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Which college clubs and programs provide the best opportunities for a student planing to enter the healthcare field? Specifically in Radiology.
I am currently planning on attending Texas State and earning a bachelor’s degree in Radiation Therapy. To get into the Radiation Therapy program I need to be involved in extracurriculars so I am trying to broaden my resume.
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Shelley’s Answer
Hi Madison,
I recommend checking out your state's professional organizations for Radiation Therapists and Radiology Technologists such as Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists (TXSRT) and the Texas Radiological Society (TRS) as well as the national society, The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) These organizations have strong student recruitment and involvement. Email them now and let them know you are interested in a career in Radiation Therapy, and you are looking for opportunities for involvement to help you get into Texas State's program. There are local yearly national conventions for Rad Tx, in Houston, you can go on student entrance and look around and network to get an opportunity you are looking for.
Secondly, the thought is always to go to a hospital for medical needs, but stand alone clinics are excellent places to work because it is easier to hire on and the pace is slower. I suggest you search online for medical imaging centers and oncology centers and choose one that is close to you. Radiology and Radiation therapy share the same patients and it would benefit you to have experience in patient care and an awareness of radiation safety for you and your patient. These places may not have a position for your specific need but if you can hire on and work the front office and then hopefully they would open a position to assist the Technologists. This way you can work when you go home on school breaks or do the same when you move to campus. Let them know you are interested in a career in Rad Tx and need experience for your resume and future career.
Just being comfortable in the environment, learning the medical lingo specific to Rad Tx or radiation safety will set you up to excel in your clinical internship as well as, look good on your resume.
I'm excited for you. Be persistent, and professional. Best of luck to you!
I recommend checking out your state's professional organizations for Radiation Therapists and Radiology Technologists such as Texas Society of Radiologic Technologists (TXSRT) and the Texas Radiological Society (TRS) as well as the national society, The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) These organizations have strong student recruitment and involvement. Email them now and let them know you are interested in a career in Radiation Therapy, and you are looking for opportunities for involvement to help you get into Texas State's program. There are local yearly national conventions for Rad Tx, in Houston, you can go on student entrance and look around and network to get an opportunity you are looking for.
Secondly, the thought is always to go to a hospital for medical needs, but stand alone clinics are excellent places to work because it is easier to hire on and the pace is slower. I suggest you search online for medical imaging centers and oncology centers and choose one that is close to you. Radiology and Radiation therapy share the same patients and it would benefit you to have experience in patient care and an awareness of radiation safety for you and your patient. These places may not have a position for your specific need but if you can hire on and work the front office and then hopefully they would open a position to assist the Technologists. This way you can work when you go home on school breaks or do the same when you move to campus. Let them know you are interested in a career in Rad Tx and need experience for your resume and future career.
Just being comfortable in the environment, learning the medical lingo specific to Rad Tx or radiation safety will set you up to excel in your clinical internship as well as, look good on your resume.
I'm excited for you. Be persistent, and professional. Best of luck to you!
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Madison, you are wise to begin to think now about how to improve your chances of being accepted into the Radiation Therapy program. My advice is to connect as soon as you are accepted to college (or as soon as you get to campus) with the pre-health care advisors as well as any pre-healthcare clubs which your university has. Both advisors and clubs will have various programs available and can often help you with shadowing opportunities, local volunteer options, as well as topics of interest to those considering health care as a career. Outside of college, you can contact the local hospital volunteer offices and see what they have available. Many hospitals will try to place you as a volunteer in an area of interest for you -- so you can request the radiology department or the cancer center. This will help you confirm that this is the type of work you could see yourself doing as a career and may also help you find radiation therapists you can interview and/or shadow. I would think this would all be helpful in your application for the RT program as well as in your future work directly with patients.
Good luck and write back with more questions, as they come up.
Contact the pre-health care career advisors at your university and set up an appointment with an advisor as soon as possible.
Contact the volunteer office at a hospital convenient to campus and see what volunteer options they offer, targeting radiology and cancer facilities.
Good luck and write back with more questions, as they come up.
Suzanne recommends the following next steps: