Melissa Pergola: This is “The RAD Position” with ASRT CEO and Executive Director Melissa Pergola, a podcast for medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
Hi there and welcome back to “The RAD Position” podcast. I'm your host, Melissa Pergola. Thank you so much for listening and be sure to subscribe to get notifications for new episodes. I want to talk to you a little bit about what to expect
in this episode. We talk to Michael John Benzaia, who is the face of the Be Seen campaign.
For those of you who don't know, you can go to asrt.org/BeSeen to learn more, but it is our campaign that was started by president Danny Gonzalez to assure that we raise the visibility and the respect of medical
imaging and radiation therapy professionals. Michael Benzaia is the face of our commercial, which is a huge part of this campaign.
I would also like to take a minute to introduce Kim Gawler. Kim Gawler, you won't see; she's behind the scenes, but she's the driving force behind, and the producer of, “The RAD Position.” Kim is the social media strategist at the ASRT,
where she's in charge of managing all social media platforms. This includes creating visuals and videos to share with the ASRT followers.
Kim's also thrilled to produce “The Rad Position” podcast. Working with me to spread the awareness of the medical imaging and radiation therapy profession in this form, Kim says, is a true honor. Some fun facts about Kim include her love
of reading and writing, that Halloween is her favorite holiday, and that she has a mini schnauzer named Bandit, and that she firmly believes pineapple does belong on pizza, and I agree, Kim.
I also want to introduce Ray. Ray Arambula is my podcast partner. Ray is the chief information officer at ASRT, where he drives technology solutions to advance the organization's mission and vision. He also oversees meetings and conferences, helping
to ensure our events are executed effectively.
Additionally, he partners with other staff to deliver an ASRT internal podcast featuring technology, insights and trends, along with guest interviews, and Ray is a whole lot of fun. So, you're going to enjoy hearing from him on this podcast. So welcome,
Ray.
Ray Arambula: Thank you, Melissa. It's very exciting to be here. It is an honor to be here. I would just say I, too, agree with Kim. Pineapple does belong on pizza. And also throw in some jalapenos on there as well. I like anything
spicy.
Melissa Pergola: All right. Well, now that we have this out of the way, let's go ahead and get started with “The Rad Position” podcast.
Tonight, we're going to have Michael John Benzaia. Michael is an ARRT-registered radiologic technologist and an ASRT member. He is also an actor, producer, best known for the weatherman Navarro in Jonathan Nolan's Fallout, Dr. Hollis in the FBI series,
The Accountant 2, and Netflix’s Zero Day with Robert De Niro.
Michael is theatrically trained on a scholarship through the Stella Adler Academy of Acting School in L.A. and has a degree in drama TV writing from UCLA. Outside of acting, Michael achieved an M.B.A., and he is half the producing team at Random Films.
He is also the current face of the ASRT Be Seen campaign. Michael, thank you for coming on with us tonight.
Michael John Benzaia: Thank you so much. I'm so honored to be here, and I truly am excited for all the things that the ASRT has been doing in the last couple months.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, and you've been the face of our campaign, and I want to thank you for that starting off, and the impact that you've had really making that Be Seen campaign successful.
Michael John Benzaia: Truly humbling, and it's been honestly one of the best parts of my career.
Melissa Pergola: That's amazing. So, can you tell our listeners why you embarked on a career, at first, in medical imaging?
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah, no, that's a great question. The reason that I went into medical imaging in the beginning is because my mom was dealing with her own cancer battle. So I wanted to be her advocate. I wanted to educate myself
as much as I could. And I decided to follow my mom's radiation therapist for the day and I went over, and I noticed that radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, this was kind of where I felt most at home. So between that and I've always been a
student of life and I always want to learn and try to kind of, I want to see real life change, and I feel like radiology, we get that.
You know, we're that connective tissue in health care. So it just made the most sense at the time.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, that's excellent. And I know you have a huge passion for our profession and understanding, from your heart, where that comes from.
Michael John Benzaia: Yes. Yeah, that's, that was the biggest portion is I think is patient care and, and really wanting, you know, every time I see a patient, I see my mom, you know, and I see her explaining what she's feeling and,
you know, her symptoms from the, you know, from the radiation therapy or the chemo.
And when she would go into a radiology department, the techs, you know, the CT techs, the MR techs, everyone was just so welcoming and they made her feel so comfortable because she was, she was very anxious about the disease, about her prognosis,
where she was going from there. So they always made her feel very, very at home.
And that meant the world to me. And I hope that I'm, then, doing that for my patients as well.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. And I'm sure you are. I can only imagine the amount of empathy and care that you provide to your patients and it does make a difference. And I'm sure they feel that. And so thank you so much for sharing that
personal story.
Michael John Benzaia: Thank you. No, I appreciate it.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. So you started in imaging, but then you took that jump and you went into acting. So can you tell us how you got from imaging to an acting career?
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah, I definitely took a jump. I definitely have feet in both worlds right now, which I love because it's somewhat of a balance between the medical and the television world. I feel that, you know, little steps
make big change. So, at the time, I was working in radiology, and I had a good friend who was in casting, and he said, you know, “Just send in a tape. We'll see where it goes.” And I said, “I don't know.” I grew up in the
theater, but I didn't think it was possible to have a career in television or on the stage.
I just felt that might've been something that I had to put on the side and maybe have a little regret about, but it came back around and I feel like that's how life is. It, you know, when something's meant for you, it comes back around and you see
synchronicity. So I did the audition. I tried just like when I went to x-ray school, you know, the first day I was nervous when I went to my first clinical site.
I was like I don't know if I can handle this. And then, you know, after you're in it a couple of days, a couple of weeks, you get into the flow of things, and you're always, you know, learning different techniques that help you feel more comfortable,
whether it be in the OR or the ER or, you know, doing your rotations, even in CT.
So it was the same thing with television. It was the same thing with auditions. I threw myself into it and little steps made a big change. And from that audition, I ended up booking a small film and that small film, the producer of it saw something
in me that they felt they wanted to nurture. And they got me on a scholarship to Stella Adler, which is where I learned, oh my God, I learned so much about myself, about life, and those things that I learned at acting school, I took into my medical
profession, my empathy, understanding characters, understanding myself, just the way, you know, the biggest thing was, I have to say. The biggest thing I got from acting school, yeah, the biggest thing was listening.
And we listen in health care, but it deepened so much when I became an actor. So then when I went back in with my patients, I was like, I've listened, but did I really, like, sit with them and really get to understand what they're saying to me vs.
let me run through these, you know, symptoms and, and go through this chart and then, you know, explain to you what's going to go on.
I was like, let me sit and just have a moment with them. And that I think has been why I've been so successful in my acting, but as well as in my radiology career.
Ray Arambula:I saw the clip from Fallout and I gotta say it's not every day you meet someone who can have a career in the medical imaging field and also as a weatherman. I was pretty impressed with weatherman Navarro. But you also
play, you also portray, you know, a medical imaging actor in a lot of other films and series. Is that your preference or do you like some of these other roles as well?
Michael John Benzaia: I love playing medical imaging personnel. I've actually played in x-ray tech, as well, it was great because I went in for the audition and I'm like, I got this avenue of medical down pat and they're like, really?
And I was like, yeah, I know this one like the back of my hand. I do enjoy the aspect when it comes to medical imaging personnel or if I play a doctor or I play a nurse on television, because I, it's going to, might not sound great, but I like
correcting things.
So sterile technique, you know, there's a lot of things that we all know we watch television and there are a lot of things that we want, we go, “Oh, that, that's not how it actually happens or that's actually not accurate.” So I enjoy
that part. When it comes to the weatherman or it comes to, I play a lot of news reporters as well, I don't know that world like I know the medical world so I can't walk around correcting things. So that aspect. No, but, I mean, anytime that I
get a chance to showcase us on the big screen, I really enjoy it.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah. And so, Michael, I have a question for you and then I’m going to ask Ray. I don't know if he knows this or not, but what was the first theater production that you did?
