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.
Ray Arambula: And I am her podcast partner, Ray Arambula.
Melissa Pergola: And, Ray, I have been so looking forward to this episode, because this is a
little bit different, right? So, what did you do?
Ray Arambula: What did I do?
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: You were like man on the street.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. So —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: So, we are fresh off of our annual meeting —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — for ASRT [the ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting], and so
we're going to share some stories and some of the memories and some of the key takeaways from that meeting. And
we've got some interesting footage to show you.
Melissa Pergola: And it's new for me, so I'm seeing it for the first time.
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: All right. Let's get started.
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: Hey everyone, it's day one. We're here at ASRT's annual meeting here in
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[music]
Ray Arambula: So, we're here at ASRT registration booth, and I'm joined with Gordon and Brandon,
and today we're going to ask them what happens here at the registration desk.
Gordon Ream: Hey, Ray. Yeah, we're full service up here. So, we're helping attendees get their
badges. We're handing out our Beam magazine, which kind of chronicles the event, gives them a schedule. We're
getting them their tote bag with a bunch of fun swag and their lanyard in there to get them set up for
everything.
[music]
Ray Arambula: So, we just finished the keynote, and the education sessions are already in full
swing.
[music]
Ray Arambula: One of my favorite parts of the ASRT annual meeting is the Expo hall. As you can
see, it's filled with many booths from many vendors. We have colleagues meeting with other colleagues, sharing
ideas, swapping ideas. It's just a great time to reconnect.
[music]
Ray Arambula: All right, we are here at the ASRT Pin Exchange, a very traditional event where
attendees will bring their pins from their schools, their organizations, and they'll trade with each other.
[music]
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: That was so cool!
Ray Arambula: Isn't it amazing? When I look back at this footage —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — I'm reminded of just how much happens within these few days.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Every year, I think, we wonder how this conference, how this annual conference
will feel.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: But every year it feels like it's something different and develops into something
new.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. I think what stood out for me is that not only the attendees, but staff
appear to be having such a good time.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And I think that that's a testament to our staff and your Meetings and
Conferences team [ASRT department], right? It's more of an experience. It's a community coming together, and I
think that this video showed that. I mean, there was education, and then there was governance, and there was
fun. There was even a mariachi band.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Right?
Ray Arambula: Oh, yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And paleta bars. It was really wonderful seeing the summary video, so thank you
for doing that.
Ray Arambula: This annual meeting feels more like a, almost a reunion —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — of people, and a way to bring in new folks as well.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. It's so interesting. So, you know, we had the Student to Development
Leadership Program [ASRT Student to Leadership Development Program] participants there, and we had over 100 this
year. But it's — a couple of them said in the wrap-up that we have with the [ASRT] Board of Directors very
transparently that they signed up for it because it was sort of a free trip. And so many of them said that they
cannot believe what they got out of it.
Ray Arambula: Mm.
Melissa Pergola: And like you said, it's that camaraderie. It's those conversations. It's the
education. It's really sort of finding your place in the profession and in this community, and that is the
perfect place to do that.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. It's always great seeing our future leaders —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — connecting and learning from one another, but also sharing that energy that they
bring and that excitement that they bring.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah, and I would say not just the younger future leaders, but I would
say a lot of the participants who attend our conference, they are leaders in their own right, right? Whether
they have a leadership title or they're a medical imaging or radiation therapy professional, because we always
talk about, it's not a title.
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: We are all leaders in this profession, and we can all learn from each other.
So, I think another reason that would be a great reason to come to this community and to this event is to
inspire others.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: You know, if you're a radiation therapist or a medical imaging professional,
you have the opportunity to inspire that next generation of students.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: You have the opportunity to talk with each other about things that are
happening in our profession and really be a part of this next great chapter in our profession.
Ray Arambula: You know, we also had a really good turnout at the [ASRT] Foundation donor lunch.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: And it's doing incredible work behind the scenes, and it's always encouraging to
see those numbers come in, and especially supporting students and future professionals.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: I think that's one of the long-term investments that we can make.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah, we did have a huge turnout, and one of the things that I loved, we
do an ASRT update every year, but this year we did something a little different. We spent some time, and we read
the words of students and professionals who received grants and scholarships from our Foundation, and they were
just so heartfelt and so emotion-evoking that I think that that really was part of it, right? When you can see
physically where your money's going and the difference that you're making. And we can't not talk about the
Foundation party, too.
