Excellence and perseverance Define Medical Imaging Program class of 2022


By Sam Marie Engle

Emory officially graduated on the chilly but sunny Monday morning after Mother’s Day. The prolific actor, writer, director, and producer Tyler Perry exhorted the Class of 2022 to “Have an incredible work ethic; look for your professors; and leave your own footprints.”
 
Just a few hours later, twelve seniors from the Medical Imaging Program tracked their footprints across the stage of Harland Cinema, as they claimed their Bachelor of Medical Science diplomas. Seven completed the three-year traditional program. Five completed the two-year bridge program and exchanged their associate’s radiologic technology degrees for the BMSc.
 
The class basked in accomplishment: six students graduated with honors and three with highest honors. Five were inducted into the Lambda Nu Honor Society. They didn’t just survive during a global pandemic that upended the way they were taught and trained; they excelled, thanks to an incredible work ethic.
 
Ajeenah Bullock, MSRS, RT(R)(CT), herself a program graduate and now instructor in the program, reminded the graduates how that work ethic helped them master every challenge thrown at them. During the summer semester of 2020, she recalled, to make up for all the instructional and clinic time lost due to the COVID pandemic lockdown, “We had five weeks of class at the beginning of the semester and 40 hours a week of clinic the last five weeks of the semester!”
 
The graduates nodded, remembering the pressure, and smiling because they more than rose to the challenge. Their instructors smiled, too.  “The Class of 2022 is the third in our program to graduate under the COVID pandemic, but they are the first to complete nearly the entire program suffering through the pandemic.  This group demonstrated such a passion, conviction, and toughness that is awe-inspiring.  I am so proud of these graduates.” says Program Director Ted Brzinski, MES, RT(R)(ARRT).
 
Ms. Bullock also offered the class sage advice, advice that speaks to Emory Radiology’s commitment to service excellence:

"Show people you care, in your new position as a technologist, supervisor, manager, or director, ask “how can I help you?” Serve and make a difference, have integrity, be honest. There’s never a right time to do the wrong thing, and there’s never a wrong time to do the right thing. Just do what’s right! As you go out into the workforce and practice in the field of radiology, be proud. Be proud of who you are, what you have learned during your time here at Emory, your new skills and career which is recession proof, and be great at it!"
 
Given all they accomplished as students, these graduates have much to be proud of.  Congratulations to the Class of 2022 and may you enjoy this next chapter of your career!

Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

BMSc Graduates
 
Aisha Mansour Ahmed
With Honors
 
Brandi Alexis Carr
With Honors
Lambda Nu Honor Society
Most Outstanding Clinical Student
 
Ebonee P. Daniels-Burbridge
With Honors
Lambda Nu Honor Society
Colleague Award
 
Janine Mariby Gonzales
With Honors
Lambda Nu Honor Society
Class Vice President
Most Improved Clinical Student
 
Hannah Marie King
Lambda Nu Honor Society
Class President
 
Onika Meyers
With Highest Honors
Lambda Nu Honor Society
Valedictorian
 
Sina Saljooghi
Class Treasurer
 
 
RT-BMSc Graduates
 
David Mark Davis
With Honors
 
Alba Hernandez
 
Samuel Mindel
With Honors
 
Jordan-Lee Sowell
With Highest Honors
 
Diana Yusupov
With Highest Honors
JRCERT Certificate of Excellence

Patricia Aycock Kimbell
Clinical Educator of the Year
Presented to
Eric Edmondson
(Technologist at Winship Cancer Institute – The Emory Clinic)
 
 
Rising Star Clinical Educator
Presented to
Sydney Siegel
(Technologist at Emory Musculoskeletal Institute)
 
 
General Diagnostic Imaging
Clinical Education Site of the Year
Presented to
Winship Cancer Institute
 
 
JRCERT Certificate of Excellence Award for Clinical Educators
Presented to
Christopher Collins
(Technologist at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital)