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Author: Kate Hunger
Media contact: Will Sansom, 210-567-2579, sansom@uthscsa.edu
SAN ANTONIO (October 20, 2022) — The School of Health Professions at UT Health San Antonio plans to launch a new Master of Science in Imaging Science program to train imaging technologies in radiography, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to address technological shortages which currently emphasizes the health care system.
“This program will be the only one of its kind in the nation — an entry-to-the-professional multi-modality master’s program that grants eligibility for three national certifications by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists,” said program director Laura P. Vasquez, PhD. , MS, RVT, RT, MRSO.
“This will allow graduates to practice in all states,” after obtaining certification, Vasquez said. Many regional health care systems have multiple technologist positions open, he added.
Applications for the MS in Imaging Science are open for the first cohort of the programme, which will commence in Fall 2023, pending full approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Meeting the need for imaging specialists
Medical imaging technologist training at UT Health San Antonio will help meet the needs of local imaging technologists specialists and improve patient care by enabling imaging studies to be completed more quickly, says Professor Rajeev Suri, MD, MBA, FACR, FSIR, interim chair of the Department of Radiology at the School of Medicine. Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long at UT Health San Antonio.
“There is a real need for technologists with this training in the community,” said Suri, explaining that COVID-19 was increasingly depleting the number of imaging technologists as the pandemic caused some to retire or resign. “Almost everywhere in the city—private, VA, county—is struggling to recruit trained MRI, CT, and X-ray technologists.”
Versatile training
The program curriculum is designed so that students must complete each modality phase and associated certification to progress to the next phase. The first stage is radiography, followed by CT and finally, MRI. Students will also participate in clinical practicums with clinical affiliations in hospital and outpatient imaging settings. The master’s curriculum also includes courses in leadership, education and research, which prepare graduates for management, teaching and research roles. This program may be suitable for individuals interested in medicine, as the ability to interpret radiography, CT and MRI is an important skill for medical students and most pre-health preparation programs do not have a comprehensive imaging education, Vasquez said.
Job prospects are very strong for imaging technologists who are certified in a variety of modalities, Vasquez said, adding that the program design will allow students to gain eligibility to take three national certification exams in two years – just a third of the time it would normally take to earn all three certifications when taken. separately.
“Traditionally, medical radiography students going into practice would earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree while acquiring a credential or two each, such as general medical radiography and CT or MRI,” he said.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be eligible for state licensing by the State Department of Health Services to the Texas Medical Council.
A career as a medical imaging technologist can be attractive to individuals who want to work both with diagnostic technology applications and in direct patient care, Vasquez said. Medical imaging technology “must know the anatomy and physiology of the body, pathophysiology and pharmacology,” he said. “There is a lot of science behind it, but you also have to be compassionate and willing to work in patient care. Patients, veterans and our community deserve excellence in patient care.”
To learn more about the program’s admission requirements, curriculum and clinical experience, visit the MS in Imaging Sciences program page. Matriculation into the program is subject to SACSCOC approval.
The Master of Science program in Imaging Science was approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on June 29, 2022, with an implementation date of August 2023. Under the auspices of the School of Health Professions, the MS in Imaging Science awaits approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission (SACSCOC) .
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), a key driver for San Antonio’s $42.4 billion healthcare and bioscience sector, is South Texas’ largest research university with an annual research portfolio of $350 million. Driving massive economic impact with its five professional schools, a diverse workforce of more than 7,000, an annual operating budget of over $1 billion and a clinical practice that provides more than 2 million patient visits annually, UT Health San Antonio plans to add many more of its 1,500 higher-paying jobs over the next five years to serve San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas. To learn about the many “We make life better®” ways, visit https://uthscsa.edu.
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