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: What a fun time, right?
Ray Arambula: [laughs] That was a fun time.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: So, of course we had our museum [ASRT Museum and Archives] tours.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: We had charter buses going from the convention center to the ASRT offices.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: What a great turnout. Everybody really seemed to enjoy —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — visiting the ASRT office and the Museum and Archives. Every time I walk through
the museum, I'm still reminded of just how quickly our profession has changed.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: And this kind of gives us a little history into how fast and how much that has
evolved.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: But it was also a chance for people to just, again, connect with one another,
engage with one another in a different setting. Maybe some people came for the air conditioning.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: It was pretty hot during this annual meeting.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] It was. It was. Yeah, I heard so much great feedback. And what was
really cool to me was several participants reached out to me and said, "We're going to go, but we have family
members here, or we have friends, and we really want them to see the museum, too." So, it became an even bigger
crowd than just our participants.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, and some people were coming even before —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — the scheduled conference time, so that was really great to see. And of course we
had the Kona Ice truck there.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: And that was a big hit as well, so.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And I should tell our listeners and viewers that you can tour the ASRT
museum. You just have to contact Bill Brennan, who is our executive director of the museum, and he can either do
a personal tour, which is fabulous, or we've actually moved into the 21st century.
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: We have video tours now where you can take the tour yourself.
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: And in addition, we have service dogs around here welcoming guests. We have Luna
the Cartoona. Luna, how are things going today?
[dog sniffing noises]
Ray Arambula: Very happy to be here, like the rest of our attendees.
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] She looked like she was legit on cue. You sure that she's not also,
like, a movie dog or something?
Ray Arambula: Oh, she was so good.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Ray Arambula: Everybody loved her and all the dogs that were available. It was such a big hit.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: They were just spread across the entire conference, from registration to exhibit
hall —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — to education sessions, and everybody just had to stop —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — and take a, just a photo or selfie and just a chance to pet the dogs and have
some therapy.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. I'll tell you a funny story. So, I finally sat down for lunch in the
exhibit hall, and I sat with one of my dear friends, Dr. Lauren Noble, who is a professor at UNC [University of
North Carolina] Chapel Hill, and she has a corgi. And all of a sudden, she jumped up and she was gone, and I'm
like, "What happened?" Well, that cor — there was a corgi came by, and she just lost her mind.
Ray Arambula: Oh, wow.
Melissa Pergola: [laughing] She, like, just midsentence, she ran to the corgi.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: And that's why it's so important to have the therapy dogs. They're used in
hospitals, and I just think that's fabulous.
Ray Arambula: Wow.
Melissa Pergola: All right, next video.
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: And I'm here with Meredith Check. And Meredith, why is advocacy so important to
the profession?
Meredith Check: Yeah, of course. So, you know, advocacy is the way to make sure our legislators
and regulatory bodies know about the profession and know why it's so important for folks who are performing
medical imaging, radiation therapy procedures have education, training and credentialing.
You know, during the conference this week, we are actually going to be asking folks to support the Medicare
Access to Radiology Care Act on our [Advocacy] Action Center. And this is our federal legislation that will help
fix a reimbursement issue to improve access to care with the RA [radiologist assistant].
Ray Arambula: You heard it first here. Come check out the ASRT booth and learn more about
advocacy.
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: Oh, what a great video, and seeing Meredith, and seeing MARCA listed there,
right? There was a lot of excitement around learning how to become advocates at the conference. And I know we
had so many letters written, written by computer, at our advocacy booth. And I think by the end of the
conference, I think we were up to over 3,000 letters —
Ray Arambula: Oh, wow. Wow.
Melissa Pergola: — that had been written. Yes.
Ray Arambula: That's awesome.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: I think when people hear the word advocacy, they might think politics.
Melissa Pergola: Mm.
Ray Arambula: But advocacy is really about just having a voice within the profession. So, I
really hope people get behind that more and more. It is maybe sounding a little bit intimidating, but I think
once you realize what your involvement can be like, it's not at all.
