Career Profile: Radiologic Technologist

Dennis Johnson, Certified Radiologic Technologist, Computerized Tomography (CT) Supervisor, Department of Radiology, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

I chose this career because…

I chose to become a radiologic technologist because of opportunities that arose while I was in the Army. After graduating from high school, I entered the New York City College of Technology to major in economics. I completed two years of study, but at the time, did not have much focus. I decided to enlist in the United States Army. During my time in the Army, I was trained as a radiologist. The Army offered a licensing exam that I had to pass in order to practice my career. Once I passed it, I also took and passed the civilian exam, which allowed me to work in the civilian community.

College Education & Certification
• Certificate, Radiology, Academy of Health Science, Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• Bachelor of Science, Economics, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC
• Master of Business Administration, Finance, University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC

My typical workday involves…

My typical workday is from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. In our department, we see approximately 60 to 80 patients a day. Most of our work revolves around the use of our computer tomography (CT) scanners. A CT scanner is a tubular-shaped machine that generates multiple X-ray images simultaneously. The images are digitized and processed by the computer to display them as two-dimensional pictures on a monitor. CT scans provide physicians with detailed images of a patient’s internal body that aids them in diagnosis and treatment planning. We have three CT scanners that are busy all day long. Physicians schedule patients through the hospital information system. Then I receive the daily schedule and proceed with my responsibilities.

My duties are to:

• Review the workload and determine what is required for each patient
• Manage the daily operations for the CT section
• Lead and provide direction for a staff of seven technologists and a patient coordinator
• Devise and manage the annual budget in accordance with federal procurement regulations oversee all maintenance and service contracts
• Maintain and analyze patient database to make sound decisions on providing patient care
• Provide the Director of Radiology with monthly statistics on the number of exams performed, patients scanned, and missed appointments
• Consult and assist staff radiologists with their research needs