GEORGETOWN – As 17 second-year Radiologic Technology students looked on, Governor Jack Markell signed a proclamation designating Nov. 6-12, 2016 as Radiation Protection Week. The signing occurred at Delaware Technical Community College’s (DTCC) Jack F. Owens Campus in Georgetown.

The occasion preceded an annual student-run Radiologic Technology Open House where students demonstrated their knowledge of medical x-ray imaging equipment and procedures at seven stations. DTCC offers its two-year Radiologic Technology associate degree program at its Owens and Wilmington campuses. Students are educated to achieve national credentials in radiologic technology, nuclear medicine technology, and dental assisting.

“I thank the Radiologic Technology students for promoting their area of study,” Governor Markell said. “Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education positions students to find rewarding health care careers in Delaware.”

The event also celebrated a trio of anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of the college, the 40th anniversary of the Authority on Radiation Protection, and the 30th anniversary of the Radiologic Technology Program at the Owens Campus.

“For three decades, the Rad Tech program has responded to the needs of local health care employers by preparing licensed health care professionals who work closely with radiologists to safely perform x-ray procedures,” said DTCC President Mark Brainard. “Yet the College cannot take all the credit. The success of our program has depended on partnerships, and we are thankful for the support of Beebe Healthcare, Bayhealth Medical Center and Nanticoke Health Services who have donated high-tech equipment for our labs and continue to provide clinical rotations for our students. Members of these organizations also devote their time and expertise to serve on our Rad Tech advisory board to help us ensure that our graduates are job-ready on day one, and we are thankful for their support.”

“Safe radiation procedures protect our health and quality of life,” said Division of Public Health (DPH) Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “Medical imaging procedures play an important role in the early detection of cancer and cardiovascular disease, in emergency medicine such as x-rays to assess broken bones, and to detect oral health issues at the dentist’s office.

DPH’s Office of Radiation Control (ORC) collaborates with the Authority on Radiation Protection and many disciplines throughout the practice community to enhance radiation safety, improve health outcomes, and promote quality of life for all Delawareans. ORC regularly inspects radiation facilities to ensure that x-ray equipment is operated safely by trained, qualified staff. The Office of Radiation Control registers facilities that use radioactive materials, registers radiation service providers, and issues certificates for administering radiation to human patients by qualifying medical and dental radiation technologists and technicians.

For more information about how radiation protects and enhances personal health, visit the Authority on Radiation Protection at www.deradiationprotection.org.

For more information about ORC and certification requirements, call 302-744-4546 or visit http://dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/hsp/orc.html.

For more information about DTCC’s Radiologic Technology program, visit dtcc.edu/academics/programs-study/radiologic-technology or contact Kristie Hellens, Department Chair, Instructor, and Program Advisor at khellens@dtcc.edu or 302-259-6680.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

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