ASRT AI academy, which will be a helpful educational learning product —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — for any medical imaging or radiation therapy professional. But that's a true, like, we worked with our corporate partners and doing, we did those surveys and then, like, we're actually taking action to support
our members in that.
And I think one thing that's really important to me that I see that we do with our corporate partners is making sure the member experience is there, making sure that the person stays centered there.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: So, if we think about something particularly like AI, ML [machine learning] in medical imaging and radiation therapy, making sure that the patient, the person, is at the center of that. Because, you know, I've been in
the hospital for when I delivered my kids, or, like, I've seen relatives in the hospital. And one thing that is true for me is that's a person experience.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: Like, I want to know there's a person there with me. And you can never take the person out of that moment.
Melissa Pergola: Right. Right.
Ray Arambula: Absolutely.
Melissa Culp: So, kind of bringing the member voice into that design, into those conversations so that innovation aligns with advancing and elevating the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions and keeping the patient at
the center —
Ray Arambula: I love that.
Melissa Culp: — of innovation.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So, you even mentioned, when you were talking about AI and research, sort of that community and keeping everyone involved. So, you mentioned it's important for ASRT to create a community where members are welcome.
So, my question is, how do we do that? How does ASRT do that, and why does it matter?
Melissa Culp: This is, like, the most important part for me because all life is about relationships, right? Like, we are medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. We are there with a patient. We are there with our students.
We are there with our staff, if we're managers. And all that is relational, right? So, the community aspect of ASRT is at its core, is at its heart for our members.
And so, there's a lot of ways that we foster community and create that togetherness, and I would say, several — like, ASRT’s community is online as a member benefit, where you can ask questions of other R.T.s [radiologic technologists]
within your discipline and have exchange of information, so. That's a place where we digitally have community.
We also, through our conferences, like, this is real connection. Like where we have the Educational Symposium, the Radiation Therapy Conference, ASRT@RSNA — these are opportunities for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to come
together —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — and make real bonds of togetherness and real connection in real life. And I know our teams work really hard to foster that community and connection. Also we have leadership programs. I think of them as, like,
ways to grow in your career, but they're truly cohorts that come together.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: So, the Educator Institute, the Leadership Academy.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: The Student to Leadership Development Program. All of these programs that ASRT hosts, where you're truly with other members, you're learning and you develop those lifelong connections. And I would say those are some
of the most important parts of making community.
And just as a personal story, in my career, I early on received a grant, an international outreach grant from the ASRT Foundation. And this funneled into a whole career of community. Like, that catalyst —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — helped me grow in my interests and meet different people and different mentors. And then I mentor people and help other people in their careers. And it's just this virtuous cycle of connection and community.
And that's what makes ASRT so special —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: — is that it's about us together as people.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. So, what can our listeners do to be part of this ASRT professional community and this type of engagement?
Melissa Culp: Yeah, that's a great question. And I think just some tactical things that you could do immediately, right now — all of the Be Seen commercials are available at asrt.org/Commercial.
And so, you can share any of those on your social media, with your friends, with your colleagues. So, I think really sharing those, to be like, “This is who I am” —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — “I'm an important part of the health care profession” is one tangible thing. Also, ASRT will do calls for advocacy action.
Melissa Pergola: Mm.
Melissa Culp: So, you may get an email saying, “ASRT is trying to advocate. Can you please write a letter, like, using this form? It’s very easy to talk about” — trying to make things easy. And it's a very
easy form that sends to your congressional representatives, your senator, your representative. So, doing that when you get those really helps show the numbers of ASRT.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Melissa Culp: Also thinking about volunteering for your affiliate, submitting an ASRT volunteer form, doing community outreach, like, going to those career fairs —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — any of that are ways to engage and to begin to enter into that community sense that we have together.
Melissa Pergola: So, you mentioned sharing the commercials and being seen. I want to remind our listeners and viewers that we are going to do a commercial for every single discipline. So, if you don't see you there yet, you will be
there. But I still think I want to remind everybody, you should share it anyway. Those are your colleagues; that is your community. And I also want to talk about that in terms of the calls to action.