Melissa Pergola: You're right, and it's so different than people think. When I have a
technologist or therapist ask me, "How can we get involved with the Be Seen campaign," right? It is about
sharing the commercials and all of that, but more importantly to me, being an advocate is standing up proud
every day for who you are.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And so, advocacy is more than just writing letters. It's actually letting the
people around you in your community —
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: — and your patients —
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: — educate them on who we are and the important role that we play.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, definitely.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. But also, please, when you get those advocacy action emails from us —
Ray Arambula: [laughs] Yes.
Melissa Pergola: — please act. Please act.
Ray Arambula: Please participate.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: It's important.
Melissa Pergola: And Meredith mentioned RA, right?
Ray Arambula: Mm-hmm.
Melissa Pergola: That's our radiologist assistant. And MARCA is about our radiologist assistant,
but it should matter to all medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: So, when you get those emails, if you are a nuclear medicine technologist but
it's not about nuclear medicine technologists, or if you're a bone densitometrist and it's not about bone
densitometry, it's still —
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: — uplifting and promoting our profession. So please, please, please answer
those calls to action.
All right, I can't wait. Here comes the next one.
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: We're here at the ASRT booth. I am joined with Anthony Acree, ASRT director of
marketing. Anthony, how's it going?
Anthony Acree: I'm doing great. How are you doing, Ray?
Ray Arambula: Good. How's been the experience so far out at the ASRT booth?
Anthony Acree: It's always so much fun to meet all the members and see the students in the SLDP
program, so. And it's a great turnout this year, doing great.
Ray Arambula: So, of course, we always have cool swag here at the ASRT booth.
Anthony Acree: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: What do you got here so far?
Anthony Acree: So, this year we've got these reusable shopping bags, and they are to promote our
Planting Seeds initiative, which is to help promote the profession to high school students.
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Anthony Acree: So, at our website, asrt.org/PlantingSeeds, you can find a video that you can play at
a career fair, or you can find a PowerPoint presentation that you can use that deck to promote the profession
during, you know, to high school students or others who would be interested in joining the profession.
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, I love that bag, by the way. I love the color.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: I loved that it gets real small, and you can take it shopping. But one of the
things — and I loved Anthony's smile. That was so cool.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: One of the things Anthony mentioned at the end was high school and others.
Ray Arambula: Mm.
Melissa Pergola: And really, the Planting Seeds Tool Kit could be used in your community, could
be used at elementary, middle school, high school, and it's so important. We know that while things are getting
better in some disciplines, we're still seeing shortages in our profession, and this idea of planting seeds and
getting that next generation to get excited about what we do is so cool.
Ray Arambula: It is. Yeah, and there's so many things that take place there at the ASRT booth.
It feels like the hub.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Like, somehow you start there, and you always end up back there, and it's —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — it's a great place, again, to make connections and visit with some of the staff.
But you're right. We do offer lots of good swag there, too —
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: — and, really to promote the initiatives that we have in place.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. Yeah. And like you said, it's a great opportunity for members to come to
the conference and be able to interact with —
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: — ASRT staff, whether it's to give us new ideas —
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: — to give us feedback, to learn about exciting things like Planting Seeds. It's
just another great opportunity when you're there at that event.
Ray Arambula: Right.
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: Well, being in Albuquerque, New Mexico, we are joined by two very special guests.
[music]
Ray Arambula: Walter. Hey, say my name. Say my name.
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Yes, those were statues at the convention center.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] That's so funny. So, did ours — did Gordon? Who put the name badges on
them?
Ray Arambula: Yeah, someone from registration went ahead and did that. I mean, they were
encouraged by the convention center's manager to do that.
Melissa Pergola: Ah.
Ray Arambula: I guess organizations who've held conferences there before —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — it's a thing to do. Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Well, I had someone tell me that they were the most photographed —
Ray Arambula: I bet.
Melissa Pergola: — attendees at the conference, that everyone took their pictures with them.
Ray Arambula: Oh yeah, everybody was taking pictures.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that is hysterical.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. So, of course I had to get a video spot.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: All right, well, guess what time it is?
Melissa Pergola: What time?
Ray Arambula: It's game time. Yay.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, and Kim is here. Yay!
Ray Arambula: And we are joined by Kim [Gawler, ASRT multimedia content producer] as well.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Thank you for joining us, Kim. So, today's game is, it's going to be based off a
game called BeanBoozled.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no.