Michael John Benzaia: The first theater production I want to say was “Oliver.”
Melissa Pergola:Oh, cool!
The first show, yeah, it was “Oliver.” I was the Artful Dodger, and the first show that I ever saw that really sparked my interest was “Ragtime.”
Melissa Pergola: Oh yeah.
Michael John Benzaia: Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald. Yeah, they were phenomenal in it. Yeah. “Ragtime” is the one that I remember sitting, my aunt used to bring me to different shows, and I remember sitting
there just looking up at the stage and going, oh, this is living.
Cause, and we learned this at Stella Adler as well, it's hard. And I get it, cause we're human; it's hard to be vulnerable, you know, and life is so busy and we put on our armor, even as medical professionals. But when you go into a theater, when
you go into a movie theater or the stage, you can let your guard down and you can be, you can allow yourself to feel.
And that's why I love, you know, I love what I do.
Ray Arambula: You did mention it, but oh, I'm still looking for that audio clip of your first recording, musical recording.
Melissa Pergola: I don't know. Michael knows.
Michael John Benzaia: I think I know. Yeah. I think I do know. Wait, but I might be wrong, but was it “Annie Get Your Gun?”
Melissa Pergola: It was. So, it's funny. A lot of the listeners might not realize that when I was a kid, I was actually — I lived in New York City; I was with the children repertory company; I was SAG; I was AFTRA. Funny thing:
I was like the voice of Always Pads when I was like 12 years old. But the reason why I started was because I went to the little theater in my local town and my parents put me in “Annie Get Your Gun” and I had a nothing part.
Right? I think I was Annie's little sister. I don't even know if I said anything, but I can tell you that when the curtain went up at the end and everyone stood up for us, I was like, wow, I want to have this feeling every day, that excitement of
the applause and the, I mean, it was, you get hooked on it. I think it's like endorphins, like running. So that's what got me. So yeah, the dopamine got me so excited. So excited.
Michael John Benzaia: I think it’s the dopamine for sure. But I think what you felt is the connection to humanity.
Melissa Pergola: Yes!
Michael John Benzaia: You know, the exchange that like, I've done something, you're, we're receiving. We're going back. You're connecting.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah.
Michael John Benzaia: So I think that, yeah, less of, people might say, Oh, it's the ego and I don't think it's the ego. I think it's that we're actually doing what we were meant to do as humans. We're here to connect and be vulnerable
with each other.
Melissa Pergola: You're so right, Michael. I never really put the, connected the dots, between that feeling that I had in connecting and being able to maybe inspire emotion in others to a career in medical imaging.
But it is; it's the connections that you make and the difference that you make in patients’ lives. And a lot of that is how you make people feel. We're technically competent, but one of the most significant things that we do as medical imaging
and radiation therapy professionals is we make people feel heard and we make people feel cared for, and that's such a significant part of our role and I think from there I want to transition a little bit then to the Be Seen campaign because as
we as medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals know that we make a difference and it's important to us how we make people feel, it's also important that we're seen. And that's why we embarked on this journey of how do we let the general
public know who we are, that we're not nurses, we're not doctors. We're this whole amazing scientific body of health care professionals. And so then we decided we would start the Be Seen campaign. Of course, it was president Danny Gonzalez at
the time. It was his presidential initiative and then we embarked on — how do we do this? Do we create a commercial? And we were so lucky to have you with the connection that you have to the profession and your acting background then become
the face. So can you explain to our listeners sort of what the Be Seen campaign is and why it's important to you personally?
