Caption: Laredo Community College's Radiologic Technology Program received its first ever, eight-year accreditation from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT). Pictured, Oscar Gomez, LCC RadTec Program director, points to an X-ray of a human hand as sophomore students Vanessa Quintanilla, left, and Elizabeth Anne Rojas look on.
For the first time in 35 years, Laredo Community College's Radiologic Technology Program has earned an eight-year accreditation - a rarity in higher education medical programs.
The unprecedented accreditation was awarded by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).
"We've never been awarded that," Oscar Gomez, LCC's RadTec Program director and instructor, said.
JRCERT is the only agency recognized by the United States Department of Education for the accreditation of radiology programs.
The last accreditation for the RadTec Program occurred in 2005 for a five-year accreditation, but earlier this year, JRCERT awarded the program an extension of three more years until 2013.
"The maximum award is eight years," Gomez said. "And because of our excellent review rating by the committee, our five-year accreditation was extended an additional 3 years for the first time in our program's history. It's great news for not only LCC, but the Laredo area as well."
According to Gomez, the committee conducted several external peer reviews that granted public recognition to the RadTec Program that met qualifications and educational standards. Gomez, who has overseen the program since coming on board in 1999, "has helped propel the radiology program as a top-rated program in the nation," said Dianna Miller, LCC interim vice president for instruction.
The LCC RadTec Program also was recognized last spring by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists for having a 100-percent passage rate when students tested for a national exam. This makes the program one of the top 10 programs in the U.S.
Jonathan Amador, one of those students and now a graduate of the program, recalled how he first took interest in the radiology field.
"I was 16 years old when my father broke his finger and ended up in the hospital," Amador said. "They took an X-ray of his finger and said to me, 'Hey, this could be a cool job for you.' "
Within two years, Amador began working at an El Paso hospital as a transporter. It gave him the exposure needed to enter the radiology field. He then moved back to Laredo where he enrolled in the LCC RadTec Program.
"The LCC RadTec Program is a very rigorous program, but it's rewarding as well," Amador said. "It really challenges you as a student and as a person."
As part of the two-year program, students participate in clinical trials at area hospitals, including Laredo Medical Center, Providence and Doctors hospitals.
"We have had positive feedback from our affiliate hospitals," Gomez said. "Once our students graduate our program, they can compete anywhere in the U.S. because through this hands-on work, they'll have attained more than 2,000 hours of clinical training."
"We’re not just there at the hospitals or clinics shadowing radiologic technologists, but we get to actually do the exams doctors review," Amador said. "We work under the supervision of a registered technologist who critiques us on our images that we took of our patients. It's beneficial to us as students."
According to Amador, Gomez instilled perseverance to further their education as well.
Recently, Gomez attained his master's degree in Health Service Administration from the University of Saint Francis.
"I wanted to show my students that they can continue their education beyond our program," Gomez said. "The more education you have under your belt, the more opportunities you will have."
"The RadTec Program doesn't teach us to be complacent, but rather to learn more than just a radiologic technologist," Amador added.
For more information on the LCC RadTec Program, contact Oscar Gomez at 721-4508 or email at ogomez@laredo.edu.
Registration for the fall semester is currently under way. For other class information, contact the Registration Center at the LCC Fort McIntosh Campus at 721-5109 or the South Campus at 794-4110.
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