This week our featured guest host is Kenzi Samuelson. Mrs. Samuelson has been practicing in the industry as an ultrasound tech for almost a decade and wanted to come on the open mic to share her experiences in the profession. Listen in as we engage in conversations and learn more about our struggles, how to overcome them and ways that we can continue to progress in our profession.

In this episode we start out by sharing what inspired Mrs. Samuelson to enter the industry and where her experiences have brough her up to know. She speaks on entering the profession and some of the challenges new sonographers face and how to work towards working together to build a better future. In her current role she seems many opportunities for the profession to grow and progress and speaks on how we can work together to achieve those advancements.

Mrs. Samuelson found is while looking into radiology specific advanced practice providers and that lead us into further conversations. Listen in as we learn more about the advanced roles in medical imaging and how we can come together to understand what it is that each of us can bring to our medical imaging departments to aid in our radiologist daily workflow.

If you are interested in entering the ultrasound industry, Mrs. Samuelson’s advice is to attend an accredited program.

https://www.caahep.org

Our podcast doesn’t represent any societies; these conversations/thoughts/views expressed in this episode (as with all our episodes) are our own.

For this episode we invited A Couple Of Rad Techs Podcast, Chaundria Singleton, on to collaborate and connect as one platform for the evening. We speak candidly on current events and the effects they have on our profession and how we can lead together to continue the rise in our voices. Check out the timeline below an listen to the conversation flow.

Timeline:

• (00:52) Opening and introduction
• (03:13) How Chaundria got her start in the medical imaging industry and finding her passion.
• (06:11) Finding the pathway from graduating, constraining, and then going into multiple modalities.
• (07:55) What radiology-based podcasts, value in conversations, and investing in yourself can bring to you and your profession.
• (12:32) What others have learned on our platforms and likewise, what we have learned from our guests and conversations.
• (17:04) Recognizing the positive change, removing the competition mentality, and how educational standards have made an impact.
• (22:04) How setting and leading by example can make a big impact.
• (23:33) Social media and podcasting; connecting the two to increase understanding and engagement.
• (25:50) Recognition doesn’t mean competition.
• (27:11) How recent events have pulled us together, articles that impact us, and finding our voices to continue raising the bar.
• (29:27) Advocacy and its various forms.
• (34:22) How positive leadership can make positive impacts in the workplace.
• (36:38) Wrapping up the conversation and closing the episode out.

We really wanted to thank Chaundria for coming on and sharing a platform together. Together we share in the passion of continuing to inspire, educate, and elevate our profession. This was such a treat for us to put together this episode, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

In this episode we spend time in casual conversation with fellow RA and friend Wesley Shay. We hit on many topics but during the whole conversation you can hear how social media and word of mouth impact our profession. As we look at moving forward, consider what impact you want to make and how to make it more constructive.

Timeline:

• (00:51) Intro and introducing Wesley Shay.
• (02:39) Meeting Wesley and presenting at the conferences.
• (04:41) Coming together and validating the information of our profession through the RA 101 lectures.
• (10:03) Job market trends, credentialing, and new RA graduates coming into the industry.
• (12:12) Credentialing and being the first in the industry to introduce the RA profession.
• (17:10) Inspiring RT students to see the value in the RA and educators understanding our roles.
• (19:49) Recognizing differences in advocacy and the changes we have noticed over the past 2 yrs.
• (24:00) Value in the podcast and giving others networking and freedom of connection.
• (27:38) Recognizing the role of radiologic technologist, the value you in numbers and elevating their voice.
• (29:02) Value in CEU conferences and upcoming events.
• (32:17) Impacts of our comments on social media and how we can move from non-constructive to constructive ways on promoting and elevating the profession.
• (36:24): Closing the episode out and sharing in some laughs.

We want to thank Mr. Shay for taking the time to come on and visit with us. Our mic is always on and we want to share in conversations with you! Join us!

This week host Marcelene Forbus took to the open mic to share the inspiration for our recent social media post on recognizing the foundation that radiology has. Listen in as she takes you on an in-depth look into developing self-recognition, speaking respect, and understanding that we all already have everything we need to make an impact.