Kim Gawler: [laughs] Oh, no.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no.
Ray Arambula: Beans meaning jelly beans.
Melissa Pergola: Wait, is this the one where there's like the gr — ? Oh, no.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, so.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: You can — I mean, some of the flavors are just pretty —
Melissa Pergola: Mm.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: — interesting.
Kim Gawler: Ray, what is wrong with you?
Ray Arambula: You can choose between berry blue or toothpaste.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, toothpaste —
Ray Arambula: Top banana or wet dog.
Melissa Pergola: Ew.
Kim Gawler: [laughs] That's a —
Melissa Pergola: Wet dog?
Ray Arambula: Strawberry banana —
Kim Gawler: That's a flavor?
Ray Arambula: — smoothie or dead fish. Yeah, so.
Melissa Pergola: [gasps] Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: So, it's pretty simple, the way it works.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: We're going to put a little spin on it, though.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: So, you have this little, what do you call this?
Kim Gawler: Spinner.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: You have this little spinner board.
Melissa Pergola: Yes?
Ray Arambula: And you basically spin it, and it'll choose which bean you have to select.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: Which color bean you have to select.
Melissa Pergola: Right. Right.
Ray Arambula: You don't know what flavor it's going to be.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, so it's like —
Kim Gawler: Is it 50/50?
Ray Arambula: Yes, 50/50.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, OK. Mm.
Ray Arambula: We’re going to add a little twist to it, though.
Melissa Pergola: Why? Isn't it bad enough?
Ray Arambula: No. So, we're going to call this game Truth, Lies or BeanBoozled.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: So, I'm going to give a true or false statement.
Melissa Pergola: What on earth?
Ray Arambula: And whoever gets it right does not have to eat the bean.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Kim Gawler: Oh.
Ray Arambula: Whoever gets —
Melissa Pergola: What if we both get it right?
Ray Arambula: Then I have to eat it.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Come on, Kim.
Kim Gawler: Let's do this.
Melissa Pergola: Come on.
Kim Gawler: Let's do this.
Melissa Pergola: He's going to be the only one eating beans.
Ray Arambula: So, it's a team, OK?
Kim Gawler: Let’s do this.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Are you ready?
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Kim Gawler: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: OK. OK, here we go. First true or false.
Melissa Pergola: Kim's excited.
Kim Gawler: [laughs] I am. I'm a little pumped.
Ray Arambula: And these are confessions of Ray, OK?
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Ray Arambula: You have to tell me whether they're true or false.
Melissa Pergola: Fun, OK.
Ray Arambula: OK? I practiced my man on the street intro in the hotel room mirror before
recording.
Melissa Pergola: True.
Kim Gawler: That sounds true.
Ray Arambula: It is true.
Kim Gawler: [laughs and claps]
Melissa Pergola: Yay! One.
Kim Gawler: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. OK, Ray, here.
Kim Gawler: All right, Ray.
Melissa Pergola: Right here, Ray.
Kim Gawler: Yeah, go. Yeah, OK. So, it's either tutti-fruitti or stinky socks.
Melissa Pergola: Ew. [sighs]
Kim Gawler: [gasps] Oh.
[music]
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] Is that stinky socks? Well, it can't be that bad. Your face doesn't
look that bad.
Ray Arambula: Well, it's actually good.
Kim Gawler: Oh, so it's —
Melissa Pergola: Is it stinky socks?
Ray Arambula: It's not stinky socks.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Kim Gawler: It has to be tutti-fruitti.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: It's tutti-fruitti.
Kim Gawler: Tutti-fruitti!
Ray Arambula: I was anticipating the worst.
Melissa Pergola: You looked a little confused.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: I was anticipating socks, but.
Kim Gawler: You were, like, preparing for the worst.
Ray Arambula: Mm-hmm. I was.
Kim Gawler: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: I was pleasantly surprised. OK.
Kim Gawler: OK.
Ray Arambula: Next one.
Kim Gawler: Let's go.
Melissa Pergola: All right.
Ray Arambula: I rode the museum shuttle because I wanted to hear attendee feedback further.
Kim Gawler: I think this is false, actually.
Melissa Pergola: I'm going to say false too, because you probably didn't have time to go over
there.
