Eight Students Graduate from BRMC’s School of Radiography

Graduation ceremonies for eight students in the School of Radiography at Bradford Regional Medical Center (BRMC) were held Thursday, Aug. 13, in the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Commons Building.

The students received diplomas for successfully completing the 24-month course which prepares graduates to serve as radiologic technologists in various types of medical imaging facilities. This is the 30th graduating class.

The graduates are Alixandra Mallery of Kane, Nathan Jones of Horseheads, N.Y., Laura Reed of Wellsville, N.Y., Rabecca Chase of Franklinville, N.Y., Ricky Bee Jr. of Olean, N.Y., Jeremy Zetts of Bradford, and Emily Rieder and Kristin Braun, both of St. Marys.

Additionally, all eight graduates have already passed their credentialing exam administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

“As a 1982 graduate of this program, I have had the privilege to work with many classes over the years. The class of 2009 has been exceptional, both clinically and academically,” said Jeanne Burritt, the school’s program director.

“Their accomplishments have been many and I know wherever they go they will do great things,” Ms. Burritt said. “This class has experienced many technological innovations since coming into the program and have faced many challenges related to these changes. Now, as graduates of the School of Radiography at BRMC, I can say without hesitation that they are more than prepared to succeed in the healthcare environment.”

In the school’s 32-year history, all graduates have passed the certification exam, Radiography School officials said.

Since the school’s founding, a total of 138 students have successfully completed the two-year course, Ms. Burritt noted.

In her remarks to the graduates, Holly Spittler, Ph.D., associate dean of Student Affairs at Pitt-Bradford and also a member of the Radiography School’s Advisory Committee, said, “A career in radiologic technology offers unlimited opportunities for those of you with a solid educational foundation and a strong desire to continue to grow as a healthcare professional. Your next challenge is to build on that foundation and plan a career in which you pursue additional certifications and areas of specialization based on your interests and goals.”

Ms. Rieder, Ms. Mallery, Mr. Jones, Mr. Zetts and Ms. Chase have already completed their bachelor’s degrees in radiological science at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.

Mr. Bee, Ms. Reed and Ms. Braun return to Pitt-Bradford this fall and will earn their bachelor’s degrees in radiological science next spring. To date, 22 of BRMC’s Radiography School graduates have earned bachelor’s degrees in radiological science from Pitt-Bradford.

At the graduation ceremony, two scholarships provided by Bradford Hospital Auxiliary to first-year Radiography School students also were announced. Lauren McKee of Titusville received the $750 Academic Excellence Scholarship with a 93.2 grade-point average. Ms. McKee also is enrolled in the Radiological Science major at Pitt-Bradford.

Meanwhile, Tracy Sharpe of Bradford received the $500 Janet Butler Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship was created in 2006 to honor Janet Butler, who for nearly 40 years served BRMC’s Radiology Department as an aide, darkroom technician, X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) technologist, and an educator until her death.

In addition to students spending 800 hours in the classroom setting, the Radiography School’s clinical coordinator, Scott Gregoire, schedules students for 2,200 hours of clinical education at BRMC, Olean (N.Y.) Medical Group, Kane Community Hospital, Warren General Hospital, Elk Regional Medical Center and Charles Cole Memorial Hospital. Several 2009 graduates are currently employed in full-time and part-time positions at local and regional hospitals and orthopaedic offices.

For more information about the Radiography School, contact Ms. Burritt at BRMC at 814-362-8292 or visit the hospital’s Web site at www.brmc.com.

Additionally, Auxiliary scholarship donations can be made directly to the Auxiliary at HeartStrings Gift Shop at BRMC or by mailing them to the Auxiliary at 116 Interstate Parkway, Bradford, PA 16701.

Pictured, graduates from Bradford Regional Medical Center’s School of Radiography are (front row, from left) Jeremy Zetts of Bradford, Kristin Braun of St. Marys and Nathan Jones of Horseheads, N.Y.; and (back row, from left) Laura Reed of Wellsville, N.Y., Rabecca Chase of Franklinville, N.Y., Emily Rieder of St. Marys and Alixandra Mallery of Kane. Not shown in the photo is Ricky Bee Jr. of Olean, N.Y.
(Photo courtesy of BRMC)