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah, of course. What you said hits the nail on the head right there. It's about educating not just those who might want to go into our field, which I think is very crucial because there is definitely a need
for medical imaging professionals nationwide. And I think that if I had this when I was starting out in my health care journey and I was going into medical, I would have understood what was in store for me and been more excited. Not that I wasn't
excited about radiology, but I really didn't know what it entailed when I got to that clinical site, you know, for the first day, or when I sat in that classroom for the first time, these were the, that's when I learned it, but having a commercial,
having this awareness campaign, but it's not just, educating those who want to go into the field. It's about talking to people who are not even in medical, you know, because I have aunts, I have uncles that go, “Oh, how's that nursing job?”
And I'm like, well, I'm not a nurse, you know, and, listen, nurses and doctors and every, EMTs, everyone else in the profession is, you know, we work together and total respect for them as I know we all do, but it's time for, you know, medical
imaging and radiation therapists to be seen, to be heard and to be valued.
And this program is really doing that. And we're really reaching so many, I mean, seeing the commercial during the Olympic trials blew me away. And I've worked in television for many years, and I've seen myself on that screen, but I'm telling you
when that hero shot at the end, we're walking forward, I just feel, I don't see me. I don't see Dan. I don't see the techs that were there. I see just everyone behind us. It's very almost, like, spiritual, in a way. It's really moving. So every
time I see it, I get a little teary eyed, which you would think by now I would have gotten used to it, but it was beautifully done. And being on that set, having everyone involved, even the background actors or techs themselves or students, the
writers, the directors, everyone has a hand in radiology, diagnostic imaging, and I feel like that really comes through when you watch the video.
Ray Arambula: So Michael, I really appreciate you in this role, not only as a medical imaging professional, but also as an actor. You talked about making sure things were accurate and your portrayal of this. And so seeing that on
the commercial, knowing what went behind this, I think that really hits home for not just me, but I can even speak amongst the staff here, that we really put a lot of emphases into this and also into making sure we had the right person play for
this portrayal in this role.
Michael John Benzaia: Everyone involved really understood what we were there to do that day, which makes a huge difference. I think also the biggest aspect is our field, our avenue of medical, compared to other sections, is ever changing
and always evolving.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Michael John Benzaia: So I don't discredit when people don't understand radiology or diagnostic imaging because we're, or diagnostic imaging, because we're constantly changing, you know, there's new techniques, there's new machines,
there's updates, you know, so having everyone on that set that day, knowing that they have, you know, spent the time in the diagnostic imaging room made the world of difference. So I totally agree with you.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah, it did, and I don't know if you remember this, Michael, but you talk about the script writers and reading the script and how great it was, but I clearly remember as we were getting ready to film that final hero
walk, the script said, “We are medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.” And you said, “I think it should be ‘we are your’.”
Michael John Benzaia: I specifically remember that moment because everyone was so open to receiving feedback about the script. And my biggest thing is I didn't want to come in there, like, you know, I want this change or that because
sometimes I get on set and there are so many things that need to be changed.
So there was nothing. It was perfect. But at that moment I said “I just want to make one little note.” I just feel as, you know, the medical professional in me, it just made sense, you know, I wanted people to connect to what was seen
at that moment, and it was at the, I think, it was at the end as well, towards the end of the commercial, so yeah.
Melissa Pergola: It was, and I think it speaks to who you are as a person and a professional that to me that was so significant because it showed the true passion that you had for the profession and for making sure that people really
saw us and how we feel about, not how only how they feel about us but that how we feel about the role that we play in patients’ lives. That we're not just medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals, we are your, we are here for
you, and I think that that is a lot of what we have heard today, sort of, ringing true and a theme throughout, is it's all about caring and passion and how we take care of our patients and each other. And so I think that that was just so true
to your core that it was very significant for me.
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah. I think that's, that's huge. I agree with that. And I do remember when I was going to my mom's appointments, the radiology, the radiology department, can be scary. You know, dark rooms, big machines. And
even as an adult, I remember, you know, stepping in with patients and they're like, “What is this machine? How's this working? I'm going in there?” You know, like, or, you know, and so it can be daunting at times. So I love that we
were able to get that across that, you know, we're here for you, and we will speak to you as long as you need before you go into that machine, and we will explain what's going to happen.
