Career Information
The Radiation Sciences Radiologic Technology (RT) degree tracks consists of two professional programs; RT and either Breast Imaging (BI), Computed Tomography (CT), Cardiovascular Interventional (CVI), or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
The Radiologic Technologist is a professional, qualified by education and clinical experience to provide radiological services using a variety of radiological procedures. The technologist operates and adjusts radiological equipment and determines proper exposure factors so that optimum radiographic quality is achieved with a minimum of radiation exposure to the patient. Radiographers are employed primarily in hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices, where they work closely with the other members of the health care team to help diagnose and treat patients.
Program Information
Each of the radiation sciences radiologic technology (RT) degree tracks are made up of five professional programs—RT, RT and breast imaging (BI), or RT and computed tomography (CT), RT and cardiovascular interventional (CVI), or RT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each of these three-year programs is selective and competitive; acceptance is not guaranteed. Students must satisfy all UI admission requirements, complete all prerequisites, and be accepted into the radiologic technology professional program following an application and selection process. Application deadline is January 15. Up to 25 students are accepted into the radiologic technology professional programs each year.
Radiologic Technology
The radiologic technology program provides education in pathology, radiation biology, radiation protection, patient care, and ethics. Students learn about radiographic procedures, imaging, and evaluation. They become acquainted with imaging equipment, study quality assurance, and participate in supervised clinical education in radiography.
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification exam in radiography.
Students typically apply to this two-year program during their second year and begin it in fall of their junior year.
Radiologic Technology and Breast Imaging
Students participate in the Radiologic Technology curriculum as stated above for the first two years.
The breast imaging component offers intensive study and practice in BI, including patient care procedures, pathology, anatomy, imaging procedures and analysis, MQSA quality control, and image acquisition principles. Students become acquainted with imaging equipment, study quality assurance, and participate in supervised clinical education in radiography and breast imaging (BI).
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification exams in radiography and mammography.
Students typically apply to this three-year program during their first year and begin it in fall of their sophomore year.
Radiologic Technology and Computed Tomography
Students participate in the Radiologic Technology curriculum as stated above for the first two years.
The computed tomography component concentrates on sectional anatomy, single and multislice CT, electron beam CT, physiologic and 3-D imaging, CT simulation, physics and imaging, and procedures and pathology. Students become acquainted with imaging equipment, study quality assurance, and participate in supervised clinical education in radiography and computed tomography (CT).
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification exams in radiography and computed tomography.
Students typically apply to this three-year program during their first year and begin it in fall of their sophomore year.
Radiologic Technology and Cardiovascular Interventional
Students participate in the Radiologic Technology curriculum as stated above for the first two years.
The cardiovascular interventional component concentrates on imaging equipment; pharmacology; sterile techniques; cardiac monitoring; vascular anatomy and physiology; cardiovascular, peripheral, and neurological procedures and pathology; therapeutic intervention techniques; and digital angiography. Students become acquainted with imaging equipment, study quality assurance, and participate in supervised clinical education in radiography, cardiac interventional, and peripheral/neurological interventional.
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification exams in radiography, vascular interventional technology, and cardiac interventional technology.
Students typically apply to this three-year program during their first year and begin it in fall of their sophomore year.
Radiologic Technology and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Students participate in the Radiologic Technology curriculum as stated above for the first two years.
The magnetic resonance imaging component offers intensive study and practice in MRI, including patient care procedures, pathophysiology, physics, sectional anatomy, and instrumentation. Students become acquainted with imaging equipment, study quality assurance, and participate in supervised clinical education in radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification exams in radiography and magnetic resonance imaging.
Students typically apply to this three-year program during their first year and begin it in fall of their sophomore year.
Radiologic Technology Clinical Internship
Clinical internship experiences provide students with a structured and supervised opportunity to interact with patients in a variety of medical imaging settings. The University of Iowa Health Care (UIHC) serves as the clinical site with assignments primarily in the Department of Radiology . Students have the opportunity to operate a variety of modern medical imaging equipment including direct digital radiography, mobile digital radiography, digital fluoroscopy, digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis units. During the internship, the student will participate in the care and imaging of adult, pediatric and neo-natal patients, including those requiring intensive care, surgical and organ transplant patients, trauma and emergency patients and patients undergoing invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Staff consists of registered radiologic technologists, faculty physician radiologists and physicists, radiology physician residents and fellows, physician assistants, nurses and other ancillary personnel. Annually, more than 300,000 patient radiographic examinations are performed. The department has a long history of contributing to student education by individuals whose mission is to deliver superb clinical care and provide outstanding opportunities for students learning the profession. Students participating in clinical rotations at other facilities are required to meet the immunization and testing requirements of those facilities.
