FOURTEEN GRADUATE BLINN’S RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGIST PROGRAM
Fourteen future radiologic technologists were recently recognized with a pinning ceremony after completing Blinn College’s rigorous Radiologic Technology Program.
Since 1992, every program graduate has passed the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists national certification exam, and the program has a 100 percent job placement rate since 1994.
The Spring 2015 graduating class includes: Taylor Pound (College Station), James Rosedahl (Lemoore, Calif.), Erryn McLendon (South Plainfield, N.J.), Victoria Wenzel (Navasota), Nathalie Sanchez (Stephenville), Jovana Sanchez (La Grange), Kaci Kay (College Station), Elizabeth Trujillo (La Grange), Mark Everett (Temple), Gina McConnell (San Antonio), Ashley Shockley (Gause), Joseph Vychopen (Caldwell), Rebecca Price (Kingwood) and Tabith Stegman (Dodge City, Kan.).
“Regardless of how many groups I graduate, each one seems to go above and beyond my expectations,” said Shelley Pearson, director of the Radiologic Technology Program. “I love that I’ve been a part of their education process, watching them grow from students to professionals. I could not be more proud.”
In the two-year program, students learn patient care and safety, anatomy and physiology, image production, equipment operation, radiation protection and radiographic procedures. Program graduates learn a multitude of imaging methods and must have extensive knowledge and understanding of the human body for comprehensive patient care. They must also have an in-depth understanding of medical informatics, computers, medical physics and radiobiology. Students must achieve a 3.0 grade point average or better in all academic courses for the degree plan.
Within two weeks of beginning the program, students begin volunteering at local healthcare facilities across the Brazos Valley as part of their coursework. At clinical sites, students are evaluated daily by their clinical supervisors on their understanding of radiologic technology, willingness to learn, professionalism and patient care.
As technologists or radiographers, graduates can earn a starting salary around $35,000. With additional training and education, a graduate can significantly increase their earnings by specializing in computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and radiation therapy.
Blinn’s Division of Health Sciences, based at the Texas A&M Health Science Center, offers associate degree nursing, dental hygiene, emergency medical services, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, fire science, therapeutics manufacturing, veterinary technology and vocational nursing programs designed to train students for high-demand professions. Story and photo courtesy of Blinn College.