And if you, you know, if you don't feel comfortable, we'll work around that. And I think that's the biggest thing with radiology that I love is that I remember specifically in x-ray school, I was going to do, maybe, I think it was very basic, like
a hip. And I remember the clinical instructor was like, well, you don't have to just do it that way.
And I'm like, no, but this is what I know, you know, I just frog leg and that's it. And she's like, no, we work around what the patient can do. And it clicked. And I was like, oh, this field is great because we have so many avenues on how we can accomplish
this. That's so exciting.
Melissa Pergola: We'll be right back after this short message.
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Michael John Benzaia: It's been such a beautiful moment. This campaign is really, just to get back on that, this campaign has really just been really, really fun to be involved with. And I see the tangible difference that we're making
real time, not even just with technologists, but I know we've discussed previously, but even in government.
Melissa Pergola: Yes.
Michael John Benzaia: You know, we're making some strides and that is because of you guys, because of the ASRT, because of the technologists, you know, calling in, writing in, making some big change. We're really making waves and
we're here to be heard.
Melissa Pergola: Yeah. Yeah, it's huge right that grassroots effort and everyone working together. So, I’ll ask both of you, Ray and Michael, we recently had a very quick call to action for the Office of Management and Budget
to try to change our status from technical to professional.
And I have something to say about that. But first my question to you all, whoever says it first, how many letters did we have written in, in less than a week?
Ray Arambula: I remember 48 is in there somewhere.
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah. I feel like I'm going to say a very high number, but I remember the Instagram post specifically.
Melissa Pergola: Yep. It was 42,000 letters written in a matter of days to the Office of Management and Budget trying to get our status change from technical to professional. And the reason why I want to bring that up is something
that you just mentioned, Michael, is that people don't realize there is a body of science that we learn as medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals.
But think about it this way. If I'm taught to do ankle images to determine if an ankle is broken or not on someone who walks into an outpatient center, right? Pretty textbook. I could probably do exactly what I was taught. If I am doing ankle images
in a trauma center, like I had worked in a trauma center, and a patient comes in life flight from a very serious, traumatic car accident, and there's a clear open fracture, here's a very different way that I have to, all of a sudden, critically
think, knowing what my end result is, but having to manipulate all the tools and my knowledge to still obtain diagnostic images so that that patient can be diagnosed.
And this is one of the points that the OMB has; for someone to be professional, you have to be in a profession where you critically think, and I think people don't realize, to your point, not to their fault, of the amount of autonomy that we have
and the really ultimate responsibility that we have to create diagnostic images so that the radiologists can interpret those so that patients can get a diagnosis to be made well.
And so, thank you for bringing that up because I think it was a perfect segue for us to just mention thank you to everyone who wrote those letters. And of course, there'll be more information to come as the OMB, I'm sure, has to take quite a bit of
time going through 42,000 letters written and going through their process to determine if we will be professional or technical.
So thank you for giving me the opportunity to bring that up.
Michael John Benzaia: When I saw the number I was so excited because obviously getting some real-life change is great, but then also it made me feel like such a part of the community because we all wrote in and we did what we needed
to do, so it feels great.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, I would say from a staff standpoint as well. We'd felt a real ability to make a difference even not being directly in the profession. We still felt we can carry our voice through this as well.
Melissa Pergola: And I mentioned this on Episode 1, too, but ASRT staff is phenomenal, and we do have R.T.s on staff, but we also have like Ray is not an R.T. traditionally, but I don't want to speak for Ray, but I feel like every
employee feels such a purpose; that they feel at their heart the purpose and the importance of what we do, too.
Ray Arambula: Yeah, absolutely.
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah, and that that was very tangible being at the conference as well.
Melissa Pergola: And so Michael’s mentioning our conference just for our listeners. We have an annual conference, that's our Annual Governance and House of Delegates and we have education at that conference. We also do the business
of the House, and this year Michael was there as a guest. He got to address the House and talk about his experience. And then he got to be, sort of, in our trade show floor, and it was amazing to see how many people were so excited to see you
that they had seen you on, I think they had seen you on some of your soap opera appearances and wanted their pictures taken with Michael, and yeah.
