October 2014 ______________________________________________________

It’s that time of year once again and in Fairbanks at least we are now experiencing “darkness” once again. Unfortunately, along with that comes colder weather… snow and ice, too! I hope everyone has a safe Fall into Winter season…. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. All sorts of events being held and for a very good cause. Be sure to support these efforts wherever you live in our great state! We are coming up upon the most important week for Radiologic Technologists Nationwide. National Radiologic Technologists Week! Nov 2- 8th, 2014! The ASRT theme for this year is Many Views with One Vision. Attached to this publication of our AKSRT e-newsletter please take a look at all of the opportunities and suggestions available via the ASRT.org website. Have a safe Halloween and Happy National Radiologic Technologists Week!

Claudia Joan Tessier, R.T. (R)(M) CBDT

October 29, 2014

Volume 2, I ssue 8

Alaska Society of Radiologic Technologists

Message from the Editor

Contents

Message from the Editor 1

AKSRT Promotional material 2

Upcoming Events 2

AKSRT Officers 2

AK Licensure Legislation 3

Message from the President 4

NRTW 5

Job Bank 5

NRTW Poster 6

Anchorage Fair Pics 7-9

Students Corner 8-10

Students Leadership 11

Claudia Tess ier

Editor

AKSRT Website

Please visit our website and let us know how we are

doing

AKSRT.COM

Fun weekend of music at the 1st Annual

Mosquitofest August 2014, Central Alaska

November 2nd to 8th, 2014 National Radiologic Technology Week “Many views with one vision” For more information go to the ASRT website November 30th to December 5th, 2014 – Chicago, IL RSNA (Radiologic Society of North America) 2014 “A Century of Transforming Medicine” For more information go to the RSNA website April ~ May, 2015 Date to be determined - Anchorage AKSRT Annual Business Meeting and Educational Conference Co-chairs: Jackie Deal, Jodi Izykowski, Gini Mosley, Tiffany Peterson January 16th to 18th, 2016 (proposed dates) AKSRT Hawaii Workshop Clyde Pearce aksrtrtmaui@yahoo.com

AKSRT: First Class Imaging in the Last Frontier Promotional material

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AKSRT Officers

PRESIDENT: Robert McClung

VICE-PRESIDENT: Clyde Pearce INTERIM SECRETARY: Robert McClung

TREASURER: Claudia Tessier

AKSRT COMMITTEES CONFERENCE

COMMITTEE 2014 Robert McClung Kathryn Slagle

Tiffany Peterson Jodi Izykowski

LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

Chair Person: Donna Rufsholm, Rhonda Merrihew Claudia Tessier

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

BYLAWS COMMITTEE Dale Collins

INCORPORATION

Dale Collins

WEBSITE COMMITTEE Clyde Pearce

Claudia Tessier Cecilia Del Rio

NEWSLETTER CO-ORDINATORS

Claudia Tessier Cecilia Del Rio

AKSRT is engaged advocating State Licensure; we have T-shirts and Water Bottles, as well as new Banners and educational material. For more information, contact Robert McClung or Donna Rufsholm or visit our Website www.AKSRT.com

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Se

As the professional society serving as the voice of over 600 radiologic technologists in Alaska, the AKSRT’s purpose is to lead and serve its members, the healthcare profession and the public on issues impacting the radiologic sciences; to advance the profession of radiation and imaging disciplines and specialties; to maintain high standards of education to enhance the quality of patient care; and to further the welfare of radiologic technology. The AKSRT strengthens professional standards by supporting legislative activities and healthcare initiatives. State licensure requirements for individuals who perform x-rays in Alaska have been the primary legislative initiative of the AKSRT for many years.

ONE Voice The AKSRT supports legislation for education and credentialing of individuals who perform x-ray exams to improve the health and well-being of the people of Alaska. Successful implementation of the legislative position is characterized by people, with a common interest, working together to assure wise legislative decisions. Ways to Participate in the Legislative Process AKSRT needs you! Your voice is the key to our efforts to pass legislation to protect and enhance the lives of patients and other individuals exposed to radiation. There are many ways that you can be involved:

Schedule a meeting with the legislators in your home district. Legislators are more likely to consider your opinions as a constituent than almost any other. You do not need to have a polished speech or printed business cards. You just need a passion for issues that impact the imaging profession.