You mentioned numbers and how important numbers are. And I think sometimes, we might get a call to action and we might be like, “Well, this isn't specifically in the realm of what I do.” But it takes all of us as a community to respond,
and those numbers matter. So, if you get that call to action, it means we need you. You may not immediately see yourself in it, but you are there because we're a community and we have to work together to protect and uplift who we are.
So, Melissa, I can't thank you enough for not only being our colleague but being the perfect person to be the EVP of member engagement. Because the work that you're doing and your teams are doing is bringing together this community and all of these
things that we have to offer.
So, I would challenge those listening, if you are a member, get involved. Check out some of these things. If you're not a member, check us out. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Become a member.
Melissa Pergola: That's right. That's right. Because we want you to be a part of this community where you matter.
Female Voice: We'll be right back after this short message.
ASRT Ad: Ready for a dream getaway? The ASRT Foundation Annual Drawing celebrates your hard work with incredible prizes, from a dream getaway to extra cash to splurge on yourself. Plus, every ticket supports scholarships and grants
for future and current medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. ASRT members have this exclusive chance to win big, so go ahead and treat yourself. Get your tickets today at asrt.org/WinWin.
Ray Arambula: OK, well, guess what time it is.
Melissa Pergola: Eh, I don't know.
Ray Arambula: It's game time.
Melissa Pergola: OK. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: So, I hope you're ready for a game, Melissa.
Melissa Culp: I’m ready.
Melissa Pergola: Melissa looks as scared as I always feel.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. And so, today's game is called Member Roundup.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: All right? So, this game actually has props.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: So, I have with me a bag full of props. And I'm going to pull a prop out, and I'm going to give it to one of you, and then I'm going to tie it in with a phrase or a word related to a member value or benefit. And it's
your job — and these are, let's say, wearable props.
Melissa Pergola: Oh. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: So, as you're wearing these props, you have to explain —
Melissa Pergola: Oh my God.
Ray Arambula: — or try to sell this member value or benefit to our audience. OK?
Melissa Culp: This is fun. Let's go.
Ray Arambula: All right.
Melissa Pergola: OK. OK.
Ray Arambula: And Kim [Gawler] and I —
Melissa Pergola: She's excited [points to Melissa Culp]. Give it to Melissa first.
Ray Arambula: We'll go with Melissa first.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Kim and I will be the judge on who does the best selling. OK? Here we go. Well, the first item I have is a graduation cap. [hands over a graduation cap]
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Melissa Culp: Ohh. So, I'm going to put on the graduation cap —
Ray Arambula: And the tie-in word for this —
Melissa Culp: OK.
Ray Arambula: — is continuing education.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Melissa Culp: Well, with my graduation cap, I am a recently graduated medical imaging or radiation therapy professional.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: I'm entering into the field. Previously, I had a Student membership to ASRT, but as I grow in my career, I will get a Graduate Bridge membership and then transition into Active membership. And as I go into Active membership,
I will begin my continuing education for my biennium, for my CQR, for my professional growth and development.
Ray Arambula: [to Melissa Pergola] You're not going to win this.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, can I just not?
Melissa Culp: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: You're just, you're not going to win.
Melissa Pergola: I should just not.
Ray Arambula: But let's see if you got any skills.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: You remember these? [holds up pin that says “ASRT working for you”]
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. I'll put it on. “ASRT working for you.”
Ray Arambula: “ASRT working for you.” This is a lei. [hands over Hawaiian lei]
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: OK?
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: As a sign of being welcome.
Melissa Pergola: Thank you.
Ray Arambula: So your tie-in word is community or belonging.
Melissa Pergola: Oh. Oh. OK. So, you need to know that ASRT is always working for you, but we can't be working for you without you working for you. So, we would love for you to become part of our community. You can digitally with
our digital Communities. You can by signing up for leadership academies. You can by attending conferences. And then you too can get exciting conference paraphernalia. That's it. That's all I got.
Melissa Culp: That’s, that was pretty good.
Ray Arambula: That was pretty good.
Melissa Culp: That’s good.
Ray Arambula: I was impressed.
Melissa Culp and Melissa Pergola: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: I actually, I want to buy that. That was impressive. Good job, Melissa. OK.