Michael John Benzaia: Yeah, I mean, excited to see me. I was excited to see everyone and, and speak to them about their experience and, you know, who works in a hospital, who's in an outpatient center, who's in Florida, who's in Texas,
and just getting to know everybody was really, really great.
Melissa Pergola: Well, Michael, you have been amazing. And I know I'm going to tell you this again before we end, how much we appreciate you and the impact that you have had being the face of the Be Seen campaign. But now I'm going
to turn it over to Ray, and I'm not too excited about it because I don't know what he's going to do, but apparently he's going to do some kind of game with us. So here we go.
Ray Arambula: OK. It's a very simple game. The objective of this game is to guess the radiology term in my head. Now you both have — are — in the medical imaging field, but you also have other demanding roles. So we're
going to see how many of these terms you can still remember.
Melissa Pergola: Oh no.
Ray Arambula: Uh, now Michael, Melissa is, she's kind of competitive.
Michael John Benzaia: I'm going to get in the game right now. I'm going to get as competitive as Melissa. So, OK. So we have to guess.
Ray Arambula: You have to guess the radiology term in my head. And so I'm going to provide some hints and some short term definitions around that term to try to see if you guys can guess it. We'll go easy for the first one. OK. So
I'm going to give you some hints. And again, the first one who yells it out wins 10,000 points. Are you ready?
Melissa Pergola and Michael John Benzaia: Yes.
Ray Arambula: Two letter word. It's an abbreviation. It's a type of scan.
Melissa Pergola: CT.
Michael John Benzaia: Oh, CT. Yeah.
Ray Arambula: OK, Melissa got it.
Melissa Pergola: Michael, you can’t just repeat what I said and say “Yeah.”
Michael John Benzaia: CT. If it was three, it would be MRI. I got this.
Ray Arambula: OK, now you know how the game works.
Michael John Benzaia: OK, now she's fast. I'm scared.
Ray Arambula: OK, I told you; you got to bring your A game.
Michael John Benzaia: I know she is. All right.
Ray Arambula: OK. Next one worth another 10,000 points. OK. Ability to differentiate and distinguish. Examples can include barium, iodine. It's what you use to distinguish structures during an exam.
Melissa Pergola: Contrast?
Michael John Benzaia: Yes!
Ray Arambula: Melissa wins again.
Melissa Pergola: So, the listeners couldn't see Michael's face, but Michael knew it, and he was like, it can't be this easy.
Ray Arambula: You were right there, Michael.
Melissa Pergola: I could see your face.
Michael John Benzaia: I know. It's just contrast. All the things you're listening to are contrast. Um, also, just side note, I mean, I knew those two answers, even though people are going to be like, no he didn’t. Well, I mean,
CT and contrast. But you're a doctor. I just play one on TV, so I feel like this is a little uneven.
Melissa Pergola: Oh, no.
Michael John Benzaia: But listen, I'm just going to start yelling out like isotope. I'm just going to like throw different words out.
Ray Arambula: That's one way to win.
Michael John Benzaia: Just to show.
Ray Arambula: All right, let’s do another easy one.
Michael John Benzaia: Do it. Let me see.
Ray Arambula: OK. It looks like, it looks like a milkshake.
Michael John Benzaia: Something like looks like a milkshake? Barium?
Ray Arambula: You got it.
Michael John Benzaia: Oh, OK. All right.
Ray Arambula: Wow, that was fast.
Michael John Benzaia: Well, I remember in the, well, first of all, we all know what barium is, but I remember in school when one of the techs was teaching me the instructions to give to the patient and they said “Just tell them
it tastes like a milkshake.” And I'm like “But does it?” And they're like “No.” And I'm like “I don't know if I'm going to say that.” I was like…
Ray Arambula: It's what I heard when I took it so.
