March 21, 2019

Travel grant sends Radiation Therapy Technology students to national conference

This April, all 10 students in Wayne State’s Radiation Therapy Technology (RTT) program are headed to the Chicago Area Radiation Therapists Annual Conference and Student Seminar, which draws industry professionals and trainees from across the country. Part of the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the RTT program trains students to treat cancer using radiation.

The entire RTT class is attending the conference thanks to a $5,000 gift from 1982 program alumna Kolleen Kennedy. Students also earned money for the trip through various fundraisers.

“Attending the conference helps our students establish professional networks and connect with potential mentors and employers,” said Program Director Jeannetta Greer. “They get the chance to expand their knowledge of best practices and hear about the latest innovations in the industry.”

A full day of review sessions for the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) certification exam make the conference especially valuable for students. Topics including clinical oncology, physics, radiobiology, patient care, quality assurance, and radiation protection and safety are covered.

“The review sessions enhance what our students are learning in the classroom and clinics, better preparing them for the certification exam critical to their future employment,” Assistant Professor (Clinical) Rosann Keller said. “Students who participate really gain confidence in their knowledge base.”

In addition, Wayne State’s presence at this national event shows off the program to a wide audience, increasing connections that have the potential to lead to new clinical sites and resources for our students. At WSU Applebaum, RTT students learn in a clinical setting 20 hours per week.

Also at the conference, two WSU Applebaum students will compete in Scholar Bowl, a Jeopardy-style competition between RTT programs across the country – an experience shared by Kennedy and Keller, who is also a 1982 graduate. As students, the pair teamed up to earn third place in the popular competition.

“Participating in the conference and the competition was a wonderful experience for me as a student,” Keller said. “I am so grateful to Kolleen for giving all of our students the opportunity to experience it too.”

Kennedy went on to become president of Proton Solutions and chief growth officer at Varian Medical Systems, a Silicon Valley company that has developed pioneering technology and tools to fight cancer. She currently sits on the Wayne State University Foundation Board of Directors.

To support health sciences student travel today, contact Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Affairs Denise Thomas at deniselei@wayne.edu or 313-577-1095. All gifts, up to a total of $20,000, will be matched by the WSU Applebaum Dean's Office.

Return to news