This is “The RAD Position” with ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa Pergola, a podcast for medical imaging and
radiation therapy professionals.
Melissa Pergola: Hey there, and welcome back to “The RAD Position” podcast. I'm your host,
Melissa Pergola, ASRT CEO, and I'm with —
Ray Arambula: Her podcast partner, Ray Arambula.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And we're with Shellie Pike. We are pumped to have Shellie on the show
today. Obviously, Shellie is our vice president of the ASRT. Very important. And we are going to talk about her
passions for professional involvement and volunteering.
Shellie Pike: It's great to be here. Thanks for having me.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So, Shellie, we're going to start by doing a little introduction for our
listeners and viewers about you.
So, Shellie Pike has worked in medical imaging for 24 years. She currently practices as a radiologist assistant in
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She works closely with students and technologists in multiple modalities, with the majority of
her focus in the fluoroscopy suite, image and practice quality improvement, and CT [computed tomography]
reconstruction.
Shellie has served the ASRT in a variety of positions, including serving as the vice president, speaker of the
House, as a member of the ACR [American College of Radiology] Blue Ribbon Panel of Fluoroscopy Safety and a member
of the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy. She has also been active in
volunteering with ARRT [American Registry of Radiologic Technologists], as well as other nonprofit organizations.
So, welcome again, Shellie.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. Thank you. Yeah. It's been a long road, but volunteering is definitely my
passion.
Ray Arambula: So, Shellie, you obviously wear many hats, but today we want to focus on your
volunteering side. So, what first motivated you to get involved in volunteering or professional organizations
within the medical imaging and radiation therapy field?
Shellie Pike: Unfortunately, when I was an R.T. [registered technologist] student, my instructors
and — I went to a local hospital-based program — they weren't really big on promoting volunteering, but luckily
when I went into the RA [radiologist assistant] program, Midwestern State, the instructors there, they were very
excited about volunteers. They told us we needed to get involved with our professional organizations and why.
Melissa Pergola: Nice.
Shellie Pike: And so, they really encouraged us to get involved. And I think that the reason I
really started my professional involvement at that time was because, unfortunately, a little bit of a personal
benefit. There was no RA recognition, no legislation —
Melissa Pergola: Right.
Shellie Pike: — at that time. So, I wanted to get involved and hopefully be part of the change
that we could see moving forward. So, thanks to the Midwestern State instructors, they encouraged professional
involvement, and so I started volunteering with ARRT first, and then ASRT down the road, and here we are now.
Ray Arambula: So, did you — was this planned all along? Is this something you planned? Most
people kind of walk into it and a little bit of scared, a little bit afraid.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: To plan to be on the Board [of Directors]?
Ray Arambula: To volunteer. To start volunteering.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. You know, so, I actually have been volunteering for a long time, probably 23
years. When my youngest was in kindergarten with the parent-teacher association is where I first started
volunteering.
Ray Arambula: Oh, OK.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yeah.
Shellie Pike: And I think I kind of, like, just took hold to volunteering and giving back to that
community at that time, and I continued with PTA for probably a decade or longer at the local level, the state
level, national level. And then when I went to the RA school and found out, you know, I didn't — I hate to say it,
I didn't really even know about the ASRT until Midwestern really kind of pushed, you know, “ASRT, ARRT have all
these opportunities.” And then when my kids, you know, were done with school, it was like, "Well, what am I going
to do with all this free time I have now that I'm not involved in the parent-teacher association, the Girl Scouts,
the Boy Scouts?"
So, it was like, "Well, let's get back to the profession." So I started with just some committee work, you know.
Initially my volunteer stuff with ASRT actually started with the first year the RA Chapter was established. I was
an alternate delegate. About a month before the Annual House of Governance and Delegates [Annual Governance and
House of Delegates] Meeting, I got a call that said, "We need you to be there," so I showed up.
Melissa Pergola: Nice.
Shellie Pike: And that meeting really just sealed the deal with what I wanted to do as far as my
passion for involvement in our profession and especially with the ASRT at that time.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: So, how has professional involvement maybe shaped your career in ways that you
didn't expect?