Ray Arambula: [wrong answer buzzer sound effect]
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [gasp]
Ray Arambula: It's true.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no! [laughs]
Ray Arambula: I had told —
Kim Gawler: Look at you, Ray, though. That’s nice.
Ray Arambula: I had told Chris that someone needs to be on the bus to see what some of the
commentary is.
Kim Gawler: That's really good, Ray.
Melissa Pergola: Well, I mean, I think that is wonderful and yeah.
Ray Arambula: And it was very positive, too.
Melissa Pergola: But it seemed like a good one that would've been a false.
Kim Gawler: I just thought you — it sounded so good. I thought, like, he would be like, "Nope."
No!
Melissa Pergola: Dang it.
Kim Gawler: OK. Do you want to go first or me?
Melissa Pergola: Uh, you go first.
Kim Gawler: OK. OK.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, God.
Kim Gawler: Oh, no.
Melissa Pergola: What is it?
Kim Gawler: Toasted marshmallow or stink bug.
Melissa Pergola: [gasps]
Ray Arambula: Ooh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Kim Gawler: OK. Here, I'll let you spin and then I'll go.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Kim Gawler: I'll grab it.
Melissa Pergola: Berry blue or toothpaste.
Kim Gawler: OK.
Ray Arambula: How did you get off easy? I don't get that.
Kim Gawler: Yeah, she gets toothpaste if it's wrong?
Ray Arambula: That’s too easy.
Kim Gawler: OK.
Ray Arambula: You go first.
Kim Gawler: OK. OK, ready? Mm, it was marshmallow.
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: All right.
Ray Arambula: Everybody's getting off easy.
Melissa Pergola: Ready?
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Hopefully she'll pick the wrong one.
Kim Gawler: But it’s toothpaste.
Melissa Pergola: It's toothpaste.
Kim Gawler and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: I mean, toothpaste is generally —
Kim Gawler: I think I'm OK with that. It's just mint.
Melissa Pergola: It's just mint.
Kim Gawler: Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: That’s better than —
Melissa Pergola: It's definitely not blue raspberry, so.
Kim Gawler: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: OK. I secretly ate more than one paleta ice cream.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that's true.
Kim Gawler: I'm going to go false.
Ray Arambula: It's false.
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [gasp]
Ray Arambula: I didn't even get a chance to get one.
Melissa Pergola: What?
Kim Gawler: You got to spin!
Melissa Pergola: Spin! Dang it!
Kim Gawler: They looked so good.
Ray Arambula: Oh, my gosh, they’re so good. I've had them before, and I can't believe I passed
them up.
Melissa Pergola: Oh. OK.
Kim Gawler: Wet dog or banana.
Melissa Pergola: Mm. Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: Oh, yeah!
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Kim Gawler: Spit it out! Do something!
Ray Arambula: No, no, no, you have to eat it. That's part of the rules.
Melissa Pergola: Ugh!
Ray Arambula: You can drink your coffee after.
Melissa Pergola: Ugh!
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Kim Gawler: All right, Ray, you're up.
Melissa Pergola: Golly, it's still in my mouth.
Kim Gawler: He was trying to get away with not going.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, that didn't make any sense.
Kim Gawler: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: I was OK with that if we kept winning.
Kim Gawler: Yeah. All right, come on, Ray.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that's so gro — I still — oh, it's still gross.
Ray Arambula: [laughs] She's still tasting it.
Kim Gawler: I'm so sorry.
Ray Arambula: All right. OK, cappuccino or liver and onions.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. Oh, please be liver and onions.
Kim Gawler: Liver and onions — I don't think that would taste that bad.
Melissa Pergola: Oh. Mm. Mm-mm.
Kim Gawler: No? [laughs] Compared to wet dog?
Melissa Pergola: Especially after — no, wet dog was bad.
Ray Arambula: This looks like it has liver and onions in it.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, I'm telling you, this tastes [unintelligible — 22:14].
Ray Arambula: Oh, my —
Melissa Pergola: Ohh! Oh! [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yes!
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Melissa Pergola: Yes! [laughs] Look at that face! Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: Oh, God. Oh, my.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, that's the funniest face.
Kim Gawler: [claps]
Melissa Pergola: Oh! [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Kim Gawler: Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: Ugh.