Melissa Pergola: Gee, thanks.
Ray Arambula: Next one.
Melissa Culp: Wait, we have more?
Ray Arambula: Oh yeah, there's more.
Melissa Pergola: What?
Melissa Culp: Do I get a tiara?
Ray Arambula: OK. There’s a tiara. [hands over tiara]
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: I’ll try to do that with my —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: And here's a trophy. [hands over baseball trophy] I don't know if you played baseball, but we'll pretend it's a random trophy.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] Look, the test is getting it — [laughs]
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: [laughs] How can I wear the tiara?
Melissa Pergola: Wait, if I can disconnect, I can hold it over your head.
Melissa Culp: It's OK. [slides tiara sideways under headphones]
Ray Arambula: She’s got it.
Melissa Culp: I got it. I got it.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: All right, what is my word?
Ray Arambula: Your tie-in word is professional recognition.
Melissa Culp: Ohh. Hello, ASRT members and possible nonmembers. Hello, every medical imaging and radiation therapy professional. ASRT is here to make sure that you are seen as the leaders and winners that you are in our field.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: Every day, we, with your help, raise the visibility of the profession and make sure that you're seen through our Be Seen public awareness campaign, through our communication with other organizations in the landscape,
through our — all the conversations and connection and community that we have. We need to see ourselves so that others can see us. And we do that together with you. So, please join me with my upside-down tiara and my lovely trophy to make
sure that you're with us as we're being seen.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: I love the swagger that she brings into this.
Melissa Pergola: I can't with the tiara.
Ray Arambula: It’s impressive. And a sideways tiara. Here are some safety goggles. [hands over goggles]
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Melissa Culp: I feel like you're going to be in chemistry lab.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, OK.
Ray Arambula: Your tie-in word is professional standards.
Melissa Pergola: Ohh. Oh. Hey, ASRT members and possibly nonmembers, we need you. What you do matters, and we need to make sure that what you do is safe and protected, and that we have professional standards to uphold so that you
can work at the top of your scope. But we can't do it without you. So, you need to get your own safety goggles and join us and uphold our Practice Standards and work on our committees that set them, because together we will protect and uplift
our profession.
Ray Arambula: Ooh.
Melissa Culp: That was good. That was good.
Ray Arambula: That was pretty good.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Melissa Culp: That was strong.
Ray Arambula: You just made that up, huh?
Melissa Pergola: I did. I totally made it up.
Ray Arambula: That's really good. Impressive.
Melissa Pergola: I really don't feel safe. I can't see. [takes off goggles and laughs]
Ray Arambula: We’ll make a vote. Kim, what do you think?
Kim Gawler: [offscreen] I — it was the crown for me. Melissa.
Melissa Pergola: It was! I love that sideways crown.
Ray Arambula: I've never seen anyone wear a tiara like that.
Kim Gawler: With the baseball trophy.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: I think the fact that you figured out how to wear that crown with the headphones —
Ray Arambula: That was impressive.
Melissa Pergola: — makes you win anyway.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, you can keep the tiara.
Melissa Culp: OK, cool. I'll just wear it after I take my headphones off.
Ray Arambula: You earned that for sure. Well, thank you for playing along.
Melissa Culp: That was fun. Thanks, Ray.
Melissa Pergola: All right, Ray, now that we got through that, guess what time it is.
Ray Arambula: Is it time for the We See You segment?
Melissa Pergola: It is.
Ray Arambula: All right. Let's get that rolling.
Melissa Pergola: All right.
Jarek Stelmark: Hello, Dr. Pergola, my name is Jarek Stelmark. I'm the full-time faculty at Hostos Community College of The City University of New York, and I would like to ask you one question. This question is about AI. AI promises
efficiency, but it also raises concerns. So how is ASRT thinking about the balance between innovation and preserving the human role in imaging in the future? Thank you.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, great question. Thank you so much for that question. You know, I was just having a conversation with an esteemed colleague this morning who's been in the profession — I guess he was in the profession,
like, 50 years. And we were talking about the fact that our profession has never been static, right? When he started, many of the technologies we have were not here. Even when I started, we have technologies, right, that are here that were not
there. And I think that's something we have to always remember. AI has come just like all those other technologies had come before.
