A measure to petition the Office of Management and Budget to classify radiologic technologists as professional generated more than 42,000 comments submitted via the American Society of Radiologic Technologists Advocacy Action Center.

The ASRT believes that radiologic technologists clearly fall within the OMB’s Standard Occupational Classification for professionals. The SOC’s professional status definition states, “The employees’ primary duties must be the performance of work requiring advance knowledge defined as work which is prominently intellectual in character and which includes work requiring the consistent exercise of discretion and judgement.”

“Medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals are vital members of the health care team. We receive orders from physicians every day that require us to use our advanced knowledge of radiation protection, radiation physics, equipment protocols and much more,” said ASRT President Heather Moore, Ph.D., R.T.(R). “We’re responsible for creating quality medical images that could save lives, and this in-depth process includes critical thinking, discernment and judgement, key responsibilities that are part of the OMB’s professionalism definition.”

Reclassification to professional status offers benefits for radiologic technologists, including a higher level of professional recognition. It also bolsters the importance of a more universally recognized credential.

The OMB only opens the SOC window every 10 years, so advocating for professional status for radiologic technologists was critical this year. “The radiologic technology community and ASRT House of Delegates have been asking about professional status classification for a number of years, so we jumped at the chance to make our case to the OMB,” said ASRT Vice President of Governance and Public Policy Jason Bradley, B.A., R.T.(R), CAE. “The response from ASRT members, peer organizations and the general public was incredible. More than 42,000 individuals used the ASRT Advocacy Action Center to submit comments that support reclassification.”

With the comment period closed, the OMB will review all comments and determine if radiologic technologists meet its professional status criteria. If accepted, the OMB would enact the revision in 2028.

According to ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, CAE, advocating for professional status is a responsibility that ASRT takes very seriously. “Asking the OMB to recognize us as professionals is an example of our mission to advance and elevate the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and be seen by the health care community, elected officials and the public,” she said. “I want to personally thank the ASRT Board of Directors for its vision and leadership, all our sister organizations and every person who took the time to submit comments. Together, we will raise the visibility of and respect for our great profession.”

The public comment period for the 2027 version of the ASRT Radiography Curriculum is now open. Public comments on the existing Radiography Curriculum are needed before the revision workgroup meets.

The proposed Radiography Curriculum is available here.

Comments from the radiography community will be shared with the project workgroup. The workgroup will review the comments and determine if they should be incorporated into the curriculum. Please submit comments to [email protected] by Sept.19, 2025.

The workgroup’s goal is to have a final document available for consideration and to be adopted by spring 2027.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists is hosting its second ASRT JobBank® Virtual Career Fair on March 19, from 4-7 p.m. Eastern time. More than 200 participants have signed up to attend.

This event is free for job seekers and is part of ASRT’s ongoing efforts to address the current medical imaging and radiation therapy profession workforce shortage. The job fair is part of ASRT's efforts to follow the recommendations outlined in the White Paper From the 2024 Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy.

This fully interactive, virtual career fair features top employers looking to recruit professionals in the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession. The career fair’s virtual platform allows job seekers to connect directly with recruiters via text, audio or video chats.

Prior to the event, participants are encouraged to register, review the participating organizations’ profiles, browse open positions, provide their background experience and prepare to connect with representatives. An internet-connected device is required.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions on the Commission, Committee on Bylaws and Radiography Curriculum Workgroup.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for these openings are available through the links below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in a volunteer position as a trustee on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists board of trustees.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for this opening are available through the link below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in volunteer positions on the Research and Grants Advisory Panel.

The duties, qualifications and time commitment required for these openings are available through the link below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.

The ASRT has announced the recipients of its distinguished author awards, recognizing the best peer-reviewed articles published in ASRT’s scientific journals in 2024. Presented annually, the awards are chosen by members of each journal’s respective Editorial Review Board after a comprehensive review of all scholarly articles published in the journals during the previous calendar year.

The Radiologic Technology Distinguished Author Award in Honor of Jean I. Widger goes to Kerry O. Dunn, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M). Her article, “Exploring the Definition of Clinical Radiography Leadership,” was published in the January/February 2024 issue of Radiologic Technology.

Dr. Dunn is the radiography senior lecturer for Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Her research interests focus on clinical leadership and mentoring.

The study’s goal was to develop a model of clinical leadership that encompasses the specialized technical skills and leadership behaviors exhibited by clinical radiography leaders. The study concluded that by defining the clinical expertise, technical skills and commonly practiced leadership behaviors that clinical radiography leaders encompass, other health care professionals will recognize the unique contribution that the radiologic science profession provides.

In addition, this year the Radiation Therapist Distinguished Author Award in Honor of Harold Silverman goes to Alex Ashley, B.P.S., R.T.(R)(T), Mark Roytman, B.S., R.T.(T), Vishruta Dumane, Ph.D., DABR, Keith Edwards, A.A.S., R.T.(T), Karyn Goodman, M.D., and Samantha Skubish, M.S., R.T.(R)(T), for their article, “High-Dose Gating Protocol for Deaf Patients in Radiation Oncology,” which was published in the fall 2024 issue of Radiation Therapist.

Ashley is the quality improvement coordinator for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital and serves as vice president of the Radiation Therapy Association of New York State. Roytman is the lead radiation therapist for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Dumane is the medical physicist and associate professor of radiation oncology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and clinical associate professor for the School of Health Professions at Stony Brook University in New York. Edwards served as assistant chief radiation therapist at Mount Sinai Hospital and currently is radiation oncology administrator at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital. Dr. Goodman is a professor and the vice chair for research in the department of radiation oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also is associate director for clinical research for The Tisch Cancer Institute and coleader of the Center of Excellence in Pancreatic Cancer at Mount Sinai. Skubish is the chief technical director for the department of radiation oncology at Mount Sinai Health System. She serves as vice chair of the ASRT Practice Standards Council, chair of the Radiation Therapy Association of New York State and leads the national advanced practice radiation therapy working group.

This case study discusses a 37-year-old man who presented with stage IV (cT3N1M1a) sigmoid colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver. The patient underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy using real-time, fiducial-based, triggered-imaging guidance and amplitude-based respiratory gating at exhalation. In addition to the cancer diagnosis, the patient was deaf and had a substantial medical and surgical history for other comorbidities. The multidisciplinary team must work to ensure that deaf patients are not excluded from gating treatment protocols typically achieved through verbal coaching. With appropriate visual setup, sign language interpretation and coaching through translation, culturally competent care can be provided successfully and seamlessly.

The Widger award is named after longtime Radiologic Technology editor Jean I. Widger. The Silverman award is named in honor of radiation therapist Harold Silverman, an advocate for accreditation of radiation therapy education programs.

The ASRT will honor the recipients at the Honors Evening on June 20 at the 2025 ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting.

Early registration for the American Society of Radiologic Technologists RAD Dash 5k is open. The run/walk is Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Bosque School. The event recognizes the vital role of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals in health care and builds ties with communities across the country.

In addition to the in-person race, individuals and groups may register to participate virtually. This is a family-friendly event.

The RAD Dash 5k offers age group, overall and team awards. Early registration ends Sept. 13. Virtual participants who register by Sept. 13 will be mailed a packet with a T-shirt, bib and medal. Virtual participants who register after Sept. 13 will receive a RAD Dash 5K downloadable commemorative certificate of participation but will not be shipped a packet. To learn more visit the website.

Event Schedule:
Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025

Event location:
Bosque School
4000 Bosque School Road NW
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87120

Event Registration:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NM/Albuquerque/RADDASH

Participation Options:
5k begins at 10 a.m.
Kids k begins at 11 a.m.
Virtual 5k. Register by Sept. 13 to receive a race packet. No refunds for virtual race registration.
ASRT Foundation donation option with or without participation.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists will award Life Member status to three longstanding members during the ASRT Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 26.

The Society’s newest Life Members are Donna Newman, B.A., R.T.(R), CNMT, NCT, PET, FASRT, Marilyn Sackett, M.Ed., R.T.(R), FASRT, and Joseph Whitton, M.S., R.T.(R)(CT)(MR), FASRT.

Life Member Award

Established in 1938, Life Members are active ASRT members who have maintained continuous membership for at least 30 years and have participated in a wide range of activities that demonstrate sustained superior performance in support of the ASRT and the radiologic science profession. Candidates who receive the honor are selected by at least a three-quarters vote of the ASRT Board of Directors.

Life Members

Donna Newman,
B.A., R.T.(R), CNMT, NCT, PET, FASRT

Donna Newman, B.A., R.T.(R), CNMT, NCT, PET, FASRT, of Fargo, North Dakota, became an ASRT member in 1995 and was bestowed the honor of Fellow in 2013. Throughout her 31 years as a member, she has held key leadership roles including serving on the ASRT Board of Directors as president in 2002 and chair of the Board in 2003.