Breast Imaging Clinical Internship
The breast imaging interns will have clinical assignments in the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. They will have the opportunity to work with the latest technology in mammography including high quality digital mammography and digital breast tomosynthesis as well as advanced breast imaging modalities such as ultrasound and MRI. The intern’s clinical experience will include screening and diagnostic mammography, 3D mammography, breast MRI and MRI guided core biopsy, breast ultrasound, radioactive seed localizations, stereo guided biopsies, tomosynthesis guided biopsies, ultrasound guided core biopsies, whole breast ultrasound and quality assurance testing.
Computed Tomography Clinical Internship
The computed tomography student will have clinical assignments in the Department of Radiology at UIHC and Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The student will have the opportunity to work with state-of-the-art high-resolution multi-detector CT scanners (including dual-source). Diagnostic and therapeutic CT studies that are performed include volumetric CT, CT angiography, CT perfusion, CT colonography, enterography as well as three-dimensional reconstructions for surgical planning. In addition the student will gain experience with therapeutic CT procedures such as arthrography, myelography, biopsy, drainage and embolizations that use CT and CT fluoroscopy for imaging guidance.
Cardiovascular Interventional Clinical Internship
The cardiovascular interventional student will have clinical internship assignments in many different areas of UIHC including Interventional Neuroradiology, Vascular Interventional Radiology, the Heart and Vascular Center and Cardiology in the Stead Family Children’s Hospital. These departments offer a wide variety of heart catheterization, cardiac electrophysiology, peripheral endo-vascular, non-vascular and interventional oncology procedures. The student’s clinical experience will include diagnostic angiography, balloon angioplasty and stenting, central venous access, embolotherapy, chemoembolization, thrombolysis, intracranial aneurysm coiling, and balloon valvuloplasty.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinical Internship
The magnetic resonance student will complete clinical assignments in the Department of Radiology at UIHC, Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and the UI Sports Medicine Center. While at these clinical facilities the student will have the opportunity to work with the most modern MRI equipment available for patient scanning and research. MRI exams that the student will encounter during their clinical internship include diagnostic imaging of the brain, spine, breast, heart, chest, abdomen, pelvis, prostate, joints, MR angiography, fMRI, diffusion/perfusion and spectroscopy. MRI is also used as guidance for breast biopsy and needle localization.
Accreditation
The University of Iowa Radiography program is accredited by the
Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2850
Chicago, IL 60606-3182
312-704-5300
Email: mail@jrcert.org
The program’s current award is 8 years. General program accreditation information and the current accreditation award letter can be found here.
Links of Interest
Admitted Candidate Information
Bureau of Labor Statistics Outlook
Mission, Goals & Student Learning Outcomes
Program Faculty
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Holly Bonfig-Becker, EdD, RT(R)(M) Associate of Radiology Director, Radiologic Technology Education 200 Hawkins Drive | Radiology, C300-11 GH (319) 356-4332 holly-bonfig@uiowa.edu |
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Jesse Brennan, BS, RT(R)(CT) Radiation Sciences Educator (319) 353-8639 jesse-brennan@uiowa.edu |
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Mark Diller, BS, RT(R)(MR) Radiation Sciences Educator (319) 356-4397 mark-diller@uiowa.edu |
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Travis Ehlinger, MEd, RT(R)(MR) Radiation Sciences Educator (319) 356-8333 travis-ehlinger@uiowa.edu |
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Hannah Fink-Flesburg, MHA, RT(R)(MR) |
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Lorie Gillitzer, BS, RT(R)(M)(CT) Clinical Coordinator Radiation Sciences Educator (319) 356-8334 lorie-gillitzer@uiowa.edu |
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Caitlyn Nelson, BS, RT(R) |
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Laurie Calkins Administrative Services Coordinator, Division of Radiation Sciences 200 Hawkins Drive | Radiology, C725 GH Iowa City, Iowa 52242 (319) 356-3861 laurie-calkins@uiowa.edu |