Melissa Pergola: Woo.
Ray Arambula: Oh!
Melissa Pergola: The face. I can't.
Ray Arambula: The taste of liver and onion —
Melissa Pergola: Ew! [laughs] Oh.
Ray Arambula: I got the worst one. That is bad. That is so bad. Not on my worst enemy. Oh, my
God.
Kim Gawler: [claps] Oh, my goodness.
Melissa Pergola: The face still.
Ray Arambula: Who came up with that?
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [laugh]
Melissa Pergola: Look at his face still.
Ray Arambula: It's in my teeth still.
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: OK, next one.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: At what point during the conference I considered replacing Melissa as host with
Luna, the therapy dog.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] I'm going to say yes.
Kim Gawler: I'm going to say false.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: [laugh]
Melissa Pergola: [claps] What was the answer you put on there?
Ray Arambula: It's yes. [laughs] It's yes.
Melissa Pergola: It was yes? [laughs]
Kim Gawler: Ugh!
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Kim Gawler: All right, all right. Peach or barf.
Melissa Pergola: Oh!
Kim Gawler: Dude.
Melissa Pergola: No.
Kim Gawler: Peach or barf.
Ray Arambula: That’s such a contrast.
Kim Gawler: Oh, my God, this is, like, the one I was really fearing to get.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Kim Gawler: I don't know if I can do —
Ray Arambula: She got barf.
Kim Gawler: I think I got —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Kim Gawler: Oh, the — oh, it's just, like, getting worse.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Ooh.
Melissa Pergola: She’s just like, "I think I got — ooh."
Kim Gawler: It's, like, really acidic.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: Oh, my gosh. No peach flavor at all? No.
Kim Gawler: Oh, I would know.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no, your eyes are watering.
Ray Arambula: Oh, my gosh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, my God —
Ray Arambula: Kim, don’t barf.
Melissa Pergola: — is it that bad?
Ray Arambula: Don't barf. Don’t barf, don’t barf.
Kim Gawler: That was not good.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Ray Arambula: I knew every event location without ever checking the conference app or schedule.
Melissa Pergola: Mm.
Kim Gawler: I think that's false.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, you run Meetings and Conferences, but I'm going to say false.
Kim Gawler: I'm going to say false.
Ray Arambula: Dang it.
Kim Gawler: Yeah!
Kim Gawler and Melissa Pergola: [clap]
Kim Gawler: All right, spin the wheel.
Melissa Pergola: It's too big of a conference.
Ray Arambula: I thought you would've said, like, "No, Ray's good at his job. He knows."
Melissa Pergola: No, you are good at your job, but it's too big of a conference.
Ray Arambula: That is a big conference.
Melissa Pergola: All right.
Ray Arambula: Ugh.
Melissa Pergola: Here we go, here we go.
Ray Arambula: Licorice or burnt rubber.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Kim Gawler: Ooh. That's interesting.
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs] Yes!
Kim Gawler: Did you get it?
Ray Arambula: Oh, oh, my God. Oh, my God.
Melissa Pergola: Yes! [claps]
Ray Arambula: It tastes like smog and tire.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Ew.
Ray Arambula: Ugh.
Melissa Pergola: Ew.
Ray Arambula: Like oily tire.
Melissa Pergola: Ew.
Kim Gawler: Oh, my gosh.
Ray Arambula: Ugh. Oh, like in the heat.
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: A burnt tire. Ugh.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: All right, well, aren't you glad you wanted us to play this game now, Ray?
Ray Arambula: No, we're not doing this one again.
Melissa Pergola and Kim Gawler: [laugh]
Ray Arambula: This is gross. I could eat anything, but that was rough.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, yeah.
Ray Arambula: Well, thank you for playing along.
Kim Gawler: Thank you.
Ray Arambula: Thank you for joining us, Kim.
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm, thank you, Kim.
Ray Arambula: I hope you enjoyed that. OK, as a bonus round.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: I've got either a pear —
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: — or booger.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. But you gave me this one, so I don't know. I know there's no way you
could really tell, but all right, I'm going to go for it.
Ray Arambula: All right.
Melissa Pergola: All right, ready?
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: One, two, three.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, my God. Ugh!
Ray Arambula: Ugh, ugh!
Melissa Pergola: Oh!