Timeline:

• (00:51): Marcelene opens the show.
• (01:32): Sharing on recent conference, collaborating among societies, and reaffirmed support for the RA.
• (03:15): Speaking on the post “just going to be blunt for a minute” and changing the narrative.
• (04:50): Inspiration for the post, comparing ourselves, and our foundation.
• (06:35): Our education and supporting those who desire to pursue higher learning.
• (08:44): Advancing into multiple modalities and learning this is our opportunity specifically for us.
• (09:19): Radiology based mid-levels and the value of supporting this pathway.
• (10:21): Radiology professionals advancing into hospital administrative roles and added value to the profession.
• (11:51): Learning where radiology has room to grow, finding our voice, gaining unity and self-recognition.
• (15:27): Closing remarks

Below is the ASRT’s national campaign Be Seen link and commercial site!

https://www.asrt.org/beseen

Thank you everyone for finding value in the podcast, opening conversations with us, and listening in as we speak and inspire each other to learn more about who we all are. Your support is always of great value to us.

This week we got a few of us RA's to come together and discuss some of the positive things we are seeing in the profession and what the positive moment is bringing with it.

Listen in as Marcelene Forbus, Reece Burgoon, Derek Maderios, Sue Wertz, Sean Wiley, and Will Bryant hit on topics like career opportunities, recognition with legislators, state/national discussions, RA travelers, and attending the ARPE and SRPE conferences.

We want to thank all of those who listen to the podcast and advocate for the profession. Advocacy is more than just seeing the value in the RA pathway, it's about advocating for the pathways all of us have available in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy! Keep finding that value and letting everyone know it's there!

On this episode we get the honor to sit and visit with Jason Newmark and Kim Evans with the AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management. We wanted to know more about the Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) credentials and the value that this certification can bring to those of us in leadership positions! Enjoy the listen as we hit many of the topics that are happening in our departments, as we all learn and grow stronger together!

Timeline:

• (00:51) Introduction: Jason Newmark and Kim Evans.
• (04:49) Finding how we connect with common backgrounds.
• (05:49) Learning about the AHRA and what their society can offer to our imaging leadership/management teams and developing into upper administrative roles.
• (13:03) Value in corporate partnerships, AHRA website, the 2024 conference and CEUs.
• (20:27) Learning about the Certified Radiology Administrator (CRA) and the value it brings.
• (23:29) Eligibility for the CRA certification, education behind obtaining this certification and climbing that corporate ladder.
• (27:21) Practice test and education material to aid in obtaining the CRA credentials.
• (28:52) Personal experience of the CRA certification and what management roles look like with this certification.
• (31:30) How the CRA can offer benefits to those who may not be climbing the administrative ladder but want to engage in better understanding and team dynamics.
• (36:05) How the CRA credentials can sort of verify the experience of those in leadership roles and the future of recognizing the CRA certification.
• (38:00) The Radiologist Assistant (RA) role and leadership impacts on the professional and technical side of daily tasks.
• (43:23) Rebuilding what is “Radiology”, building our bonds, and the “BeSeen” campaign.
• (47:43) Closing the episode.

A special thanks to Mr. Newmark and Mrs. Evans for coming on and sharing about the AHRA society and the CRA credentials and certification. Please check out the websites below to learn more about the AHRA or the CRA.

https://www.ahra.org/home

https://www.crainfo.org

https://www.crainfo.org/CRA/Take_the_CRA_Exam/Study_and_Reference_Materials/CRA/Take_the_Exam/CRA_Study_Reference_Materials.aspx?hkey=8687f757-c981-4942-9997-143c0dcc3c34

This week we got the opportunity to visit with James Armo, who joined us all the way from Ghana, Africa. In this episode we look at some of the differences between the educational programs overseas in comparison to the United States and what are the things that connect us as professionals. We were so grateful to have had this chance to visit with Mr. Armo and we are wishing him the best as he hits the career force and works towards higher education!

Timeline:

• (00:53) Introduction and meeting James Armo.
• (02:12) Education, future certifications, learning apps, and education on equipment.
• (04:58) Degree level programs, workforce outlook, and pay range based on location.
• (08:02) Learning forensics and medical imaging embedded into radiology programs.
• (10:30) Being recognized as professionals, society involvement and getting your community to get to know you.
• (14:09) Learning about their imaging degree plan, difference from the US, and what is embedded in our different programs.
• (20:17) Future plans post graduate and making goals.
• (23:27) looking at global recognition, working towards something bigger, and the impacts of social media/podcasts.
• (26:00) How social media worked to unite us for this episode.
• (27:00) Diversity in medical imaging and finding several ways to embrace our differences.
• (27:37) Closing remarks.

Thank you Mr. Armo for coming on with us, sharing about you education, and what you are hopeful in the future of our profession. Connection always brings higher learning, and we were excited to have these discussions. We are wishing him all the best in all that he does!