The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has named Diane Kosenko, R.T.(R)(CT)(CV), of Bristol, Connecticut, as the winner of the 2025 ASRT individual Award for Advocacy and the Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists as the affiliate award winner.
The ASRT Award for Advocacy recognizes and acknowledges achievements in advocacy efforts, including overall growth and development of individual and affiliate grass-roots involvement. ASRT members recommend award nominees, and the ASRT Committee on R.T. Advocacy selects the winners. The 2025 Award for Advocacy recognizes efforts that took place between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024.
Diane Kosenko, R.T.(R)(CT)(CV), has been an active advocate for more than 30 years. She has served as a computed tomography technologist at Radiology Associates of Hartford, in Connecticut, for 26 years, and throughout that time she has been active with the Connecticut Society of Radiologic Technologists. Her roles include board chair, president, president-elect, vice president, treasurer, delegate, legislative contact and senior board member. She served as chair of the Ambassadors for R.T. Advocacy for five years and is a graduate of the ASRT Leadership Academy.
In 2024, when a House bill was introduced that would allow advanced practice registered nurses to practice fluoroscopy independently without proper radiation safety training and a credentialed professional present, Kosenko joined forces with other medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals to oppose the bill. They testified at a public health hearing and encouraged technologists, educators and radiologists affected by this bill to submit testimony using the language she helped draft. She and her colleagues were successful in amending the bill to prohibit APRNs from independently performing fluoroscopy without proper supervision.
Kosenko has advocated that the CSRT hold a day at the capitol for students to learn about the legislative process. In addition, she has presented to CSRT members on how bills are passed, where to find their legislative contacts and what legislative committees most affect members. She also presented at the Missouri Society of Radiologic Technologists annual conference on the topic of advocacy. Kosenko continues to encourage others in the profession to take an active role and has mentored members of the CSRT Board of Directors on how to advocate for the profession.
The Minnesota Society of Radiologic Technologists is highly engaged with its members, community and state elected officials. The MSRT has created a way for members to share ideas and collaborate with other affiliate and advocacy leaders through a web forum called 50 States, 50 Standards: A State-By-State Guide to Licensure. When two encroachment bills surfaced in Minnesota, the MSRT worked with sonographers and midwifery groups to hold discussions on advocacy issues. MSRT advocacy committee members met with Medi-Sota — a nonprofit health care consortium of 35 rural health care providers in Minnesota — to discuss licensure and the role of limited x-ray machine operators.
Community is a priority for MSRT, and its members participated in the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk and virtually in the ASRT Invisible Heroes 5k event to recognize the vital role medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals perform in health care. The MSRT also appeals to educators to allow their students to participate in conference open forums and lectures.
Additionally, the MSRT advocacy chair met with local state representatives and has obtained a bill sponsor as it prepares for a 2025 full licensure bid.
Learn more about the ASRT Award for Advocacy and see past winners here.