Shellie Pike: I didn't think that — I mean, when I was volunteering with parent-teacher
association and scouts, it didn't really affect my career so much, right? I mean, it helped you learn different
personalities and get along with different people. But the involvement with professional societies has really
given me so much more as far as my career because I've learned so much, especially when we talk about like what
ASRT has to offer.
And when I got involved with Practice Standards [for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy], that piece of
volunteering really helped me catapult my career because when I first started as an RA, we had this very
prescribed list of exams that we could do as an RA in Iowa. I mean, it was very limited. Shoulder injections, GI
[gastrointestinal] stuff. Very limited. But then learning about how practice standards work and the process, I
could get more involved, and then I tried to kind of talk to my group about expanding my role, doing more
procedures.
Melissa Pergola: Nice.
Shellie Pike: I had the backing and the background to do that, so I took all this documentation
that I had from volunteering with ARRT and ASRT, and now my scope of practice is completely different. You know, I
do so many more procedures, and actually just this week we are starting to add more stuff on. And so, I think
volunteering helped me build that base for how can I get what I want out of my career as well, not only just with
volunteering.
The other thing that I would say volunteering has done is it has given me a ton of different skills. Like, when I
was first asked to volunteer on the Board, I said no because there was a public speaking component.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Shellie Pike: And people that know me, know me well, know that I have a major fear of public
speaking.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: And I actually declined the first time I was asked to run for the Board. I was
like, "Nope, can't do that. There's no way I can get up in front of people and talk."
Ray Arambula: Mm.
Shellie Pike: And so then, you know, throughout my term on the Board the last few years, I've had
amazing colleagues and Board members that have encouraged me and, you know, forced me out of my comfort zone.
Right? And so, they helped me get more involved and go to affiliate meetings and start doing some public speaking,
which has helped alleviate a lot of that. So, I feel like that has also helped build my career and my confidence
at work as well.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, so you talk about volunteering when your children were young with the PTA.
So, you were still working —
Shellie Pike: Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: — but you were volunteering. And then they decide to graduate, right, as they
do, and leave us.
Shellie Pike: [laughs] Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And then you had time.
Shellie Pike: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And so, then you were still working, and you were volunteering, but for the
profession. So, what would you say to technologists or therapists who say, "I'm just too busy" or "I'm unsure
about what to do"? What would be — you talked about some of the benefits, but what might be some other encouraging
words that you would have for them to sort of let them know this is something that will give to them as well as
them giving, and kind of encourage them to volunteer?
Shellie Pike: You know, everybody thinks, "I don't have time."
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: But volunteering is what you make of it. It's moldable. You can make it fit your
schedule. So, you can do as little as you want. You can volunteer an hour a week on a committee. You can volunteer
with your affiliate society for something that you can do in your off time. Or you can put more time into it.
You know, you run for the Board, you get — this is definitely more of a volunteer commitment than —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: — than a lot of people expect. So, you know, it's like a second full-time job. So,
it is — that's the thing about volunteering is you can make it what you need it to be.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: You can mold it to fit your passions, too. That's what I love about it is you find
your passion, and then you can find a task that's going to fit into that. Because you have to love what you're
doing. So, not only do you want to, you know, love your job, but if you're going to volunteer, you want to love
that, too. So, you need to have some passion there.
So, I think, if you think you're too busy, there's probably, you know, we always talk about, you know, like, "I
can't afford this; I can't afford that," but if you cut out Starbucks —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: — for, you know, your Starbucks every day, you could afford whatever.
Volunteering's the same way, right? So, if you cut out maybe watching “Real Housewives” once a week —
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no.
Shellie Pike: [laughs] Then —
Melissa Pergola: I mean, I can kick the Starbucks, but “Real Housewives”? Come on.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. I actually — I have other vices. It's not “Real Housewives,” but.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Same here.
Shellie Pike: So, if, you know, if I give up “Real Housewives” for an hour a week, then I can
give back to the profession, you know? And then the fulfillment that I get from giving back to the profession is
really a big part of it. Like, I take joy in that.
