Celebration of CAMRT Foundation Past Grant Recipients!

Celebration of CAMRT Foundation Past Grant Recipients!

Celebration of CAMRTF Past Grant Recipients!

Jackie Middleton smiling
Jackie Middleton, MRT

I continue to reap the benefits of my advanced degree in health sciences education.  Being supported throughout my studies by my employer and the CAMRT Foundation was key to my success in achieving a master’s degree, and without financial worry I was able to enjoy the learning journey.

I worked as a front-line radiation therapist for over a decade before having an opportunity to formally teach in the then Alberta School of Radiation Therapy (ASRT) located at the Cross Cancer Institute. Of course, up to that point I had many teaching opportunities as a clinical preceptor.  However, now I had the new challenge of didactic teaching, which required going back to the foundations of radiation therapy practice and figuring out how best to deliver the curriculum.  As all this was happening, preparations were starting to move the ASRT to the University of Alberta.  If I wanted to continue on in RT education, I knew I would need to start working on a master’s degree.  In 2014, I convocated with a Master of Education in Health Sciences Education. I immediately put that learning to work, in my new faculty role at the University of Alberta, in helping to build the new Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy degree program.

While my master’s degree was in education, the health sciences focus strengthened not only my ability to teach medical curriculum but helped advance my skills in research; skills which are so important as we work to advance our profession to provide better treatment options and patient experiences.

I cannot thank the CAMRT Foundation enough for their continued focus on supporting MRTs and advocating for lifelong learning among our professional group.

 



Craig Smith, MRT

I am very grateful to have been supported by the CAMRT Foundation. The funds granted allowed me to complete my Master of Arts in Leadership through Royal Roads University. Through my studies, I was able to study a field that is of great importance to me as it applies to leading myself and my teams. As a capstone phase of my studies, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to research the needs of MRTs who aspire to leadership roles. The research undertaken fulfilled my curiosity and gave insight into my research questions. It also showed me the astounding level of professional engagement by MRTs in the CAMRT membership.

In the last year, I have transitioned from a typical MRT practice environment to a Community Living Program Manager role, where I support staff that provide day-to-day assistance to adults with disabilities. My graduate-level studies provided me with a solid foundation in leadership that I use daily. An extremely powerful ability, which I developed through my educational experience, is an astute awareness of the interconnectedness of social services and health care systems. On a weekly basis, staff seek my input for how to engage with the health system and seek the right services for their clients. I thank my background in health care and the support of the CAMRTF for helping me thrive in my new community role. Wherever my career path takes me, I am, and will always be, grateful for the support I received from the Foundation.

 

 


Winnie Li, MRT

I am fortunate to have found a great career as a Radiation Therapist, a profession that balances patient care with innovative, cutting edge technology. I was employed at the Princess Margaret Cancer Center for 8 years prior to my decision to pursue graduate studies. During that time, I was a Research Radiation Therapist engaged in translating technological advances into clinical practice. The decision to pursue a master’s degree was not an easy one, as the financial burden of school plus not working as a full-time employee was something I had to consider very seriously. However, I understood that in order for my profession to move forward, and my career to advance, obtaining a master’s degree was essential. With assistance from the CAMRT Foundation, the financial burden lightened, and I concentrated on excelling in my program.

I completed my Master of Science degree through the University of Toronto in 2014. My thesis focused on treatment margin design for patients undergoing Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery for brain tumors. Throughout this experience, my knowledge and insight into radiation oncology and physics strengthened, increasing my comprehension and understanding of the requirements of personalized cancer care. This work also assisted with the implementation of new immobilization and image guidance techniques on the Gamma Knife.

Currently, I work on the MR-linac, a machine that integrates MR image guidance with adaptive radiation therapy. In this setting, my focus is on the safe implementation of this new technology, efficient clinical workflow, while leading and contributing to evidence-based practice. The critical thinking and analytical skills gained during my master’s degree have definitely contributed to my confidence and success while working in this dynamic multi-disciplinary environment.

Graduate studies elevate the profile of the radiation therapist as it validates our abilities as independent thinkers and researchers. With the support of the foundation, more MRT members of the CAMRT will be able to achieve this goal. Thank you, CAMRT Foundation, for your generous support!

 


Amanda Johnston, MRT

My name is Amanda Johnston and I am a Medical Radiation Technologist that specialized in Radiography.  I graduated from Fanshawe College’s Medical Radiation Technology Advanced Diploma Program in 2009 and Charles Sturt’s Medical Imaging Degree Completion Program in 2017. I am currently the Coordinator of General Radiography at London Health Sciences Centre, Victoria Campus.

I am very thankful for the CAMRTF as I have benefited from the Foundation twice.  In May 2015 I was awarded one of the CAMRT Foundation grants which contributed to a Bachelor of Applied Sciences in Medical Imaging. Also, I won a free CAMRT Full-Length Course at the 2018 AGM, enabling me to study Project Management for Health Care Professionals.

Completing my bachelor’s degree allowed me to advance my knowledge of radiation biology and safety, better understand and perform research critique and appreciate the importance of using current best practices.  From that learning, I was able to develop a radiation warning system for Patients in our Cardiac Catheterization Lab benefiting both the patient and department. Furthermore, our review of Patient’s Radiation Dose during Cardiac Catheterization Procedures was published in the British Institute of Radiology.  In my current Medical Imaging Leadership role, I regularly apply the processes and tools learned in my Project Management course to implement change and encourage my co-workers to challenge the status-quo.

