Radiologic technology is a health care profession and plays a continually growing role in medicine. It is an “art and a science” of creating images of the human body using ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radio frequency and sound waves, or even creating a 3-dimensional image from multiple cross-sectional images.
Certified practitioners work in hospitals, clinics or imaging centers, and perform a wide variety of diagnostic and interventional procedures. They are important members of the medical team responsible for diagnosis of patients’ conditions and therefore, key in subsequent treatment of patients in any branch of medicine (internal medicine, surgery and orthopedics, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, cardiology, to name a few).
Since radiological science is a dynamic field, it is perpetually changing, improving, growing. As general technology advances, so does the field of radiography. As new medical discoveries are made and medical procedures and treatment are constantly developed, progress and expansion in imaging, equipment and Radiologic techniques continue likewise.
Gone are the days when Radiologic technology simply meant as a x-ray tech. Radiologic technology is not limited to diagnostic imaging alone. Radiotherapy and certain interventional radiologic procedures have earned a spot as an alternative option for therapeutic measures aside from surgery and chemotherapy.
A career in Radiologic Technology provides vast opportunities for advancement. Job opportunities include:
- Radiographers/ x-ray technologist
- CT technologists
- MR technologists
- Cardiovascular technologists
- Diagnostic medical sonographers
- Angiographic technologists/ Interventional radiologic technologists
- Nuclear medicine technologists
- Radiation therapists
Others: Radiation Safety Officers
- Overseers of Quality Assurance (e.g. Licensing/ Technical division of Department of Health)
Radiologic Equipment maintenance specialists
- Sales representatives in equipment manufacturers
- If you have a calling for the academe, you could specialize and become instructors or administrators in Radiologic Technology Educational programs and train future highly competent and professional Radiologic Technologists.
The boundaries of a career in radiologic technology are molded and determined by one’s abilities and interests.