Newman became the 15th president of the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists from 2018-2022 — only the second person from the United States to hold that position and while navigating the challenges presented to the profession during the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, she maintained ISRRT visibility and influence by ensuring radiographers’ voices were represented in global stakeholder meetings and international conferences. She provided expert input on infection prevention, workflow adaptation and safety in nuclear medicine services. Newman also worked to enhance the body of knowledge for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals as a co-author of numerous publications including the COVID-19 ISRRT Response Document that informed the World Health Authority and the International Atomic Energy Authority of safety guidance and two forthcoming chapters on radiological protection in positron emission tomography for the International Commission on Radiological Protection.

In Newman’s home state, she served as the president of the North Dakota Society of Radiologic Technologists in 1995. One of her priorities was to achieve state licensure for technologists. Her and her colleagues' efforts were realized in 2015 when licensing standards were passed in North Dakota — nearly 20 years after their initial efforts began. She also helped to establish the State Board of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Examiners and served on its inaugural board.

Currently, Newman supervises the nuclear medicine department at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota, where she has been employed for 36 years. She first began as an x-ray technologist, then joined the nuclear medicine department as lead before transitioning to her current supervisor role.

Marilyn Sackett,
M.Ed., R.T.(R), FASRT

Marilyn Sackett, M.Ed., R.T.(R), FASRT, of Missouri City, Texas, has spent more than six decades advancing the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession. She became a registered technologist in 1964, joined ASRT in 1965 and was elevated to ASRT Fellow in 1988. She is the namesake of the ASRT Foundation’s Marilyn Sackett Leadership Scholarship and co-founder of the ASRT Emerging Research Scholarship, both designed to strengthen the profession through leadership development and evidence-based practice.

Sackett’s service includes chairing the ASRT Curriculum Task Force, contributing to the Education Committee and supporting the ASRT Foundation as a mentor, donor and advocate. In Texas, she served as president of the Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists in 1978 and chair in 1980, earning TXSRT Life Membership in 1986 and induction into the Edna Elliott Hall of Fame in 2023.

A central figure in establishing Texas licensure, Sackett chaired the Texas Medical Radiologic Technologist Advisory Board, from 1987-1990, and proudly holds Radiographer License No. 1. She continues to serve as a consultant to the Texas Medical Board.

In 1988, Sackett founded the Advanced Health Education Center, which has become a leading provider of continuing education in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. She later founded MEDRelief Staffing and established the AHEC Foundation, which sponsors the annual Growing Radiologic Opportunities for Women Mammography Scholarships to support technologists pursuing advanced breast imaging education.

Sackett’s legacy is reflected in the thousands of technologists, educators and leaders she has inspired through her innovation, generosity and unwavering commitment to the profession.

Joseph Whitton,
M.S., R.T.(R)(CT)(MR), FASRT

Joseph Whitton, M.S., R.T.(R)(CT)(MR), FASRT, of Mount Sinai, New York, has been an ASRT member for 34 years and throughout that time held leadership roles on the ASRT Board as secretary in 2023, speaker of the House in 2019 and 2020 as well as vice speaker in 2017 and 2018. He also has served as a delegate for the Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance chapters. His work on the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill to promote national legislation for minimum education standards for radiologic technologists led to it being introduced and sponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1999. As chair for the Practice Standards Council Magnetic Resonance Subcommittee, then as chair of the PSC from 2011-2012 he led the effort to restructure its processes. He was chair of the ASRT Commission and the Committee on Bylaws and was elevated to ASRT Fellow in 2019.

Whitton has been a continuous member of the New York State Society of Radiologic Sciences for 35 years and was a board member for 16 years. He became president in 2002 and vice president in 2015 and was elevated to life member in 2021. Today, he remains active as a member of the Association of Educators in Imaging and Radiologic Sciences, Association of Educators in Radiologic Technology of the State of New York and the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists. Although recently retired as program director for Stony Brook University in New York, where he worked for 20 years, he continues to perform duties as a clinical assistant professor, adjunct professor and guest lecturer for the School of Health Professions.

The ASRT is seeking qualified members interested in a volunteer position for the Committee on Fellows.

The duties, qualifications and time commitments required for this opening are available through the link below:

Please contact ASRT Volunteer Services at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

To see all current positions available, visit the Open Volunteer Opportunities page.