The other thing I would say is it's not just about giving back to the profession, but I have made lifelong friends
and, I would even say, you know, my chosen family that have been there for me, not only professionally, but
personally.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Shellie Pike: And I think, you know, I — that's not something I would give up at all. I mean, I
literally have a whole second family based on my volunteer experience that I've had.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. You know, we say often that it's a community where you matter.
Shellie Pike: Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: And you're speaking from the heart that it is a community where you matter.
Shellie Pike: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Right? That's where you build those relationships and lifelong relationships.
Shellie Pike: Absolutely, yeah.
Melissa Pergola: So, if someone was to find that time, and this — I was not joking, I do watch
“The Real Housewives.”
Shellie Pike: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Actually, I learned about Salt Lake City from my sister a couple of days ago.
Apparently, it's the best one, so I've started Season 1.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: OK.
Melissa Pergola: But I really do watch “Real Housewives.” But if they are unsure or still
concerned, I think sometimes the best way for us to get inspired is to follow our passions but also know we're
making a difference. So, do you have any stories of volunteering that you did where it made a difference either
for the profession or for ASRT or for you?
Shellie Pike: I always say, you know, there's so many, like, highlights in my professional career
that have come from volunteering. I think one of the biggest things that I'm proud of is overcoming that fear of
public speaking.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Right?
Shellie Pike: I mean, it's still nerve-wracking. I still get nervous, but I've been able to now
go and speak across the country at different affiliate meetings, and it has allowed me to talk about topics that
are close to my heart. And that is amazing to me, because I never would've thought that I would have that
platform. And so, you know, I talk about things that I'm passionate about and things that matter to me and my
personal family, and I think that that is one of the best things that's come out of volunteering.
And then that doesn't stop just with our affiliates. I've actually been approached to speak at other professional
associations, like, in town, I'm going to speak at our local area substance abuse council with one of my topics
about inclusion to their counselors and why inclusion matters. So, I feel like being able to bring these topics
that are very close to my heart to other people and maybe just get the word out about inclusive care for
everybody, I think that's probably one of the biggest advantages for me that I have gotten out of volunteering.
Melissa Pergola: And I've been around for a little bit and got to see some of that evolution, and
I just am amazed. You're a phenomenal speaker. So, just know that you are making a huge difference, and you really
are a phenomenal speaker, so.
Shellie Pike: Wow.
Melissa Pergola: I know we all still get those butterflies when we have to speak. Those will
never go away. Everybody gets those, but you're a pro.
Shellie Pike: Well, I appreciate that. I don't know about a pro.
Melissa Pergola: I'd say so.
Shellie Pike: I'd say I'm maybe midline, not amateur anymore.
Melissa Pergola and Shellie Pike: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: Well, you would've never known that you had this type of fear. Similarly, I
would've never thought I'd be on a podcast, and here I am. But you talked about being involved in professional
organizations, and how does that help maybe strengthen or elevate advocacy or just, you know, the role of medical
imaging and radiation therapy?
Shellie Pike: I think that if we didn't have our volunteers, I honestly think our profession
would be in dire straits.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. Yeah.
Shellie Pike: You know, every year we see new encroachment bills coming —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: — both state and federally. And so, we need our local volunteers, our local medical
imaging and radiation therapy professionals with those grassroots, on-the-grounds efforts in the states and then
also nationally. You know, if you look back over the history of the last few years, we've seen a few states who
have actually repealed their legislation —
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm. Yep.
Shellie Pike: — right? — their licensure, and that's sad. Sad for our patients and sad for our
profession. So, we need the people that are going to be able to go and advocate on behalf of the profession and
speak up and make sure their voice is heard.
So, the other thing I would say is I think when we talk about advocacy, it can be scary, right? Everybody is like,
"I'm not going to go talk to my congressman." It doesn't have to be that in-depth. So, you can make it what —
again, it's moldable. You can make it what you want of it.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: So, you can do something so simple as just grassroots at your state level, you
know? And I think advocacy is as simple as talking to your patients every day, one-on-one —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Love that.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. That’s a good point.
Shellie Pike: — and explaining what their background is —
Melissa Pergola: Yep.
