Most of us take X-rays for granted, but they’ve only existed since 1895. It didn’t take people long to see the medical advantages of X-rays, and by 1898 the U.S. Army Medical Corps was using them to find bullets lodged in wounded soldiers during the Spanish-American War, according to “The Shadowmakers: A History of Radiologic Technology.”
“Before X-rays, the only way to see inside the body was to operate, which was certainly a lot more invasive,” said Jim Sass, program director for radiologic technology at Gwinnett Technical College. “Now, radiologic and other imaging technologists help doctors make diagnoses more quickly. We take great pride in creating good images that help patients along their medical journeys.”
Started at Gwinnett Tech in 1984, the two-year associate degree program in radiologic technology prepares students to take the national certification exam to become registered radiographers. “We have a 99.8 first-time pass rate for all students since our program began,” Sass said.
The program enrolls a new cohort of 35 students each fall. Applications are competitive; students are selected based on grades in pre-requisite courses, an essay and an interview.
“We’re looking for students with a good academic preparation,” Sass said. “The program is rigorous and requires someone who can learn the science, math and technology involved.”
It also requires someone with good people skills.
“It goes beyond just wanting to help people,” Sass said. “The radiologic technologist must be willing to touch people, to position them appropriately to get a good image, and to communicate well in order to help patients through procedures.”
Students take classes and receive hands-on training in labs and at local hospitals or clinics about 40 hours a week. They study anatomy and physiology, radiographic pathology, medical terminology and the principles of radiographic exposure. They also learn how to create X-rays, how to perform various procedures and how to operate imaging equipment.
Graduates find positions at hospitals, medical laboratories, out-patient clinics, doctors’ offices and state health agencies. Full-time positions, with benefits, start at about $40,000 per year. Due to the recession and uncertainty over health care changes, current graduates are finding more part-time positions, which pay $22 to $25 an hour.
“We’re expecting more full-time opportunities in the next three to four years, since this region is expected to grow faster than average and the baby boomers will eventually retire,” Sass said.
Radiologic technologists who also have skills in other types of imaging will be more marketable, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which projects rad tech jobs to grow by 17 percent through 2018. Gwinnett Tech plans to offer more imaging programs, such as sonography and cardiovascular technology, thanks to the opening of a new health sciences building in the fall.
The department holds information sessions for prospective students on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. For information, call the allied health specialist in admissions (678-226-6404) or Sass (678-226-6326), or go to www.gwinnetttech.edu.
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