Michael John Benzaia: I know, I think that was like the go-to back then. But, hey, the main thing is it's going to help highlight and we do need this. And it might be a little chalky tasting.
Melissa Pergola: A little bit. Yeah. Thank you, Michael, for being on with us, and we enjoy every minute and every second that we get to spend with you, and we look forward to the campaign continuing in and you continuing to be the
face. We didn't mention, you mentioned, the Olympics. We didn't mention “America's Got Talent,” “Dateline,” right?
A little bit. Yeah. Thank you, Michael, for being on with us, and we enjoy every minute and every second that we get to spend with you, and we look forward to the campaign continuing in and you continuing to be the face. We didn't mention, you mentioned,
the Olympics. We didn't mention “America's Got Talent,” “Dateline,” right?
Michael John Benzaia: I'm humbled by that, and I'm truly love what we do. I love our field and I'm excited to see where we go in the future. I know we're making some real tangible change, and that's what I look forward to.
Melissa Pergola: We'll be right back after this short message.
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Melissa Pergola: That was so exciting having the opportunity to talk to Michael John Benzaia, the face of the Be Seen campaign.
Ray Arambula: Yes. And I love hearing just how the transition happened in his career, but also just what he does, not just as a medical imaging professional and an actor, but how he brings empathy and passion into both of these areas.
And I think that really displayed in the Being Seen commercial. It was such, such an exciting experience to hear from him.
Melissa Pergola: It really was exciting. You know what else is exciting, Ray?
Ray Arambula: What's that?
Melissa Pergola: We ask our listeners to write in and tell us stories about how they got into this amazing profession, or if they're patients, how medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals have made a difference in their
lives. That's pretty cool.
Ray Arambula: That is very cool. And you know what? We do have a listener response.
Melissa Pergola: No way.
Ray Arambula: Yes. Should we read it?
Melissa Pergola: Yes. OK. All right. Let me look. So this response is from Kellye Mantooth. Oh, you know what we should call this, Ray? We should call this We See You.
Ray Arambula: Oh, that's brilliant. I love it.
Melissa Pergola: All right. So this segment from now on, We See You.
Ray Arambula: Please write in. We want to see you.
Melissa Pergola: Yes. And so, Kellye said, “I was first inspired to become a rad tech after breaking my ankle playing basketball in high school. After talking with the technologist who performed my imaging, I knew this was the
career I wanted to pursue. When I got accepted into the radiologic technologist program, it took one rotation through MR to know I had found my home. From there, I pursued further certifications in MR safety and passed both certifications to be
an MR safety officer as well as an MR safety expert. My career has been so fulfilling and I feel lucky it's only the beginning. I am excited for the opportunity to continue to educate the industry on how to keep patients and personnel safe in
the MR environment.”
Ray Arambula: That's amazing, Melissa. Thank you for sharing that. And if you too want to submit a story, you can submit that to [email protected]. We would love to hear your story.
Melissa Pergola: Thank you, Ray. So, before we wrap up, I'd really like to take a minute to update our listeners about a couple of exciting ASRT initiatives. First, applications are open for the inaugural BeRAD Professionalism Award.
BeRAD recognizes health systems, imaging centers, hospitals, clinics and other facilities where medical imaging technologists and radiation therapists demonstrate a culture of professionalism. The application period closes on September 30th.
Applicants will receive feedback by no later than February 15 of 2025. And very exciting, ASRT is presenting two awards during the inaugural cycle. Go to asrt.org/BeRAD to apply. The second thing I want you
to know about is that our next guest on “The RAD Position” is ASRT Vice President of Governance and Public Policy Jason Bradley.
Jason oversees ASRT's advocacy, legislative and regulatory efforts. If you want to learn more about ASRT advocacy, visit asrt.org/Advocacy. And
thank you all so much for listening to “The RAD Position” podcast. We'll be back October 28th. To all our medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals…
Ray Arambula: Be seen.
Melissa Pergola and Ray Arambula: And stay rad!