Shellie Pike: — what your background is.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Shellie Pike: You know, like, “This was my training. This is what I've done to get to where I am.
This is what my job title is.” You know, some hospitals use AIDET [acknowledge, introduce, duration, explanation
and thank you]. I don't know —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: You know, it's acknowledge, introduce, duration. So, you start by talking to the
patient and saying, you know, "My name is Shellie Pike. I'm a radiologist assistant." You kind of give them some
background on your education.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: And that, I think, can calm some fears for patients, because they know that they've
got a professional helping them. So that, in and of itself, is advocacy, right?
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: So, every day with our patients. Or you can make it more. We've had so many
letter-writing campaigns that we've had that have been so overwhelmingly successful.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. Yes.
Shellie Pike: Right? What was it, the 40,000 letters —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: 42,000.
Shellie Pike: — that went, about trying to change us to the professional status. So, you know,
you can write letters. That's also very simple. It's not overly time-consuming.
Or you can even go deeper, and you can go to the Capitol, whether that's at your state level or nationally. You
know, I attended, I think I've done three days at the Capitol in D.C., when we used to do the —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. R.T. in D.C. [advocacy event].
Shellie Pike: R.T. in D.C. and then RNDC [?? — 14:40], yeah. And as nerve-wracking as that was,
too, it really was such an amazing experience to be able to sit down one-on-one with those staffers and educate
them on what we do.
Ray Arambula: So, Shellie, what would you say are some of the misconceptions about volunteering
in a professional organization? I think what comes to my mind is that you're not experienced enough, might be a
misconception.
Shellie Pike: Yeah, I think there's probably two that come to my mind. The first one is “I don't
have anything to contribute.”
Ray Arambula: Mm.
Shellie Pike: That's a complete fallacy.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: So, everybody has something to contribute, and I think that every voice matters,
you know? And so, we need all of our technologists and radiation therapists to contribute. And I think the best
thing about volunteering and especially some of the committees that I've worked on and as speaker and vice speaker
running some of those House meeting, committees — I loved having those new voices, the new technologists —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: — the younger technologists in. And you may think that you're inexperienced, but
you may have a whole different viewpoint on when we're looking at these documents that have been around for
30-plus years. And I think that everybody's voice needs to be heard. I value everybody's opinions. And I think
sometimes when you bring that new opinion forward, it actually kind of makes other people go, "Oh, I hadn't seen
it that way." So, when you think, "I don't have anything to contribute," you have a lot to contribute. And so, I
think that's one of the fallacies.
I think another fallacy around volunteering that I hear people say is "I just don't have time."
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Shellie Pike: But again, we go back to, that time, it is what you need to put into it, right? And
I would say that through volunteering, one of the biggest advantages is that you have a voice, right? So, if
you're not happy with where the profession is headed or where we are, then you need to step up and have a voice.
You need to have input into it, right? So, you know, I think it's Mahatma Gandhi says, "You must be the change you
want to see in the world," right?
So, if you're not going to be a part of the organization, you're not going to volunteer, you don't have the
opportunity to be that change. So, and again, you don't have to commit to eight hours a week or 40 hours a week,
you know. You can commit to one hour a week, you know. It's what you need to make of it.
So, your affiliate, I'm sure, has very small time commitments that they need filled. And so, I would say, you
know, reach out to your affiliate and say, "What can I do for you?" Reach out to other professional organizations,
whether it's ASRT, ARRT, SDMS [Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography]. There's so many out there that you can
choose from.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, and when someone goes to our site to sign up for volunteering, it lists
all the opportunities, and it lists the estimated time commitment, right?
Shellie Pike: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: So, you can actually look and say, "These are the things that I think I would
have time for," which I think is pretty cool.
Shellie Pike: Yeah, that allows you not to kind of overcommit, right? So, if you think, "I have
half an hour a week," or, you know, an hour a week or an hour a day, you know, that you can pick what fits your
time schedule.
Melissa Pergola: So, volunteering and professional involvement is so important, and I want to ask
you, how do you think that professional involvement contributes to the future and sustainability of medical
imaging and radiation therapy?