Continuing education for MRT’s is critical and CAMRTF is a great supporter.

 


Keith Sutherland, MRT

I am writing to thank the CAMRT Foundation for their support during my pursuit of continuing education.  The financial assistance that the CAMRT Foundation offered was extremely helpful and allowed me to pursue a master’s degree between 2015 and 2018.

With the CAMRT Foundation assistance, I was able to complete my Master of Business Administration at the University of Manitoba.  I found this education opportunity personally and professionally fulfilling, but a stark contrast from our science-based MRT professions.  Coursework in finance, marketing, accounting, supply chain, economics, and leadership were very different than the physics and patient care courses I remember from Radiation Therapy School!  Despite being different, I feel that this type of education served me well in my current leadership positions with CancerCare Manitoba.  It has allowed me to combine my past patient care experience and business methodology, with the goal of improving processes and empowering staff to better serve the needs of our patients.  I would encourage anyone who has an interest in a leadership position to explore educational opportunities that complement our strong science-based MRT foundation.

Thank you again to the CAMRT Foundation for their aid.  The work the CAMRT Foundation does to support continuing education of MRT’s is superb and invaluable as we advance the MRT professions together.

 

 


Julie Avery, MRT

I have a strong belief that a component of being a professional is lifelong learning. This pursuit is not always easy, especially when factoring in the time and cost of advanced degrees. The CAMRT Foundation plays a critical role for many MRTs that are working toward continuing their education. Over the 5-years of part-time study it took to complete my Master’s in Health Administration, I received several grants to help off-set some of the financial burden associated with tuition. It is important to celebrate this benefit as a member and the work of the CAMRTF.

Completing my master’s was a critical step for me in realizing formal career leadership opportunities. Currently, I am the Executive Director and Registrar of the Nova Scotia College of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Professionals (NSCMIRTP), a position I would not have been considered for without the additional skillset attained through my MHA program. It is a role that provides me with the opportunity to significantly contribute and impact health care policy and regulation in the province of Nova Scotia and nationally for the medical imaging and radiation therapy professions. I will forever be appreciative of the support received from the CAMRT Foundation in helping further my MRT career opportunities.

 

 


Michael Velec, MRT

After practicing as a frontline radiation therapist and research-therapist I decided to pursue further graduate studies. On one hand, it was an easy decision as I knew my research focus would likely improve cancer care for future patients. On the other, stepping away from a full-time position was a financially difficult prospect. I was very fortunate to have a received Member’s Grants from the CAMRT Foundation over several years to support me financially, and completed a PhD in medical sciences in 2014. My doctoral studies allowed me to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, and most importantly taught me how to approach new problems I had not yet encountered. I really valued the exposure and perspective of those I collaborated with including physicists, oncologists and other researchers.

These skills combined with my clinical experience are now being put to use daily in my current position as a radiation therapist-clinician scientist. My current research interests are quite varied, ranging from developing techniques that improve the accuracy of radiotherapy, to interpreting clinical outcomes such as tumor control and side effects, to developing new practice models that better support patients.

So, Thank You to the CAMRT Foundation for supporting medical radiation technologists! I hope these grants continue to be offered as a benefit to members of our professional association and ultimately to benefit patients through improved care.

 

Amanda Bolderston, MRT

After high school, aged 18, I entered a hospital-based, radiation therapy diploma program in the UK. No one in my family having gone to university and getting the message that university was not for me, I felt that being an MRT would be a good, secure job. Little did I know, it would be the launch of the career I have today. It took a few years of working, a move to Canada, and a leave from work after my father died, for me to realize I wanted a challenge and was more than capable of university study. Fast forward a few (OK, more than a few) years and I started looking for a doctorate. By now I was an educator and had published quite a bit. I had also been trying to get a research project off the ground for at least ten years. The subject was based on my experiences as a lesbian and radiation therapist so was both a highly personal project, and one that didn’t fit with most of the PhD research work being undertaken. After a lot of searching, I found (EdD) at UBC and embarked on a five-year journey that transformed my life, personally and professionally.

My first publication during my doctoral studies was a collaboration that looked at health inequities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) people and what MRTs could do to help them and provide support. At the time, it was the first paper, in this field, in any of the major medical radiation sciences journals. I applied for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant, with the support of my supervisor, and joined a group of other graduate students from across the country to develop a website for LGBTQ patients affected by cancer. QueeringCancer.ca launched last year and provides peer support, stories and a repository of LGBTQ specific resources.

I co-founded the first group at BC Cancer to support sexual and gender minority patients and advocated for inclusive policies and processes. Since joining the faculty, at the radiation therapy program at the University of Alberta, I have continued to promote better education for MRTs in the area of LGBTQ health. Our paper on a curriculum evaluation has just been accepted by JMIRS, and we’re working to improve the diversity of our courses for all minoritized populations. In terms of national impact, I am developing a series of courses with CAMRT (Identity Matters) on LGBTQ health specifically for MRTs. I’ve continued to partner with researchers and academics globally to advocate for LGBTQ patients and healthcare professionals.

The CAMRT Foundation provided needed financial support for my doctorate, and I am very grateful to the CAMRT and the Foundation for their tireless fundraising to support MRTs’ continuing professional development. Knowing that I had a source of funding for my studies was instrumental in being able to commit to my EdD and to be able to align my research passion and my dedication to the profession.

 

 

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