Penn State New Kensington radiological sciences students, left to right, Hannah Smith, Allison Beattie and Danielle Wertz, placed second in the student research competition in March at the PSRT professional conference.
Radiological Sciences students win
poster and image analysis competitions
UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- A team of radiological sciences students from Penn State New Kensington gained experience and earned honors March 19 at the annual Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists (PSRT) conference in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Debra Majetic, coordinator of the radiological sciences program, and Marcia Curler, instructor in radiological sciences, escorted 16 second-year students to the annual meeting. The upperclassmen will graduate in August with an associate degree and will be eligible for examination with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) for national professional certification.
“The students were able to network with prospective employers and other students, listen to awesome speakers, meet with a representative from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists and attend the business meeting of the PSRT,” said Majetic, who is a graduate of the campus’ Radiological Sciences program and holds a master’s degree in higher education from Geneva College.
The purpose of the trip was two-fold. Students had the opportunity to meet with soon-to-be colleagues and to compete with fellow students in various categories – research presentations, image analysis and Techni-Bowl.
“I thought the conference was very nice, and I learned a lot from the speakers,” Lauren Lizak said. “I really enjoyed the service learning speaker the most. I think that is a great idea, and we should take it into consideration for our program as well.”
Lizak and Carl Tutak were impressed with the board's review session. The session included a review of the five sections of the required ARRT national certification exam for graduates of radiological sciences programs. A practice exam provided a bellwether for the prospective technologists.
“The test was kind of an eye opener on what I really need to look over, which is mostly physics,” Tutak said.
Three of Majectic’s students -- Hannah Smith, Danielle Wertz and Brooke Cass -- were honored for their performance on the mock exam, which featured a review of procedures presented during the session. Eighty-two students took the test, and the top 18 were recognized at the conference.
Mystee Kustes won the top award for the image analysis contest. After viewing several images, students wrote down their choice of pathologies. Kustes’ selection, “Pneumoperitoneum,” won the competition. Pneumoperitoneum is the abnormal presence of air or gas in the stomach.
Allison Beattie, Smith and Wertz placed second in the research competition. Their poster presented the argument of 2D versus 3D mammography.
“I was really happy we got second place in the poster competition,” said Beattie, a recipient of a New Kensington Campus Endowment Fund scholarship. “I felt that our topic was something new and focused on our future in mammography.
Garnering awards and accolades at the society meetings is becoming a tradition for Majetic’s students. In the past seven years, the up-and-coming radiographers have won each of the competitive categories, including Techni-Bowl, a quiz-style competition featuring questions about radiological science.
"The opportunity for our students not only to participate in the competition but also to attend the state meeting was invaluable," said Majetic, who joined the campus faculty in 2005. "Imaging professionals recognize the importance of networking with others, sharing new technologies, promoting the profession and supporting education and new technologies entering the field."
Radiological Sciences program
Radiography is a science combining medical imaging technology with human compassion. Radiographers use their knowledge of physics, human anatomy and physiology to create permanent medical radiographic images. Imaging professionals provide a wide range of services using technology founded on theoretical knowledge and scientific concepts.
As a part of the health care team, radiographers provide patient care using safe radiation practices, operate sophisticated technical equipment and make independent judgments and decisions daily. Radiological services are offered in a variety of settings such as hospitals, health care facilities, physicians' offices, research centers and equipment sales offices. Careers in radiography offer flexible work schedules that accommodate various lifestyles and employment needs.
The Radiological Sciences program at Penn State New Kensington offers students an associate degree, and graduates are eligible for examination with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. The 72-credit, academic- and clinical-based curriculum begins in the fall of each year and requires 24 consecutive months of study, including summer sessions.
“In the past two years, the certification examination pass rate for our graduates was 100 percent,” Majetic said. “The five-year average is 96 percent.”
For more about the radiological sciences program, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/Academics/Degrees/44310.htm
Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists
PSRT is an affiliate of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT). An organized group of radiologic technologists who live in a specific region or state, affiliates share a common mission and purpose with ASRT.
Affiliates provide services for their members, such as conferences, grass-roots networking, social networking, leadership opportunities and community awareness in support of local radiologic technologists.
"One of the greatest strengths of ARST is its 54 affiliate societies, which represent the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico and Guam,” said Majetic.
The local society supports student research to expand knowledge of the radiology profession.
For more about PSRT, visit http://psrtonline.org/
News Contact: Bill Woodard
Alumni and Public Relations
724-334-6049, uxw1@psu.edu