Shellie Pike: Yeah, so, another great question. So, I think I mentioned it earlier that without
our volunteers, our profession would be stagnant. And I do think people are afraid of change. Change is scary. I
also was afraid of change. I didn't want to go out and do public speaking —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: — but my husband, in his infinite wisdom, said that what does not challenge you
does not change you. So, he was right, you know. You need a challenge. So, I think, you know, in order for our
profession to evolve, we have to have our volunteers that give us those input and that input and the new ideas so
that we can continue to move forward and evolve through that change process. Because change comes with not only
challenges, but amazing opportunities.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, yeah. And you mention new voices and younger voices, and I think what's
important is that we have diversity at the table, right? We need people with different backgrounds, different
experiences, the younger voice who sees things fresh, our volunteers who've been around for a long time, because
history is important. Right? So, for there to be that significant change and to sustain the profession, we need
everybody at the table.
Ray Arambula: We talk about why we need this and how to do this. But it's kind of even scarier to
think, what happens if we don't get this? What happens if we don't have volunteers?
Shellie Pike: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: That's a scary thought.
Shellie Pike: If we don't have volunteers, we're going to stay where we are.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, that's right.
Shellie Pike: And then there's going to be other professionals that are going to come in and
decide that they can do it better, right? So —
Melissa Pergola: That's exactly right.
Shellie Pike: They're going to, unfortunately, encroach on our profession. You know, we have to
be able to change with the times. Our technology is constantly changing.
Melissa Pergola: That's right.
Shellie Pike: We have to also evolve and change.
Melissa Pergola: That's right. Yeah. So, Shellie, if someone is kind of still on the fence and
they're a little bit unsure about volunteering, what would you tell them that first step is?
Shellie Pike: So, the first step, I would say, is do some introspective review of “What am I
passionate about? Because I have to have a passion.” So, then once you find your passion, I would say reach out to
your affiliate. Say, "This is what I'm passionate about. What can I do for you? Is there anything I can help you
with?" Find a mentor, somebody who's been volunteering for a while.
Melissa Pergola: Great.
Shellie Pike: And, I mean, I would not be here without my mentors. I have so many amazing people
who have encouraged and supported and pushed me along the way, you know, sometimes kicking and screaming.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Shellie Pike: Like, "No, I'm not going to that affiliate meeting." Or maybe there was some times
that I was invited to an affiliate meeting thinking that it was going to be, you know, a small affiliate meeting,
and then I'm in front of a room of 300 people, and that was a little terrifying. So, thank you to my Board members
for pushing me —
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Shellie Pike: — and also not telling me ahead of time, because I wouldn't have gotten on the
plane. But they knew my weaknesses.
So, you know, I would say find out what your passion is. Volunteering is — it can be a big time commitment, and
you're going to miss things. You're going to miss time at home, time with your family, time from watching “Real
Housewives.” Time from, you know, time from work. So, in order to justify that time that you're missing with those
important people in your lives, it has to be something that you're passionate about and rewarding for you as well.
So, you need to, you know, figure out what your passion is, figure out where that fits in and then make sure that
it's rewarding for you. And a mentor can really help lead you to that path of kind of where you can go.
I met a student at AGHOD [the Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting] a few years ago, and they had a
degree in graphic design before they went to R.T. school. And, you know, they were talking about that, and I was
like — and they were like, "I just don't think there's anything that I can contribute." And I said, "Your
affiliate, I'm sure, would love your graphic design background."
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Shellie Pike: So they, you know, talked to their affiliate, and they actually ended up helping
them with website design, newsletter creation — like, all these amazing things that you had a whole nother career
that will be beneficial to you here in this space, not directly related to medical imaging and radiation therapy,
but that will help your affiliate, and you can volunteer doing your second passion.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, I love that. I've never — I don't think we've ever really talked about that
before, and I never thought about that, is telling individuals, “What is it that you're good at?” or “What other
degrees or experiences do you have?” Offer that to your affiliate. Offer that to volunteering. You might be
surprised just how important that is, where you think it wouldn't make a difference.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And I guess we should say, if you're interested, you should go to asrt.org/Volunteers.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. You can see there's a volunteer form there, and you can fill out the
volunteer form with any possible interests that you have and time commitments that you have. And if that changes
throughout the year, you can always look back. We have constant call to actions for new volunteer opportunities.
