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Make more time for family and friends. Lose 10 pounds. Quit smoking. Get out of debt. OK, get a little closer to being out of debt. This time of year, every year, we all resolve to do something to improve ourselves over the next 12 months. In the spirit of new beginnings, ADVANCE asked our readers how they plan to enrich their own professional lives and healthcare as a whole in 2009. They answered .
I resolve to ...
Educate and advocate
In 2009, I will help educate the radiology community on nuclear medicine technologists' breadth of practice. This will help educate the public and government representatives on what nuclear medicine is all about. If our radiology family does not know what is involved in our daily activities and our future, it is hard for them to advocate for us.
I will also be an advocate for the needs of nuclear medicine and its patients. This includes helping pass the CARE bill. I will also advocate for the needs of other radiologic modalities. Change is necessary to make our patients safe and provide quality care, and I resolve to do what I can to make it happen.
-Cindi Luckett-Gilbert, MHA, CNMT, PET, RT(N), FSNMTS
Presbyterian Hospital
Charlotte, N.C.
Show students the way
My resolution is to focus more on showing my students the importance of being involved in professional organizations. I plan to include a lecture on societies in our profession and introduce the students to Websites exclusive to the cause.
Another resolution I have is to encourage students who have passion and the "teacher gene" to pursue a career in education. I plan to mentor and guide them through the process of continuing their education.
-Charles Drago, RT(R)
Hostos Community College
Bronx, N.Y.
Keep communication lines open
As most supervisors will attest, reacting under fire has been stitched into our DNA. My first resolution this year is to position myself to anticipate a problem rather than be blindsided by it.
I am proud of the CT technologists that I have the honor of working with every day. I can honestly say that their commitment to excellence fuels my commitment to them, as their supervisor, teammate, advisor and friend. My second resolution is to emphasize how truly valuable each one of these employees really are, and to stress how important it is for them to know that I am accessible at all times, no matter what the problem may be.
-Rick Stewart, RT(R)(CT)
University of Virginia Medical Center
Charlottesville, Va.
Lend a helping hand
I serve on two Editorial Boards of peer-reviewed journals, the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography. My responsibilities include encouraging others to publish high-quality case reports, research studies, literature reviews and other articles. While I've assisted many junior authors in the past, my goal in 2009 is to put greater emphasis on rallying others to contribute to one or both of these journals.
Obviously, the most necessary step is to put "pen to paper" and actually write the article. My suggestion, as a well-known marketing slogan goes, is to "Just do it!" Toward this goal, I extend an invitation to help any sonography student or professional who may be interested in getting published. Just drop me an email at Daniel.a.Merton@jeffersonhospital.org. Happy New Year!
-Daniel A. Merton
Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute, Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia
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