The American Society of Radiologic Technologists supports Senate Bill 1281 Licensing of Medical Imaging Professionals legislation in Pennsylvania. The bill would require all individuals who perform medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures in Pennsylvania to be licensed. By requiring these professionals to obtain licensure through the Board of Medicine, Pennsylvania is taking a critical step to ensure Pennsylvanians receive safe, high-quality care.

Supporters, members and residents of Pennsylvania are asked to show their support by sending lawmakers a message through the Advocacy Action Center website, which will guide users on how to contact lawmakers.

The Advocacy Action Center is a resource for the radiologic technology community to learn about the legislative efforts in their states. It also provides technologists with the tools to contact state and federal officials.

This bill is supported by the ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, Pennsylvania Society of Radiologic Technologists, Philadelphia Society of Radiologic Technologists and other partner organizations.

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.

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists has updated the continuing education product, Cross-Sectional Anatomy: The Series.

This series contains nine modules that explore bony and soft tissue anatomy and provides in-depth information on the locations, functions and appearances of anatomical structures on computed tomography and magnetic resonance images. The modules cover topics including the cranium, brain and facial bones, neck, spine, thorax, abdomen and pelvis, as well as the extremities.

Individuals who complete the series will earn 10 continuing education credits. The series is available to members and nonmembers and can be accessed at this link:

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 American Society of Radiologic Technologists has launched “The RAD Position,” a monthly podcast hosted by ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T. (R)(M), FASRT, CAE. The podcast features guests from the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession, including members of the ASRT Board of Directors, ASRT staff, medical imaging and radiation therapy experts, and others.

The podcast’s first guest is ASRT President Heather Moore, Ph.D., R.T.(R), who shares her vision for the ASRT, discusses her presidential initiatives and gives advice on how to get involved and take the first step toward volunteering.

“Nearly every person will be touched by a medical imaging or radiation therapy professional throughout the course of their life. I am excited to host this podcast to uplift our medical imaging and radiation therapy community, to talk about the ASRT and how we are working every day for these health care heroes, and to provide information to general listeners about medical imaging and radiation therapy,” said Dr. Pergola.

ASRT has launched the Guide to the Fellows Application Process and Procedure video, to help applicants complete the Fellows application process. The 2023-2024 Committee on Fellows developed the guide to streamline the application process. The comprehensive video walks applicants through the best practices and essential steps to become an ASRT Fellow.

The designation of Fellow represents an exemplary leader who has contributed significantly to the ASRT and the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession. ASRT began recognizing Fellows in 1956.

Candidates interested in becoming a Fellow in 2026 can submit their applications until Aug. 1, 2025. To learn more, watch the video and start your application at asrt.org/fellows. See the video guide below:

Apply today and take the first step toward becoming an ASRT Fellow.

To kick off the presidential initiatives of ASRT President Heather Moore, Ph.D., R.T.(R), leaders from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central New Mexico met with ASRT’s staff in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Sept. 6, to highlight the BBBS program and outline volunteer opportunities. “ASRT will promote Big Brothers Big Sisters to its staff and members so they can learn about the organization and hopefully participate,” said Dr. Moore.

In addition to the presentation, ASRT is hosting tours of the ASRT Museum and Archives for BBBS area youth and their adult brothers or sisters in Albuquerque starting on Oct. 10. Students can dive into the rich history of medical imaging and radiation therapy, learn about the profession and interact with the museum’s computerized displays.

The BBBS collaboration is one of Dr. Moore’s three presidential initiatives, which are focused on the current workforce shortage, developing best practices for patient care and introducing middle and high school students to the profession. “I’m confident that my initiatives, combined with ASRT’s resources, will result in positive outcomes for the Society and medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. Join me as we make a difference in our personal and professional lives,” said Dr. Moore.

The next episode of ASRT’s podcast, “The RAD Position,” airs on Sept. 16, and features ASRT member, actor and producer Michael John Benzaia, M.B.A., R.T.(R)(CT).

Benzaia is one of the faces of ASRT’s Be Seen campaign, an initiative to raise the visibility of medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.

Benzaia talks about why he became a radiologic technologist, his transition into acting and starring in the Be Seen commercial, which aired on NBC and USA Network during the U.S. Olympic trials and during NBCUniversal primetime programs. “This campaign has just been really fun to be involved with, and I see the tangible difference that we’re making real time,” said Benzaia.

“The Rad Position” is a monthly podcast hosted by ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa B. Pergola, Ed.D., R.T.(R)(M), FASRT, CAE, and is available on Spotify, Apple and other streaming platforms. It features guests from the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession, including members of the ASRT Board of Directors, ASRT staff, medical imaging and radiation therapy experts, and others.

Visit the website to share how you discovered the profession. If you are a patient, tell us about your interactions with medical imaging and radiation therapy heroes. Your story may be featured on an upcoming episode. Archived episodes with transcripts are available at this link.

The 2024 vacancy rate for radiation therapists increased to 13.6% while the vacancy rate for medical dosimetrists decreased to 9.6%, according to the ASRT Radiation Therapy Workplace and Staffing Survey. This is compared to a 10.7% vacancy rate for radiation therapists and 11.4% for medical dosimetrists in 2022.

Vacancy rates represent the number of unfilled positions that are actively being recruited. The increase in vacancy rates in medical imaging and radiation therapy captured in ASRT’s staffing surveys has served as a catalyst for the Society to work with peer organizations to develop strategies to address the current workforce shortage.

"In February 2024, ASRT, American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology co-hosted the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, which included representatives from 15 organizations spanning the profession. From this meeting, sponsoring organizations are actively collaborating to address workforce shortages by 1) articulating career pathways, 2) creating a pipeline from formal education programs to the workplace and 3) expanding opportunities for education and training that meets the emerging needs of students. Through this work, ASRT is taking steps to advocate for the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession and to support workforce and staffing," said Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), executive vice president of member engagement.

The survey also tracks longitudinal changes in staffing levels in radiation therapy and medical dosimetry. For example, the average number of full-time equivalent radiation therapist positions budgeted at each facility rose from 7.3 in 2022 to 8.3 in 2024.

Overall, the average number of FTE therapists budgeted per facility has increased by 2.3 during a 20-year period — from 6.0 in 2004 to 8.3 in 2024. The number of FTE dosimetrist positions budgeted per facility rose from 2.4 in 2022 to 2.7 in 2024. Overall, the number of FTE dosimetrists budgeted per facility has increased by 1.1 during a 20-year period — from 1.6 in 2004 to 2.7 in 2024.

ASRT emailed the biennial survey in May 2024 to 22,892 radiation therapists and medical dosimetrists. At the close of the survey in June 2024, 645 respondents from all U.S. states, except Montana, had submitted completed questionnaires for a response rate of 2.8%.

More than 70 health care organizations from across the U.S. will participate in ASRT’s free Virtual Career Fair on Sept. 26 from 4-7 p.m. Eastern time.

The event is part of ASRT’s ongoing efforts to address the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession’s workforce shortage, which was discussed at the Consensus Committee on the Future of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy this past February.

"The Consensus Committee meeting resulted in several goals to address the current shortages by increasing the pipeline into the profession. This career fair is one part of a larger plan by ASRT, which aims to bolster staffing and support the medical imaging and radiation therapy workforce," said Melissa Culp, M.Ed., R.T.(R)(MR), executive vice president of member engagement.

Participants are encouraged to register, review the participating organizations’ profiles, browse open positions, provide their background experience and prepare to connect with representatives for one-on-one chats. An internet-connected device is required. Registration is free and all registered participants will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa gift card.