And you want to fill out a new form if there's something new that pops up that you think you're interested in.
Melissa Pergola: So, Shellie, we can't thank you enough. I know that you're a very humble person,
but you really are inspiring. You really are. And so, I hope that those who are listening and watching do feel
that fire now to look at what their passions are and to be involved, so thank you.
Shellie Pike: Well, thank you. Thank you for your never-ending encouragement, both of you.
We'll be right back after this short message.
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Ray Arambula: And now we're going to see how good you are —
Melissa Pergola: Oh, see —
Ray Arambula: — in a game.
Melissa Pergola: — it was so nice. It was so nice.
Shellie Pike and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: You have to transition somehow.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: So, we have a game. We're going to call it Finish the Story.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Ray Arambula: So, I'm going to start a sentence.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: And I'm going to pass it over to you [gestures toward Melissa] or to you [gestures
toward Shellie].
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: And you're going to contribute to that, and then you're going to pass it.
Shellie Pike: OK.
Ray Arambula: And then it's going to come back to me, and I'm going to wrap it up. OK, so, like,
for example: The first time I volunteered, I thought it would be —
Melissa Pergola: Horrifying. But I started, and then I found out —
Shellie Pike: That it's not quite as scary as you thought.
Ray Arambula: So, that's how we can play the game, so.
Melissa Pergola: OK. OK.
Shellie Pike: Yeah. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: All right. So, you ready for the first statement?
Melissa Pergola: Sure.
Ray Arambula: OK. I'm going to start with Shellie.
Melissa Pergola: OK, good. Thanks.
Ray Arambula: All right. Volunteering is 10% service and 90% —
Shellie Pike: Growth.
Melissa Pergola: Ohh.
Shellie Pike: Because you're going to learn so many different aspects while you're volunteering,
so there's always room for growth.
Melissa Pergola: When I volunteered, I learned better public communication skills, I created
lifelong friends and I also feel like I made a difference.
Ray Arambula: In the way I come up and show up and live my life.
Melissa Pergola: Ta-da.
Ray Arambula: That was too safe, though.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no.
Shellie Pike: She's like, "I got to cut a lot of that out."
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Did you hear him say that one was too safe? Here we go.
Shellie Pike: I was going to say sacrifice, but I'm afraid that people would be like, "Not
volunteering."
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Let's see if we can get a little edgier.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no. OK.
Ray Arambula: OK. Technology betrayed me when —
Melissa Pergola: I got my new phone and couldn't figure out [laughs] how to start it.
Shellie Pike: I went to the cell phone store, and they told me how to — that all I had to do was
push the power button.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: And as I walked out, I looked back, and they were all laughing at me.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] See? I kept that not edgy.
Ray Arambula and Shellie Pike: [laugh]
Melissa Pergola: You like that? And actually, truth is, I actually start the phones when new
phones come, even for my kids who are in their 20s and 30s, so I really do know how to do that.
Ray Arambula: You actually are good at technology.
Melissa Pergola: I love technology.
Ray Arambula: I'm impressed. You do —
Melissa Pergola: I like to troubleshoot stuff.
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: You are a fan of technology.
Melissa Pergola: I am.
Ray Arambula: OK, last one. If my life had a narrator, right now they'd say —
Shellie Pike: “You should take the blindfold off so you can see where you're going.”
Ray Arambula: Ooh.
Melissa Pergola: Ooh. Because oftentimes I just do things, but don't pay attention to the
difference that it makes or the growth that I'm having.
Ray Arambula: Yet I'm not ashamed to make a U-turn.
Melissa Pergola: Ooh.
Shellie Pike: Oh, that's a good one.
Melissa Pergola: Whoo.
Shellie Pike: Look at that. That was good.
Melissa Pergola: Dang.
Ray Arambula: Did I drop the mic?
Melissa Pergola: Dang, yeah.
Shellie Pike: Yeah, that was a mic drop.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: OK. Well, thanks for playing along.
