Mesa College Radiologic Technology Program to Pin 23 Graduates // Newly Minted Radiology Technicians Fill Critical Need for Health Care Specialists in San Diego

San Diego, August 4, 2016 --Twenty-three newly minted graduates of the San Diego Mesa College Radiologic Technology Program will participate in a special pinning ceremony at 5:30 p.m., Friday, August 5, at Mesa College.

 

The ceremonial pinning is held each August and marks the completion of the rigorous, 24-month program and 1,850 hours of clinical practice. 

 

“The radiologic technology program is one of Mesa’s most intense workforce training programs,” noted Dr. Pamela T. Luster, president of Mesa College. “This program in particular fills a critical need for health care specialists in the San Diego area.”

 

Mesa College program graduates, which number 20 to 25 students each year, have an outstanding record of success. For the last five years, nearly 100 percent of Mesa graduates went on to pass the ARRT National Registry Exam, which is required in order to seek employment, and 100 percent have been hired within six months.

 

A recent search on indeed.com showed 67 radiologic technologist jobs in the San Diego region. The site also shows an average salary of $63,000 (indeed.com).

 

Program director Christy Foster Bollman points out that this year’s students also had the opportunity to take newly offered classes in mammography and computed tomagraphy.

 

“These are advanced modality courses that will increase employment opportunities for our graduates,” added Foster Bollman. 

 

Mesa is the only community college in the region to offer an associate degree and certificate in this field. The two-year Radiologic Technology Program features an integrated plan of classroom work and closely supervised clinical practicum at a partnering healthcare facility.  Upon completion of the program, students receive an Associate of Science degree and Certificate in Radiologic Technology, and qualify to take the ARRT National Registry Exam.

 

The Mesa College program is certified by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

 

The 17 clinical practice partners and potential employers of Mesa College grads include Rady Children's Hospital San Diego; Sharp Grossmont Hospital; Kaiser Permanente Medical Center; San Diego Imaging, Scripps Mercy Hospital; Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista; Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center; Sharp Memorial Hospital; Tri-City Medical Center; Veterans Administration Hospital, San Diego; UCSD Breast Imaging Center; UCSD Medical Center; UCSD Medical Center Thornton Hospital; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Mission Valley; Scripps Polster Breast Care Center; Community Health Imaging Centers, La Maestra Community Health Clinic; and O’Tooles Breast Care Center.

 

For additional information about the radiologic technology program at Mesa College, visit www.sdmesa.edu/allied-health.

Tags: ARRT National Registry Exam, radiology, radiologic technology, Christy Foster Bollman