Ray Arambula: Ohh!
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no! Can —
Kim Gawler: [screams]
Ray Arambula: Oh, what is that?
Melissa Pergola: Can we spit it — oh, my God, can we spit this one out?
Ray Arambula: No, you’ve got to eat it.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, Ray!
Ray Arambula: Oh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, it’s just hanging there in my mouth. Oh!
Ray Arambula: Oh, I'm trying to swallow it as fast as possible.
Kim Gawler: I'm so glad I sat for this one.
Melissa Pergola: Ew!
Ray Arambula: Ugh!
Kim Gawler: Oh, my gosh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh.
Ray Arambula: Oh, that's gross.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: Ugh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh!
Ray Arambula: It's like —
Melissa Pergola: I — ugh!
Ray Arambula: — stale, dried up booger.
Kim Gawler: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Oh God, it is. And the more — it tastes more and more like a booger the longer
it —
Ray Arambula: Ugh.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, my God.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, wish I had coffee.
We'll be right back after this short message.
ASRT Ad: Celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week® 2026, happening November 8th through the
14th with the inspiring theme “Radiating Love.” This year's theme recognizes the compassion, dedication and
commitment that medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals bring to patient care and safety every
single day.
Visit asrt.org/NRTW to explore celebration ideas, official
merchandise and helpful resources to make the most of this very special week.
Melissa Pergola: It's time for the We See You segment.
Ray Arambula: Good. Get my mind off of booger jelly bean.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
[video starts]
Ray Arambula: So, Melissa, is there anything you might want to ask ASRT's CEO, Dr. Melissa
Pergola?
Melissa Hibbert: Yes. Actually, as a program director, I know you guys have the cheaper cost
Student membership, but we're still not getting kickback from our students to join. I guess my question is, in
the near future, is there more intended incentives, promotions for the students to get them more interested?
Ray Arambula: Thank you for your question.
[video ends]
Melissa Pergola: Thank you, Melissa. Another Melissa.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: Thank you for that question. There are actually some really exciting things on
the horizon, right, Ray? With Marissa's [ASRT President Marissa Mangrum’s] presidential initiative, one of them
being really to elevate the experience for students and to offer more. So, there are a few things I can think
about with that. One, we are, in 2027, going to offer a poster contest —
Ray Arambula: Mm.
Melissa Pergola: — for students at our Radiation Therapy Conference. And for educators who want
to get students involved year-round, we're also now soliciting abstracts from students with their instructors,
which is another way to get them involved, but also maybe get them interested —
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: — in research and writing. And then we have some other things going on, too,
right?
Ray Arambula: Well, we have “Beam the Way” —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — coming out. A new podcast. A student-led podcast. And I think, you know, the one
thing I love is that we're creating opportunities for students for their voices to be heard.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: They certainly are a part of our profession, and they are certainly shaping the
way, so we want them to have an even more bigger presence.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: And I love that we're intentionally even calling it “Beam the Way.”
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: That's very clever.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. It's so cool.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: And then we have the things that we always do that maybe we could let you know,
Melissa, and other educators, some of the other things you can tell students about to promote it.
So, for instance, we've mentioned often the Student to Leadership Development Program, a phenomenal leadership
development program. Three years. They get to come to annual conference. They have lots of training on advocacy
and leadership development. They also have to stay involved at their state affiliate and be members of both
their state affiliate and ASRT.
Of course, we have the SEAL [Student Exam Assessment Library] exams for them to take practice tests for their
certification exams.
Ray Arambula: And I think sometimes, you know, students may hear the word membership and think —
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: — cost, you know, right away.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: But may not realize that everything that's available for them. Another thing is
that, you know, students can look for opportunities to participate, not just observe. So often —
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Ray Arambula: — maybe students might see themselves as learners and not participants.
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm. Yeah, and I think it goes beyond even just being a student, right?
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: We have so much to offer at every level of your career. So as students get in
and become involved now, hopefully that they would use all the resources that we have —
Ray Arambula: Right.
Melissa Pergola: — through their entire career journey, and that they'll see the value all the
way from student to retirement.
Ray Arambula: Absolutely.
Melissa Pergola: All right. You know what we say around here, Ray.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, what do we say? We say, do not put yourself in a bad position —
Melissa Pergola: — stay up to date with “The RAD Position.”