Make calls to your legislators to communicate AKSRT's position on licensure standards. Travel to Juneau to testify before a committee on AKSRT legislative priorities. Testimony is typically limited

to 3-5 minutes. We are available to assist you in preparing your remarks. Follow the progress of our legislation. You can track the progress of legislation of interest to AKSRT on your

own. To do so log on to the Alaska State Legislature website: At the home page, in the top tab column under the heading "Bills and Law", you can conduct a search of any bill by entering the bill number or a word or phrase that would be contained in the bill.

Sign up for Legislative Briefings and for Action Alerts. These updates will keep you apprised of activity in the legislature on our legislative priorities.

The most important thing to remember is that your voice is important. You CAN and you DO make a difference!

Donna Rufsholm Legislative Affairs Committee Chair djru@sphosp.org 299-2046 cell 235-0360 work

Tiffany Peterson Legislative Affairs Committee Member tiffany@afoc.com

Alaska Licensure Legislation Donna Rufsholm

Rhonda Merrihew Legislative Affairs Committee Co-Chair rhon@gci.net 244-1208 cell Claudia Tessier Legislative Affairs Committee Member claudia@alaskan.com 458-6900 work

AKSRT e-Newsletter Page 4 of 11

Fellow AKSRT members, The society has done a good job of increasing membership. We now have 81 RT members (from a low of 28 in 2013) and 17 student members. This is great but I would like to continue adding members. As AKSRT members please encourage fellow techs to join. This year the AKSRT board approved water bottles (which we provided to fair goers at our booth) and T-shirts for new and renewing members. It is my desire new and renewing members receive something tangible each year when they renew or join. For 2016, I am thinking of scrub shirts printed with the AKSRT emblem and motto, so send me your suggestions. This summer Maggie Willis, our AKSRT Secretary departed the Great Land for the Hot Land. Our fantastic secretary moved to Arizona. I cannot say enough about Maggie’s enthusiasm and dedication to the society. She was instrumental in the society’s rebirth and represented us at the last ASRT conference with dignity and honor. I wish nothing but the best for Maggie as she writes a new chapter to her life. She will be greatly missed. Other notes, what a positive year we have had in our society. I would like to commend those members involved in the AKSRT over the past year. Some of the highlights are below;

-- March, Clyde Pearce, our vice president attend the R.T. in D.C. program supporting passage of CARE Bill (Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility, and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2013)

-- Annual conference in May, thanks to Kathryn Slagle, Gini Mosley, Tiffany Peterson, and Jodi Izykowski for planning a great event. Already Tiffany, Jodi, Jill Siegel, Gini Mosley, and Jackie Deal are working on next year’s conference to be held in Anchorage.

-- Clyde Pearce and Maggie Willis represented the society at the Annual ASRT meeting in Orlando during the month of June. -- AKSRT sponsored a booth at the Alaska state fair in September. Volunteers provided

information concerning licensure. Most people did not realize the person taking their x-rays did not have to be licensed or credentialed. If a member is aware of a conference or other public event we can convey our message please let me know. Thanks to Tiffany Peterson for organizing the fair event and kudos to the following fair booth volunteers; Tiffany Peterson, Diana Delarosa, Clyde Pearce, Donna Rufsholm, Rhonda Merrihew, Nancy Del Pesco, Michelle Stapley, Glenn Balagtas, and Victoria Swanson. Two UAA students also volunteered; June Berrett and Erica Shafer. Thanks to all.

Last, I hope each of you has a safe winter. We may be putting away our gardening tools, fishing equipment, and summer toys our work as a society commences. The legislative session begins in January. It is time now for our collective voices to be heard. We need to contact our legislatures not only after the session begins but before the election occurs. It is important for members to inquire about the candidate’s position on licensure for radiology technologists. Robert McClung

Message from the President Robert McClung

AKSRT e-Newsletter Page 5 of 11

Looking for Job

opportunities?

Look under the

ASRT Job Bank®

For more

information!

(EXCERPTS TAKEN DIRECTLY FROM ASRT.ORG)

National Radiologic Technology Week® is the time each year when you can demonstrate the importance of medical imaging and radiation oncology. This promotion guide will help make your National Radiologic Technology Week celebration a success.