Melissa Pergola: All right, we're done. Hey, Ray, guess what time it is.
Ray Arambula: What time is it?
Melissa Pergola: It's time for the We See You segment.
Ray Arambula: All right.
Alexis Juveland: Hi, Dr. Pergola. My name is Alexis Juveland, and I'm a first-year radiography
student at the College of DuPage in Illinois. My question for you is regarding communication strategies and what
tips you have for students on how to best handle conflict management within stressful, high-tension situations.
Thanks so much, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, thank you for this question. And I'm so excited that you're entering our
profession. I would say if you're talking about conflict situations within the clinical environment as a student,
I would say, first and foremost, you need to keep yourself safe. So, if it is something that you can handle or you
can answer, that's OK. But if not, you definitely need to seek a technologist or a manager or an educator.
I think one of the things I'd like to say is more about maybe avoiding conflict. And we can do that a lot of times
by listening and being open-minded. There are ways that students can share the knowledge that they have. You might
have experienced where it's threatening for maybe technologists who've been around a long time. Like, if I was in
clinical and you were learning now, you know so much more than I do, and things have changed. But maybe how we
approach that in honoring the knowledge that's there, but then finding a way then to offer little tidbits and
information and knowledge that you have.
But I would love to know what Ray and Shellie think.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I think there's things you can't control sometimes, like scheduling or
someone else's mood. But there's things you can control, and that's your response and your attitude towards it,
your professionalism towards it. And those things, I think, you grow into. You have — you discover those things,
and you get better at them. But I think, you know, I would say that would be my advice, is to focus on the things
you can control.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Shellie Pike: Yeah, agreed. I would also say, going back to [gestures toward Melissa] your
reactions, sometimes when things happen in clinic especially, it's kind of a high-stress environment. I would say
sometimes it's acceptable to walk away and just breathe. Just take a moment. Try not to react out of emotion.
And then also, as Dr. Pergola mentioned, you want to reach out to somebody else that can assist you, so, whether
that's your clinical instructor or your educator, so that you're not stuck in the middle of that. Because right
now, you're in a rock and a hard place right now. So, you need to make sure that you're staying safe, like we
said, and securing your future as well.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah. So, thank you both, and thank you for the question, and welcome to
the profession.
Ray Arambula: Hey, Melissa.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah?
Ray Arambula: You know what time it is?
Melissa Pergola: I don't know.
Ray Arambula: It's time to not put yourself in a bad position.
Melissa Pergola: You mean I need to stay up to date with “The RAD Position”?
Ray Arambula: Exactly.
Melissa Pergola: OK. Breaking news.
Ray Arambula: [imitates breaking news music]
Melissa Pergola: Remember the moment you decided to become a medical imaging or radiation therapy
professional? Maybe it was a teacher, maybe it was a mentor or it was the first look at a radiograph that changed
everything. Now, you can be that moment for someone. With the ASRT Planting Seeds outreach tool kit, you don't
have to start from scratch. We've gathered the resources you need from kindergarten through 12th grade through
college age. You'll have the tools you need to showcase a variety of medical imaging and radiation therapy career
paths.
Are you planning a career fair? Use our looping tabletop presentations and Take a Closer Look booklets. Visiting a
classroom? We've got ready-to-use slide presentations, flyers and academic scholarship guides to show the path
forward. You can even take your passion into the community by mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters, partnering
with the Special Olympics or speaking at HOSA – Future Health Professions [Professionals] event. The tool kit has
links to get you connected, share your passion and grow the profession. Download the tool kit now at asrt.org/PlantingSeeds.
Ray Arambula: What a great episode.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, it was.
Ray Arambula: Thank you, Shellie.
Melissa Pergola: Thank you.
Shellie Pike: Thank you for having me.
Ray Arambula: It was such a great privilege talking with you. And to our listeners and viewers,
don't forget that you can write in at [email protected] or fill out
the form at asrt.org/RADPosition.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, and subscribe and share, all the things.
Ray Arambula: Yes. All your colleagues, your family, your friends. And to all our medical imaging
and radiation therapy professionals, be seen —
Melissa Pergola: — and stay rad.