But what we have to make sure is that we aren't fearful of new technology and that we embrace it as an evolution, and, most importantly, we make sure that we are still the owner of our house. We are that patient care provider in the room. That need
will never go away. Melissa had talked about that a little bit on this podcast, that we will always be that human aspect.
But we also need to move with the technology. So, we also need to be open to maybe even growing in our profession, where 50 years from now, it doesn't look exactly the same. But what we have to be confident in is that we will lead the evolution of
our profession.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I would say AI is a tool.
Melissa Pergola: Mm, that's smart.
Ray Arambula: But the technologist is the decision-maker —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — in my opinion. You know, AI definitely has the position and opportunities to reduce a lot of that busy work —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — and save time for our patients and clinical decisions. But I think like what you [gestures toward Melissa Culp] were talking about, Melissa, it's that human connection in imaging that's just irreplaceable. You
can't replace that. And it's actually probably something that we need to protect —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — while still working towards innovation, but treating AI as a tool.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And, Melissa, you mentioned earlier that we have some exciting things coming, and this is sort of us leading the way and being futurists and paying attention to what is happening and making sure that we're keeping
ourselves as leaders in that. Can you mention again what we have coming on the horizon?
Melissa Culp: Yeah, so this year we'll be having an ASRT’s AI academy, which will be CE, a set of CE for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to learn about the definitions, kind of some workflow uses of AI, and
then emerging technologies, and then also to kind of think about the whole education of the profession in our curricula.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yes.
Melissa Culp: We have sections about AI and ML, so we know that's being integrated. And it's just like any technology, right, that evolves. So, when I graduated, we still had screen film.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: And I had to learn about digital imaging, like, as that came about. And so, it's ASRT really being there, our members volunteering and making sure, like you said, we're owning our own house —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Melissa Culp: — and making sure we're having the education to empower medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Thank you both, and thank you for this question. Great question. And I think it is an important reminder how we have to continue to remain confident and competent in what we do and make sure that we continue
to lead the way of the profession. So, thank you again for the question.
Ray Arambula: Yes, thank you.
Melissa Pergola: Hey, Ray.
Ray Arambula: Hey, Melissa.
Melissa Pergola: Hey, hey. Guess what time it is.
Ray Arambula: Umm —
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: I'm trying to [unintelligible — 33:04].
Melissa Pergola: It's time we tell our listeners and our viewers, don't put yourself in a bad position —
Ray Arambula: — stay up to date with “The RAD Position.”
Melissa Pergola: Breaking news: Registration is open for the ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting. OK, now I cannot be quite so serious. The event kicks off with the ASRT Educational Symposium
on June 25th. The symposium includes courses by some of the premier experts in medical imaging and radiation therapy, and you can earn up to 6 continuing education credits.
If you attend the Educational Symposium and you're able to stay, what's really cool is the very next day is when the House of Delegates start to meet, and that's where delegates meet from around the country to make decisions that shape the ASRT and
the profession.
In addition, the annual meeting is the home of the ASRT exhibit hall, which features medical imaging and radiation therapy vendors, the ASRT Honors Evening, the ASRT Installation of Officers event, ASRT Foundation events and endless networking opportunities.
What's even more, Route 66 centennial festivities will be happening around the Albuquerque area, so it is going to be the place to be, and it's the perfect opportunity to mix professional growth with a bit of Americana fun.
There is something for everyone, so register now. Online registration closes on June 11th. To do this, visit asrt.org/AGHOD — that's asrt.org/AGHOD — to learn more
and to register.
Well, so much fun having Melissa Culp on the episode today.
Ray Arambula: Yes. That was a lot of fun.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah. So, thank you for bringing the energy that you bring, and, fair and square, you beat me in the game, so.
Melissa Culp: [laughs] Thanks for having me. This was fun.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. And to all our listeners, don't forget to write in at [email protected] or fill out the form at asrt.org/RADPosition.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And don't forget to subscribe, and like, and all those things. And share. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Share it with your colleagues, your family, your friends, everyone.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And to all our medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals, be seen —
Ray Arambula: — and stay rad.