Radiologic sciences a rare degree program

Despite being the only program in the state offering a bachelor's degree in radiologic sciences, UCF's program is one of four undergraduate majors in danger of being eliminated during Thursday's Board of Trustees meeting.

According to the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, the accreditation board for radiology education programs, there are only 34 colleges in the United States that offer a bachelor's degree in radiologic sciences; UCF is one of them.

"The United States is one of the only industrialized nations in the world who does not already require at least a bachelor's degree for all those performing medical imaging procedures," said Susan Gosnell, the program director for UCF radiologic sciences, during her speech at last week's BOT meeting. "The fact that the AS degree is considered acceptable for entry into this profession is in no way an indication that it is appropriate."

While a two-year degree is acceptable in order to find a job as a radiology technologist, in order to become a manager or educator in the field, a higher-level degree is required.

"The main advantage [of the bachelor's program] is that we can actually progress in our profession," said Dee Ann Vanlandingham, the assistant education coordinator for radiological technology education at Halifax Health in Daytona Beach "To go into management or education, you have to have a bachelor's degree."

Without UCF's program, many radiologic sciences students who aspire to become educators or managers will be forced to obtain bachelor's degrees in unrelated fields.

"They could get a bachelor's degree in education or in administration … but it would not be specifically in radiological science," said Darcie Nethery, education coordinator for the Halifax Health radiography program. "There are options but it's just taking away from the direct option of having someone stay within their area of expertise, which is definitely an advantage for our future educators and managers."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in radiologic technology is expected to grow faster than average.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site said they expect a growth of 15 percent in the field in the 10-year period between 2006 and 2016.

As fewer programs offering advanced degrees remain and the field continues to grow, many in the field expect a shortage in those qualified to manage and educate future radiologists.

In her letter to President Hitt, handed out during the BOT meeting on July 13, Nethery wrote, "Many of our current educators, including myself, will be retiring in the next 5 to 7 years and without radiologic technologists with the required degrees, programs will close, leaving our field with a shortage of technologists."

Gosnell made similar remarks when she addressed the Board.

"The program at UCF must be maintained and even expanded or we will surely experience a dangerous lack of entry-level technologists, specifically leadership within medical imaging," Gosnell said. "Radiological science educators are rapidly aging out."

And a similar problem has already occurred within the radiation therapy field, she said.

"Thirteen years ago, UCF eliminated the therapy track of the radiological sciences program," Gosnell said. "It was also the only BS degree program in the state. Today, there are only three radiation therapy programs remaining in Florida.

"The most well-respected of these, at Halifax Medical Center, affiliated with Daytona State College, has been inactive for over a year because, since that program director retired last year, they have not been able to find a single qualified person to fill that position."

Employers in the area also take in quality of the radiologic sciences BS into account when hiring.

"The reason why I got the job I have today is because of the degree I got from UCF," Vanlandingham said. "They have a great reputation in terms of the pass rate."

Gosnell summed up the problem students will face if this program is eliminated: "How does one aspire to earn a master's or doctorate degree when there is no opportunity to earn a bachelor's?"