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Day in the life


Radiology technologist Faith Patterson


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hen Faith Patterson, RT, decided to become a radiologic technologist, she had no idea it would be a job she would love.

A day after graduating pre-med from Boston College, Patterson joined the U.S. Army Reserve to help pay off her school loans. One of the jobs that was available was as a radiology specialist—a good background, she figured, before enrolling in medical school. But after earning accreditation at a military school in San Antonio, Texas, and landing a job at Children’s, she found the field to have rewards of its own.

One of the best aspects of her job, Patterson says, is helping children through what could be a scary experience. “You can’t just explain to every child what is going on,” she says. “You have to bring it to their level. I explain to kids that I’m basically just taking their picture. Some kids will even smile for the ‘picture’ when I do a scan—I think that’s great because it means I’ve made them comfortable and shown them that it’s not going to hurt.”

In 2001 Patterson was deployed for nine months in Kosovo, an experience that tested her soldiering and medical skills. “I remember when they told us to ‘lock and load’ our M-16s as we were transported through a dangerous area. ‘Nervous’ is such a minimal word for how I felt. My military training became a reality to me that day,” she says. “But Kosovo was a really a great experience for me. I learned a lot about trauma and patient care,” she says.

When Patterson began at Children’s, she was qualified only to take two-dimensional images such as chest or extremity x-rays. Today she administers computer tomography, or CT scans. “If you think of a standard x-ray image as a picture of a loaf of bread,” she explains, “a CT scan is like taking one slice of that loaf and rotating around it to see it from all sides.” For the last year, Patterson has also practiced interventional radiography, which involves more invasive techniques for advanced imaging and takes place in a setting that more closely resembles an operating room.

In addition to her full-time position in Radiology, she enjoys working part time as a financial advisor and devoting time to singing with her church. Soon she will choose between medical school and her love for her current work. “There is so much room for growth in this field,” she says.

“There is a misconception that radiology technicians are just photographers, but the job entails much more,” says Patterson. A technologist needs to understand the physics behind the many forms of energy that are used to produce images, be competent in patient care, such as patient assessment and the placement of IVs, and be able to communicate with children of all ages. “Also,” says Patterson, “we need to know our anatomy and pathology, and it takes skill to capture the images that allow physicians to make correct diagnoses.”—CM

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