RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY

Graduated in 2015
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist CT Tech
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center

Q: Why did you choose WSU?

A: Wayne State University stood out to me specifically because of the diversity. The faculty, the students, the area in Detroit was going through positive changes — it was exciting, and I wanted to be there and be a part of it. I remember visiting other colleges with my parents, sitting down with admissions counselors and being shown a pie chart of the demographics at the school we were visiting and thinking why is this a thing? I wanted to be around people different than me. I loved Wayne State for the diversity.

Wayne State was also my first choice because of the bachelor’s Program in Radiologic Technology. It was the first Baccalaureate degree program in Michigan, while also incorporating one site (Henry Ford Hospital) where classes and clinic education would be taught. I knew it would be challenging to get in as only a select number of students would be accepted. The successful passing rate on the National Registry (ARRT), one clinical site (other programs may have you travel 50+ miles), and the potential to earn additional advanced certification during the program were the main reasons I wanted to attend Wayne State and be accepted to the Radiologic Technology program.

Q: What inspired you to pursue Radiologic Technology?

A: I find myself to be one of the lucky ones. I had an idea of what I was looking to do at a young age based on losing some very close loved ones before I was 13 years old. Hospitals didn't scare me; I was interested in what was going on and very observant. I realized I wanted to help people in some way. I had imaging done for my heart and admired the knowledge the technologist had of anatomy and the ability to differentiate normal and abnormal. That was the first time I felt that an imaging technologist is sort of the front line in helping patients get a diagnosis. The better you become at your profession in radiologic technology, the better the doctors can diagnose or help others. I appreciated human anatomy and science, and so I started looking up careers that incorporated those two things and came across the bachelor’s program in Radiologic Technology at Wayne State.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: Kathy Kath and the late Sarah Borland were the most memorable professors. Kathy and Sarah taught most of the coursework in the Radiologic Technology program. Not only was I taught the way x-ray equipment worked, how an x-ray is produced, how an image is created with x-ray, but they gave professional knowledge and advice too. In many ways, both Sarah and Kathy shared in their student’s life experience, career experience, and were very much available to their current and former students.

Kathy helped me personally many times, she connected me with a former student who also moved to Cleveland. Kathy not only cared about her students personally, but she also challenged us to be the best, to stand out from others, she always said that the experience we would be getting in the program would matter for years to come in our career. I can say she was right. I am forever grateful for both Kathy and Sarah's efforts to make the Radiologic Technology program at Wayne State one of a kind. I enjoyed sharing my accomplishments with them over the years. Sometimes the most impactful professors are the ones that not only pushed and helped you learn academically but also helped you grow personally.

Q: What was your most challenging class?

A: My most challenging class was Anatomy and Physiology taught by Professor Marty Spranger. The course required additional hours of study outside of the lecture and lab. It was an important class to me because it would be beneficial in the Radiology Tech program. I enjoyed Professor Sprangers knowledge and passion and how he taught through lecture, no reading off PowerPoint slides. I spent many hours reading the textbook, re- listening to the lecture, and adding to my notes. It was hard, the answers weren't given to you, it made me thoroughly understand the human body and how things work down to the cell. To this day I can still explain to someone how a muscle contracts and relaxes.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: There have been changes in the technology of the equipment we operate. There is constant growth and advancements to CT, x-ray, MRI, and Ultrasound equipment which keeps you learning and adapting in your career. Second, the job market and staffing in healthcare fluctuates. There are times when jobs are sparse and times when recruiters are calling. Third, as a Radiologic Technologist who specialized in Computed Tomography (CT), we have become an integral part of the healthcare team by creating post-processed images or different views of structures in the body that surgeons use to measure and determine devices, such as heart valve replacements and shoulder or knee replacements that can be implanted in patients to treat many conditions or injuries. Our imaging allows them to select the implantable device in the correct size prior to surgery.

Q: Share a career highlight or summary:

A: During the Radiologic Technology program, I was able to gain additional hands-on experience as an intern x-ray technologist outside of my required clinical hours. I worked alongside registered technologists in the emergency room, mobile radiology, and general radiology departments at Henry Ford Hospital. Upon graduation, those two years of experience in the program and additional hours as an intern helped me obtain a job at Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield as a full time CT technologist. I worked there from 2015-17 before moving to Cleveland, where I accepted a job at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center as a full-time CT technologist.

In 2019, I accepted an offer to work at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, the third largest VA in the United States. I am still currently working at the VA in Cleveland, where I have become a 3D post processing expert. I specialize in images of the heart and coronary arteries and train new hires in special procedures and cardiac imaging.  In 2023 I received an honorable Hero Award because I caught an undiagnosed life-threatening dissection of the aorta in a routine outpatient exam and was able to notify the appropriate staff to expedite the patient's care.

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Radiologic technologists are health care professionals who administer prescribed radiation to help diagnose medical conditions. They perform procedures such as X-rays, CT scans and MRI exams. The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Radiologic Technology program was Michigan’s first accredited bachelor’s degree program in the field. The application deadline is Dec. 15.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.