Kishwaukee College’s Director of Radiological Technology, Jerry Fox, presented at the 2019 Wisconsin Association of Educators in Radiologic Technology (WAERT) Student Symposium hosted by the Wisconsin Society of Radiologic Technologist (WSRT). Fox, two members of the radiography faculty, and 14 radiography students from Kish attended the two-day conference at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center in the Wisconsin Dells in early May.
Fox’s presentation “Radiation Protection: Deterministic and Stochastic Effects of
Radiation” overviewed the relationship between diagnostic x-ray exposure and the long-term
effects of radiation for the technologist. “I choose to cover this topic because technologists
and students need to understand the consequences of not following precautions,” Fox
says. “Students can fail their certification exam because of this topic. About 40%
of the certification exam is about radiation protection.” 
After completion of their two-year degree, students in the Kish Radiologic Technology program qualify to sit for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam. One of the main goals of the 2019 WAERT Student Symposium is to prepare students for their boards.
“We went in thinking we had so much work and studying to do before we would be ready [to take the exam], but after hearing them talk, we left feeling like we were already pretty prepared,” says Alison Seiler, Kish radiological technology student and symposium attendant.
“The Kishwaukee College Radiologic Technology program is an essential healthcare program that enables students the opportunity to learn the skill sets necessary to take x-rays,” Fox states. The two-year program offers the academic foundation and clinical applications to sit for their board.
Alongside extensive training in radiography, students sharpen their quantitative skills, communication skills, professionalism, and understanding of human behavior throughout the duration of the program. Technologists often work across departments in a medical facility, interacting with many patients and with different medical teams. Technologists must provide exceptional customer service and interact positively with everyone while still taking excellent x-rays.
“I am happy to be a member of the Radiology Program here at Kish,” adds Seiler. “It is a tough program, no doubt, but it is incredibly rewarding once you get to the end. […] The closer we get to the end, the more we are realizing how excited we are to be doing this for the rest of our careers.” Seiler will complete her coursework this summer and be pinned June 20.
Applications for the radiology program are accepted between December 1-December 21 each year. The program begins each fall semester.
For more information about the radiologic technology program at Kish, visit www.kish.edu/radiology or contact Program Director Jerry Fox at gfox1@kish.edu or 815-825-9361.
Photo: Kishwaukee College’s Director of Radiological Technology, Jerry Fox, presentation “Radiation Protection: Deterministic and Stochastic Effects of Radiation” was given at the 2019 Wisconsin Association of Educators in Radiologic Technology (WAERT) Student Symposium in early May. Pictured: Jerry Fox, Program Director of Kishwaukee College Radiologic Technology; Kishwaukee College Radiology Faculty; and Kishwaukee College radiology students at the 2019 WAERT Student Symposium. Photos courtesy of Alison Seiler.