Ray Arambula: Are you ready to inspire the next generation of medical imaging and radiation
therapy professionals? The ASRT Planting Seeds Contest is underway, and we want you to be a part of it.
Download the free Planting Seeds Tool Kit. Use it to plan a community outreach event, anything from a career day
presentation at a local school to a patient education seminar. Then share your story for a chance to win.
Award categories include Most Seeds Planted, Best Youth Engagement and Most Creative Outreach. So, no matter how
you connect with your community, there's a category for you. Individual top performers can win $250 Visa cards,
standout youth and creative events earn $500 and affiliates making a statewide impact can take home up to $750.
Remember, whether you reach one student or a hundred, every interaction counts.
Visit asrt.org/PlantingSeedsContest to learn
more, access the tool kit and submit your outreach story. Let's grow the future of the profession together.
Melissa Pergola: Well, Ray, I have one positive — you like feedback, right?
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: So, I have one positive feedback for you and one constructive criticism.
Ray Arambula: OK.
Melissa Pergola: So, which do you want first?
Ray Arambula: Let's go with the positive first.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, really? OK. So, every time I watched a video, I wanted to interrupt it and
say what an amazing job you did.
Ray Arambula: Oh, well, thank you.
Melissa Pergola: You look so professional.
Ray Arambula: Thank you.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Thank you.
Melissa Pergola: Even though you didn't know where every event was —
Ray Arambula: I did not.
Melissa Pergola: — without looking at the schedule.
Ray Arambula: And as much as I practiced in the mirror —
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: — I might've messed up a few times.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, well, it was absolutely amazing. And thank you for doing that so that our
listeners and viewers can see just how thought-provoking, exciting —
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: — that our conference is.
Ray Arambula: Yeah. And you have some constructive feedback?
Melissa Pergola: Oh. [laughs]
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Melissa Pergola: Well, that just goes to show you what kind of leader I am. I was good with
that.
Ray Arambula: OK. OK.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, here's my — [laughs] here’s my constructive feedback.
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: No more games like that.
Ray Arambula: [laughs]
Kim Gawler: [offscreen] I agree!
Ray Arambula: Yeah. That was —
Melissa Pergola: Right, Kim? Because it's been very hard to finish out this episode because I
keep having to clear my throat.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: OK. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: Same here, but we're going to have to leave it up to the audience if they want
more.
Melissa Pergola: What, are we going to do some kind of poll if they want more nasty —
Ray Arambula: Maybe.
Melissa Pergola: — food stuff?
Ray Arambula: Maybe.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no, Kim. Oh, no, Kim's laughing. That might really happen.
Ray Arambula: Yeah.
Melissa Pergola: OK.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I think it will.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. All right. So yeah, that was my —
Ray Arambula: Audience votes.
Melissa Pergola: — that was my constructive criticism, but it doesn't seem like it's going
anywhere, so.
Ray Arambula: No, no, sorry.
Melissa Pergola: [laughs]
Ray Arambula: I appreciate your concern, but no. But thank you to everyone who attended and
joined us at the ASRT annual meeting.
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: The energy, the conversations, the connections are all what make this conference
so special every single year. And if you're thinking about attending but haven't yet —
Melissa Pergola: Mm-hmm.
Ray Arambula: — please consider this your invitation. Visit asrt.org/Conferences to learn more. We have plenty of opportunities
to join on several conferences.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, that's right. And you'll see those opportunities there. So, our Radiation
Therapy Conference is happening this fall in Boston. That's going to be fun. And of course, we're always
ASRT@RSNA. So, if you're going to be in Chicago at McCormick Place, you need to come see us. And of course,
National Radiologic Technology Week —
Ray Arambula: That’s right.
Melissa Pergola: — is coming up in November. And we'd like to thank you all for listening and
hopefully watching this episode.
Ray Arambula: And don't forget to write in. You can write in at [email protected] and fill out the form at asrt.org/RADPosition.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, and like and share and subscribe to the podcast. That would be amazing to
be an advocate —
Ray Arambula: Yes.
Melissa Pergola: — and tell your friends and family and colleagues about it as well.
Ray Arambula: And to all our medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals, be seen —
Melissa Pergola: — and stay rad.