A Brief History of NRTW The first NRTW was July 22-29, 1979. The celebration was moved to November to recognize the date Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen discovered the x-ray, Nov. 8, 1895. The annual celebration promotes the important role medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals play in providing quality patient care and a safe health care environment. NRTW is about medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. How you choose to celebrate NRTW is what makes it unique to the radiologic sciences.

National Radiologic Technology Week® Templates Promote your NRTW® events with these downloadable templates for newsletters, fliers and posters. NRTW® is a trademark of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The trademark shown on the templates must be visible with any use of these templates. E-mail the ASRT Marketing Department at marketing@asrt.org if you have any questions.

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National Radiologic Technology Week® November 2-8, 2014

AKSRT e-Newsletter Page 6 of 11

AKSRT on Pictures

AKSRT e-Newsletter Page 7 of 11

TEAM AKSRT 2014 FAIR In no particular order: Glenn Balagtas, June Berrett, Erica Shafer, Victoria Swanson, Clyde Pearce, Nancy Del Pesco, Michele Stapley, Robert E McClung, Tiffany Peterson, Donna Rufsholm, Rhonda Merrihew, and many other volunteers.

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Students Corner

Students Corner

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In addition to Sudsy’s BarnTM, Mega Drop, Fish On! Fish Camp, and Flo Rida, there was another new face at the Alaska State Fair this year – the AKSRT! Their inaugural endeavor proved to be a successful one. A high-traffic booth on the final weekend of the fair offered an opportunity to introduce the organization to the public, and to educate people about the lack of formal training standards for x-ray operators in our state. Most people who approached the booth were unaware of this fact, and so were given a brief discourse about the importance of having properly trained technologists obtain their x-rays. They were also encouraged to speak with their congressman and urge him/her to pass legislation that would require more strict regulations. The booth also provided an opportunity to boost membership. Five new members and four renewals were secured, bringing AKSRT’s total to 82 RT members. Student memberships have also shown a spike. UAA’s Radiologic Technology program got underway at the end of August, and both first- and second-year students began the Fall semester with excitement. The 17 first-year students got their feet wet amidst a mix of nerves and enthusiasm, and the 18 second-year students eagerly began the final year of their program. At a lunch gathering between the two classes last month, the second-years had an opportunity to pass on some of their wisdom, and also help ease the mind of the already overwhelmed freshman crew. Per tradition, the senior students doled out binders and clinical survival kits, as well as offered up advice to the newcomers. The luncheon was a great start to building relationships with other students who are likely to be coworkers in the future. Students from both classes were encouraged to become AKSRT members, and thanks in part to the additional incentive of a t-shirt and water bottle, there are now 17 student members in the society. Flo Rida and funnel cakes are not permanent fixtures in Alaska, but the AKSRT is. Keep up the fight in pressing for standards and hopefully we’ll see you at the fair in 2015. Cheers!

Giant Pumpkins, Carnival Rides, Funnel Cakes, and the AKSRT

Students and RTs manning the booth Victoria Swanson, Erica Shafer, Tiffany Peterson, June Berrett.

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ASRT Student Leadership Development Program. ______________________________________________________________

Applications are being accepted for the 2015 program.

Program Highlights The ASRT Student Leadership Development Program offers students a chance to get to know the ASRT, attend educational sessions and network with medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals. Selected participants will attend the 2015 ASRT Educational Symposium and Annual Governance and House of Delegates Meeting, June 25-28, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as well as orientation the evening of June 24. Selected participants receive:

Airfare, housing, stipend for meals and other travel expenses An educational program designed just for students A professional mentor assigned for the meeting An insider's look into the largest association for medical imaging and radiation

therapy professionals How to apply:

Students may apply Aug. 15-Dec. 19, 2014.

Questions? Contact ASRT Practice Standards and Chapter Manager Becky Apodaca at bapodaca@asrt.org or 505-298-4500, Ext. 1285.

Funding provided by the ASRT Board of Directors.

AKSRT student members

BOTTOM (L to R): Kati Lindstrom, Lily

Choi, Jenelle Bennett, Erica

Shafer, Sunny Reed TOP (L to R):

Carolyn Tate, Craig Sandefur, Sarah

Hale, Mikayla Blevins, Robert McClung, June

Berrett, Kandis Price, Ashley Adams, Hannah Lee, Crystal Collard, Sylvia Gates

Students Corner

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